Then do what the locals do: instead of anything-priced activities you can head over to the North Tahoe Regional Park, an all-outdoors make-your-own-fun zone. It’s huge, has tons of offerings and is also right near two of the nicest, sandiest, public beaches in all of Tahoe (one is also a boat ramp).

Free Tennis in Paradise

Super young ones can slide, steer and stair-step all over the nice-sized playground. Another adjacent one is great for 3-6 year olds. There are 5 nice tennis hardcourts, three are lighted. Remember those 70′s exercise deals called Par Courses, well there’s a really nice one of them as well and it’s in great shape.

Frisbee Golf 'Hole'

You’ll also find soccer and baseball fields, an artificial surface multi-sport field and generally lots of mowed grass. There’s a volleyball court, hiking and biking trails, a community nursery and a Boy Scout camp. New this year is a real deal frisbee golf course. And on top of it all, the place is never crowded plus it’s got a tranquilo, far-off Tahoe lakeview.

Artificial Tahoe Turf

So if you want to keep the Vacation Vacuum out of your pocket, head over to the Regional Park – oh, and I lied a little bit: it costs a few bucks to park…