- Go Bowling at Tahoe Bowl – South Lake Tahoe Offering a longtime favorite rainy day activity, Tahoe Bowl features 16 lanes for open and league bowling as well as arcade games, pool tables, pizza and beer specials and a pro shop. Birthday party packages are also available. Hot Tip: Tahoe Bowl also has a sports bar for adults.
- Take a Scenic Drive to Historic Truckee California – Truckee, California is well known for its logging, ice manufacturing, the Emigrant Trail, as well as for the tragic expedition of the Donner Party. You can discover much more about their captivating story at Donner Memorial State Park museum and Pioneer Monument. Hot Tip: Eat at Morgan’s Lobster Shack!
- Take the Little Ones to a PlaySpace – Tahoe Tot Spot
- Go See a Movie at Heavenly Village Cinema – South Lake Tahoe After all the museums and shopping, you might just want to take it easy and check out a movie. The Heavenly Village Cinema at the Heavenly ski resort in South Lake Tahoe plays current movies on several screens. Hot Tip: Eat at Agave Azul
- Dinner and a Show – Check out the current Dinner and Show at the Loft
- Go Tour The Tahoe Maritime Museum – West Shore The beautiful Tahoe Maritime Museum covers the boating and maritime history of Lake Tahoe and also features special exhibits and collections. The collection highlights include various woody watercraft, an 1890s stream launch salvaged from the bottom of the lake, Native American kayaks and various motors and props used throughout Tahoe’s history. For adults, there is a full library on the history of Tahoe’s boating industry and for kids there are interactive boating games. Their hours change with the seasons, so check the website for open times. Hot Tip: The view just outside the Tahoe Maritime Museum is of the Homewood ski resort
- Soak in Hot Springs at David Walleys Resort – Who cares if it’s raining if you can spend the whole day in hot water? Drive down the Kingsbury Grade from South Lake Tahoe to Genoa and take a dip in the hot springs at David Walley’s hot springs. This historical hot springs area has half a dozen pools of various degrees including a warm swimming pool, all full of natural mineral water. The resort also has a dry sauna and a fitness room. Hot Tip: Stay for dinner at the 1862 Restaurant & Saloon—the food is really good.
- Go Ice Skating at South Tahoe Ice Rink – South Lake Tahoe Ice skating is not just for the winter. The South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena is an Olympic size indoor rink that offers open skating, lessons, hockey games, curling and school programs. Some weekend nights also have black light skating. You can rent skates and equipment at the arena and they also have bucket assists available for beginner skaters and children. Please check the website for current skate times. Hot Tip: The rink fills up during school trips, so call ahead and plan around them.
- Take a Cruise on the M.S. Dixie or the Tahoe Queen at Stateline/Zephyr Cove – Tahoe in the rain is really beautiful and one of the best ways to see the lake is from one of the lake’s paddlewheel boats. The M.S. Dixie in Zephyr Cove and the Tahoe Queen at the Ski Run Marina both offer covered observation areas and daytime and sunset tours of the lake into Emerald Bay. Hot Tip: The sunset tours on both the Dixie and Tahoe Queen include dinner.
- Go Discover Vikingsholm – The Vikingsholm Castle sits at the head of Emerald Bay and probably has some of the best views of the lake. This former home of the wealthy Mrs. Lora Knight is now a museum that reflects the Scandinavian style of architecture. Tours of Vikingsholm Castle are available seven days a week from Memorial Day weekend until the end of September and include a docent and full access to the interior and exterior of the castle. Parking for the castle is available in the Vikingsholm parking lot off of Highway 89. The castle can be accessed by a steep, mile-long trail—so it it is raining, bring your rain jacket. Hot Tip: During a rainy day, many people many not choose to hike down the Vikingsholm trail, so you could have the place to yourself.
- Take the Heavenly Gondola up to the observation deck and have a winter picnic and take some amazing photos of the entire Tahoe Basin.
- Grab a Woody at the Riva Grill at sunset (drink umbrella is optional).