Kids get cash for going digital-free at Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel

Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel has a way for parents to get their kids to look up from their screens and take in the real world at Lake Tahoe. The all-suite hotel has long been a family favorite in South Lake Tahoe and this summer’s offer is sure to please the parents. Kids, 17 and under, who turn in their digital device for a minimum of six hours a day will receive a crisp $5 bill. This offer is valid for guests who book their stay through the hotel’s website.

The Kaiser Family Foundation Study found that children ages 8 to 18 spend more than 6 hours a day consuming media and more than 66 percent of that age group own a cell phone. The ubiquitousness of digital interference in daily family lives has given rise to organizations like screenfree.org and nationwide “screen-free” weeks.

The hotel’s latest offer to help kids go digital free for the day is part of the resort’s “My Tahoe” campaign that focuses on connecting guests with authentic Tahoe experiences and personal insights into seeing Tahoe like a local.

“As a parent I recognize that at times it feels like you are only seeing the top of your children’s heads and that is not what a family vacation should be,” said Bill Cottrill, Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel’s chief operating officer. “Helping our guests connect with each other and Tahoe in meaningful ways is what ‘My Tahoe’ is all about.”

Located in the center of South Lake Tahoe’s outdoor and indoor amenities -- mountains, beaches, towering pine forests, shopping and nightlife – guests are within walking distance from just outside the hotel’s four main doors. Nearby attractions include the Van Sickle bi-state park with hiking trails that meander past waterfalls or go all the way to the Tahoe Rim Trail. Just down the road visitors can pick up the newest section of America’s Most Beautiful Bikeway and bike or walk to two to Tahoe’s most popular beaches, Nevada and Round Hill Pines Beaches. Guests of the resort receive a free pass to Round Hill Pines Beach as part of their stay.

Heavenly Village, next door to the resort, has a wide range of dining and shopping options as well as the Heavenly Gondola with access to Heavenly’s Epic Discovery park. The resort is also across the street from the newest retail and dining options at The Chateau.

Since going independent in April 2013, the resort has invested $8 million in renovations and upgrades to all 400 two-room suites, including another family friendly touch in upgraded “extreme comfort” sofa sleepers. The heart of the hotel, the resort atrium has all new gathering areas, a dual-sided fireplace and market lights. The resort’s premium balcony suites decorated in a “Mountain Modern” style provide views of Lake Tahoe against the backdrop of mountain modern interior design. Each balcony suite has a dual-sided fireplace between the bedroom and living areas.

The resort’s complimentary breakfast buffet includes a daily egg casserole special, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fresh pastries, house-made oatmeal, pancakes, French toast, fresh fruit, yogurts, cold cereals, juice, coffee and more. Guests also enjoy a nightly happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. with snacks and $2 drinks.

The resort’s Echo restaurant and its outdoor deck are continuing this summer with the popular Kalbi Tu Comes. Served on the resort’s lower patio, the outdoor barbeque features samplings of street-style tacos bursting with Korean and Spanish flavors. Cooked fresh to order, guests can take them to go for concerts or events. Some of the new signature cocktails include Coconut Hibiscus Mojito, Blood Orange and Basil Lemonade or a Hibiscus Margarita.

Located in South Lake Tahoe on the California/Nevada border, just steps from casino entertainment, the nine-story all-suite hotel has 400 rooms, 10,000 square-feet of meeting space, and restaurant and bar. It is the largest and only full-service hotel in South Lake Tahoe.