If you’re like most people, you probably feel there’s never enough time in the day. But what if we told you there’s a place where time seems to stand still? Welcome to being on “Tahoe Time.”
Tahoe Time is an unofficial state of mind that locals love. It’s a slower pace that allows you to enjoy reconnecting with life. And there’s no better place to experience Tahoe Time than Incline Village, Nevada — and no better season to do so than fall and spring.
Whether during the fall shoulder season (after Labor Day and before heavy snowfalls) or the spring off-season (after the snow begins to melt and before Memorial Day), the Lake Tahoe area is quieter and more relaxed. Here’s how to enjoy being on Tahoe Time the most.
6 Reasons Why Locals Love Being On Tahoe Time During The Off-Season
Optimal Beach Conditions
It’s no secret Lake Tahoe offers iconic views, with the lake’s shimmering blue waters splashed spectacularly against the surrounding peaks of the Sierra Nevada.
During the high tourism season, everyone wants to enjoy Incline Village’s semi-private beaches to cool off during Lake Tahoe’s warm weather from June to August — who can blame them? That makes the off-season ideal for locals: easy access to a premium sandy spot to enjoy a glorious lakefront, 70-degree day on Tahoe Time.
Additionally, it’s only a brief car trip, bike ride, or walk along Highway 28 to access Lake Tahoe’s famed east shore beaches, such as the much-photographed Sand Harbor and nearby Chimney Beach, Secret Cove, and Hidden Beach.
There’s a common belief among locals that Hidden Beach should have been renamed several years ago because it’s, frankly, no longer hidden. But once the summer crowds go home, the locals come out to play, making the shoulder season the perfect time to embark on your beach adventure.
The Best Time to Golf in Lake Tahoe
While Incline Village is known for its beautiful beaches, it’s also home to a pair of top-tier golf courses that are sublime in the off-season, when the crowds dwindle, and Tahoe weather patterns create picturesque morning tee times.
The 18-hole, par-72 Incline Village Championship Golf Course on Fairway Boulevard boasts sprawling fairways with some of the best lake views. Fully Renovated in 2003, the course includes a stocked pro shop, comfortable electric golf carts with Visage Golf GPS, two ChargePoint electric vehicle charging stations, and a highly reviewed year-round restaurant, The Grille at The Chateau.
Nowadays, the Champ Course (as it’s known to locals) is perennially considered among the best in the west. Case in point: The course recently earned four prestigious rankings on the GolfPass “Golfers’ Choice 2022” lists; No. 17 best course in the U.S., No. 2 nationwide for conditions, No. 3 nationwide for course layout, and No. 3 overall in the state of Nevada.
Meanwhile, the 18-hole, par-54 Incline Village Mountain Golf Course features a majestic mountain layout amid old-growth trees and elevation changes. This course is playable and walkable for golfers of all skill levels and hosts several social events throughout the season, including Nine & Wine golf, wine tasting events, and twilight specials.
With the Champ and Mountain courses set to close on Oct. 16 and Oct. 9 this year, respectively, the off-season is the perfect time to hit the links without worrying about vying for tee times. Plus, Lake Tahoe’s cool fall mornings lend to dew-dripped fairways that provide a bountiful, lush landscape — the perfect backdrop to living life on Tahoe Time.
Become a Pickleball Pro on Tahoe Time
The off-season’s cooler temperatures are also for upping your mobility on the tennis courts. And these days in Incline Village, that means pickleball, too.
Formerly known as simply the Incline Village Tennis Center, the Incline Village Tennis & Pickleball Center at 980 Incline Way wrapped up a $750,000 upgrade in 2021, which included a sun deck/patio expansion, a sparkling-new deck, and premium landscaping improvements. Four new pickleball courts were added to the upper courts, totaling 12 permanent pickleball courts at the center.
If you’re new to pickleball, then don’t worry. This fast-paced sport is designed for all ages and is especially popular among active adults looking for unique and fun cardio exercise.
Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, where players use a composite or wooden paddle instead of a racket to hit a perforated plastic ball (like a whiffle ball) back and forth on a modified tennis court with the net lowered to 34 inches.
Want to become a pickleball pro? During the off-season, it’s much easier to devote regular time each day on the courts when you’re on Tahoe Time.
Happy Hiking Trails
Whether spring or fall, the shoulder season is absolutely the best time to visit Lake Tahoe and trek the many hiking and biking trails in Incline Village and across North Lake Tahoe.
There are easy-to-access trails for hikers of all skill levels, from beginners seeking minimal elevation gain to experienced adventurers looking to log several miles on the world-famous Tahoe Rim Trail.
We recommend checking out the following for a spectacular hike on Tahoe Time:
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1.8-mile paved hike to the Historic Stateline Fire Lookout above Crystal Bay
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3-mile paved Tahoe East Shore Trail that connects Incline Village south to Sand Harbor State Park
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2.5-mile trek to Chickadee Ridge in the Mount Rose Wilderness
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4.8-mile Galena Falls Trail nestled in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
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Expert-level 11-mile Mount Rose Trail loop hike that includes a hefty 2,500 feet of elevation gain
For two-wheeled thrills, fall also serves as one last adventurous hurrah before ski and snowboard season begins. And there are few better mountain biking options than the legendary Lake Tahoe Flume Trail. People from all corners of the world travel to Incline to ride the famous trail carved into a steep granite spire overlooking Tahoe, following the same path where wooden square-box flumes once delivered water to Virginia City in the late 1800s.
In the fall, the Marlette Lake section of the Flume Trail offers bike riders unmatched views of Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada, and an up-close look at the stunning foliage of yellows, oranges, and reds bursting from the aspen trees that line the lake’s southeast shore.
Wining and Dining on Tahoe Time
While we could dole out countless examples of outdoor recreation activities to enjoy at your leisure, the off-season is also a great time to be indoors. And in Incline Village/Crystal Bay, fall and food go hand in hand.
Incline is home to a bevy of longtime, locally loved restaurants and watering holes, in addition to newer, hip locales that cater to all tastebud levels and dietary restrictions. You can easily grab a reservation for the perfect cozy evening meal or fall-inspired lunch with fewer crowds during the off-season. Some of our favorites to enjoy on Tahoe Time include:
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Splurge and savor: Lone Eagle Grille, Soule Domain, or Big Water Grille
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Bring the whole family: Austin’s Restaurant, Sage Leaf Tahoe, or Azzara’s Italian Restaurant
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Fun and flavorful: Crosby’s Tavern, Inclined Burgers, or Jiffy’s Pizza
For craft beer, head to one of Lake Tahoe’s most revered breweries, Alibi Ale Works, which offers seasonal Oktoberfest Lager and Altbier brews at both its Incline locations.
Wanting wine? Embrace varietals with warming flavor notes like a light-bodied pinot noir or a rich, buttery, oaky Chardonnay at Glasses Wine Bar, which opened in the Village Center five years ago. Northern Nevada’s first-ever combination wine bar and reading room, Glasses offers more than 25 wines by the glass at affordable prices that keep locals coming back, one evening at a time.
Sightseeing and Home Shopping
Summertime in Tahoe is also the best time to complete roadwork projects that keep byways safe and protect Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity from harmful sediment. But, that also means extra travel time to get to work and go out and play.
Thankfully, that time gets cut considerably once construction halts when the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency grading season closes on Oct. 15. Then, it’s back to being on Tahoe Time and leisurely sightseeing in Incline Village and across the lake.
Sightseeing opportunities crescendo in the off-season for locals and visitors alike. Check out fall foliage displays at Marlette Lake, the classic lakefront view at Memorial Point Overlook near Sand Harbor, or hop in the car for a leisurely drive around Lake Tahoe to visit its iconic spots with more room to enjoy them on Tahoe Time.
If you love being on Tahoe Time and want to enjoy it year-round as a local, shoulder season is also an excellent time for home shopping.
There’s no better time than Tahoe Time to find your next home. Fall and spring are typically the lulls in the Incline Village/Crystal Bay real estate market before the flurry of activity that comes with the first and last snow flurries. Savvy buyers know to take advantage of this prime season when fewer crowds mean more time to find their perfect Incline Village home.
If you want a taste of being on Tahoe Time in your inbox and want to stay up to date on selling real estate and living in Incline Village, email info@dicksonrealty.com with the subject line, “Give me the Incline Village Inside Scoop!”
Whether you are buying or selling, Dickson Realty agents have the experience and innovative technology to help you. For more information, contact a neighborhood real estate expert at Dickson Realty today.
