Find the Best Things to Do in North Shore
By Christina Nellemann
Reno and Tahoe Local Expert
About North Shore
Photo courtesy of joey.parsons/Flickr
The North Shore of Lake Tahoe is primarily the Nevada community of Incline Village, the Lake Tahoe State Park just south of the Village and the small California communities of Crystal Bay, Kings Beach and Carnelian Bay. The North Shore has less restaurants, casinos and places to visit than the South Shore of Lake Tahoe, however it has quicker access to Truckee, Reno, the Tahoe Meadows and the various hiking spots around there. The closest ski resort to North Shore is Mount Rose Ski Tahoe.
See & Do
The beautiful beaches of Sand Harbor are located in the Lake Tahoe State Park just south of Incline Village, Nevada. It costs about $8 for parking at Sand Harbor during the popular summer and fall seasons, but sometimes the weather is nice enough for a beach picnic in the wintertime when the parking lot is free.
Sand Harbor has a main beach area, an area for launching boats and Diver's Cove, which is primarily where SCUBA divers take their open water certification tests. Sand Harbor is also where the summer-long Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival takes place. This annual event brings the Bard's words to evening productions where visitors can bring a picnic and enjoy the performance in the great outdoors with a great view of the lake.
Eat
The restaurants of the North Shore are a mix of everything from Thai and tapas to elegant and sophisticated. Quite a few of the restaurants in this area are on the water and you will have a great view from any angle. One of these is the Lone Eagle Grille at the Hyatt at Lake Tahoe in Incline Village. This stylish place serves excellent steaks, salads, pasta, seafood and they have a great selection of wines and cocktails. The view out the large windows of the lake is stunning. If you are in the mood for something that is more budge-conscious, try Mofo's Pizza and Pasta in Incline Village or Lanza's in Kings Beach. Each of these places serve great Italian dishes and pizza. Other restaurants with views of the lake are the Old Range Steakhouse and the Wild Goose in Tahoe Vista, both of these serve mid-range dishes such as kobe beef burgers, filet mignon and prime rib. If you are looking for a great breakfast, try the Old Post Office Café in Carnelian Bay.
Party
The nightlife in the North Shore is less hopping than on the South Shore, but there are several bars and casinos where you can hang out in the evening and into the night. The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe's bars, Cutthroat's and the Sports Bar are great for dancing, casual dining and cocktails as well as some gaming. The Crystal Bay Club Casino brings in some great bands all year long like Matisyahu, Mumbo Gumbo and the Mother Hips. Of course, if you want a locally loved dive bar, head to Gar Woods in Carnelian Bay.
Stay
If you stay on the North Shore, you have a wide range of choices to stay. For great views of the lake, you can stay in luxury at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, at a casino resort such as the Cal-Neva, Crystal Bay Club or the the Tahoe Biltmore. You can also take your pick of several bed and breakfasts and cute cabins such as the Shooting Star Bed and Breakfast in Carnelian Bay or the Shore House which is perfect for special occasions like weddings or anniversaries.
Shop
There are not too many places to go shopping in North Lake Tahoe. Most people in this area head to Tahoe City for the Boatworks Mall or Cobblestone Center or to the shops of downtown Truckee. In addition, you can head down to the Shops at Heavenly or even down into Reno for some mall shopping.