Friday, August 29, 2025
About a week ago, Inna and I decided to visit North Lake Tahoe (Incline Village) during the Labor Day weekend, when we would have Monday, September 1, off as a company holiday. Inna had made hotel reservations at the Incline Lodge for 3 nights and dinner reservations at a couple of restaurants (Soule Domain and Big Water Grille).
Finishing around 08:15, we started our drive to Sand Harbor State Park, hoping to arrive in time to get a parking space. Unfortunately, we had not made parking reservations one week in advance and were turned away. Next time, make reservations at least one week in advance. (By the way, the daily parking fee is $15).
Once we reached Hidden Beach, Inna found a shady spot (it was very hot out), and we set up our chairs. I had forgotten to bring an umbrella, and it would have been convenient.
We decided to eat breakfast at the nearby Sage Leaf Tahoe Restaurant, and I made a reservation for 09:15. It turned out to be unnecessary, as the restaurant was completely empty. Parking near the restaurant was minimal and cramped, and we barely found a spot, even at 09:15.
About a week ago, Inna and I decided to visit North Lake Tahoe (Incline Village) during the Labor Day weekend, when we would have Monday, September 1, off as a company holiday. Inna had made hotel reservations at the Incline Lodge for 3 nights and dinner reservations at a couple of restaurants (Soule Domain and Big Water Grille).
We planned to start our drive to North Lake Tahoe at around 18:00, but were delayed by UPS. Both Inna and I were expecting packages, which, for one reason or another, were postponed. I was expecting an Adorama package, which required my signature. Eventually, at 18:30, the UPS delivery truck stopped by our house, and we received our shipments.
We started our drive at 6:30 p.m., noting that there was still considerable traffic in the Lake Tahoe area. The projected driving time was reduced from 5 hours to 4.5 hours (about 4 hours to cover the 186 miles). I had charged the Tesla Model Y to 95%, so that we could drive nonstop.
As we drove along 680 and 80, we encountered many slowdowns and very heavy traffic until we passed Sacramento. Even though our Tesla started out at 95%, we had to stop for additional charging at the Auburn Tesla Supercharger (our battery was below 30%). With that additional stop time, we arrived at Incline Lodge very late, past 11:30 p.m.
Inna had called ahead to Incline Lodge to check in and had to submit some documents to receive her room access code (as the lobby would close at 23:00), which closed before our arrival. She called the hotel to warn them of our late arrival, and the staff called back to explain the late-night check-in procedure.
When we finally reached the Incline Lodge, we parked our Tesla Model Y outside, found and unlocked our room #204, and went to bed.
Saturday, August 30, 2025
I had my alarm set to 07:00 and woke up right on time. After showering, I quickly dressed and waited for Inna to get ready. We decided to eat breakfast at the nearby Drink Coffee, Do Stuff cafe. Last time we visited Lake Tahoe (during the July 4th weekend in 2024, we had eaten there, but had to wait in a very long line.
We decided to arrive early, getting there at 07:37. The line was relatively short, and we quickly ordered the following:
- Boris: Cappuccino, Yogurt parfait, Bread with Jam
- Inna: Latte, Breakfast sandwich with Prosciutto
Finishing around 08:15, we started our drive to Sand Harbor State Park, hoping to arrive in time to get a parking space. Unfortunately, we had not made parking reservations one week in advance and were turned away. Next time, make reservations at least one week in advance. (By the way, the daily parking fee is $15).
We decided to return to Tunnel Creek Cafe (3 miles north), where we could park our car (limited paid parking) and take the East Shore Express bus/shuttle (runs daily from 10:00 to 18:00). We decided not to wait for the shuttle. We grabbed our bag (containing swimsuits, towels, Kindles, and a GoPro Hero 10 Black) and two beach chairs, then walked 3 miles south (about 55 minutes) to Sand Harbor State Park, following the Tahoe East Shore Trail.
On arriving at Sand Harbor State Park, we had to pay $4 entrance fee ($2 / person), and we looked for the Clearly Tahoe Kayak Rentals at Sand Harbor. It was a walk south, along the lake. After reaching the rental shed, we signed our liability waivers and requested 1-2 hours on a glass-bottom 2-person kayak. The total kayak rental cost was $95 + Nevada tax, for a total of $102 (for 2 hours).
We were considering renting the all-glass kayak too (it was almost twice as expensive). However, it had a 1-hour rental limit and was not as seaworthy (as easy to paddle) as the glass-bottom kayak.
We had a fantastic time kayaking around the lake, stopping by the Bonsai Rock (a small offshore rock with a growing Bonsai tree). We also paddle to the Thunderbird Lodge, which has a beautiful lake view with a mini lighthouse. We paddled back and returned our kayaks. We decided to return to our car because we had paid for parking for only 4 hours. In addition, Inna was getting sunburned, and we did not think it wise to swim with peak sun at noon (at high elevation).
We waited about 30 minutes for the East Shore Express shuttle/bus, which arrived at 13:20. We considered ordering UberX, but it was expensive $26 for a 3-mile ride) and had a long wait (20 minutes) as well
Once we boarded the shuttle, we got off at the Tunnel Creek Cafe bus stop. We decide to purchase additional parking time and stop by Tunnel Creek Cafe for lunch. We had eaten there last year (after hiking Monkey Rock) and were not very impressed.
However, this time, we had a better experience. After ordering the following items, we sat down indoors:
- Drinks: Passion Fruit Cider (alcoholic)
- Boris: Cappuccino, East Shore Cheese Steak
- Inna: London fog, Big Blue Burger (blue cheese)
- Dessert: Macadamia Nut Cookie
My East Shore Cheese Steak was excellent, and I really like the Passion Fruit Cider. Inna's Big Blu Burger was also delicious.
After lunch, we paid for 4 additional hours of parking (the parking machine did not like my credit cards, and it took several tries to get it to recognize one). We decided to walk to Hidden Beach (about a mile away / 20-minute walk).
Once we reached Hidden Beach, Inna found a shady spot (it was very hot out), and we set up our chairs. I had forgotten to bring an umbrella, and it would have been convenient.
Inna swam in Lake Tahoe a couple of times, and I also went in for a short dip.p It was still quite cold (50+ degrees Fahrenheit). While resting, I finished reading A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle. I really enjoyed reading about expat life in rural Provence.
At around 17:30, we packed our bags and walked back to Tunnel Creek Cafe. We loaded our Tesla and drove to the nearest Tesla Supercharger (as my Tesla was at 10%). While I charged the car, Inna explored the nearby Raley's supermarket.
Once Tesla reached 52% charged, we decided to return to Incline Lodge and rest for a bit before driving to dinner. Inna had made a dinner reservation for 19:30 at Soule Domain.
Upon arrival, we parked our car on the street and waited to be seated. Our table was not initially ready. We were offered a different table in another room and decided to take it (to avoid additional unnecessary wait time). After discussing the various options, we ordered the following items:
- Drinks: San Pellegrino Sparkling Water
- Appetizer: Lamb Salad
- Inna: Seafood Pasta (Shrimp, Lobster) with Fettuccini
- Boris: Lamb Chops from New Zealand
- Dessert: Bread Pudding à la mode
The Lamb Salad and the Lamb Chops were excellent. Inna's Seafood Pasta with Fettuccini was also amazing.
After a short 10-minute drive back to our Incline Lodge, we stopped by the reception. The receptionist made us some hot tea (black for me, Chamomile for Inna) and we relaxed for a bit before returning to our room.
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Inna did not sleep well, so we woke up late on Sunday morning. At around 09:00, we walked downstairs to the lobby to drop off our luggage (which needed to be moved to our new room #116).
After sitting down outdoors, we looked at the menu and ordered the following items:
We looked at a few homes in Incline Village, but found their locations difficult to reach. After returning to Incline Lodge, we stopped to sample drinks during the hotel's happy hour (from 17:00- 19:00). We selected the following alcoholic beverages:
Monday, September 1, 2025
- 2 Coffees
- Mushroom Scramble
- Cheddar Biscuits
Inna and I shared the Mushroom Scramble and the Cheddar Biscuits. They were both delicious and excellent.
After breakfast, we decided to hike around Spooner Lake, near Carson City. We started our 30-minute drive there, arriving around 10:30. There was a bad accident on the way there (traffic was stopped, and we saw a tow truck trying to pull something out of a deep ravine). We noticed that many people were parking their cars in precarious spots along the road.
While traffic to Lake Tahoe was very heavy, traffic to Spooner Lake was light, and the parking lot there was largely empty. We had to pay $15 for parking (Nevada residents pay $10).
The hike around Spooner Lake was pleasant, with beautiful views of Aspens. We saw many dogs along the leisurely trail. Although not especially scenic like the trails in Sedona, Spooner Lake was nice and comfortable (similar to Vasona Lake in Los Gatos).
From Spooner Lake, we drove to nearby Carson City to explore the area. The road there was quite twisty, and the air temperature notably increased from the low 70s in Lake Tahoe to the 90s. Carson City looked strange to me - like many cities in Nevada - a city in the middle of the desert surrounded by hills with minimal vegetation.
Parking downtown near Comma Coffee, we walked around and were surprised by green lawns and overall cleanliness. Most buildings were freshly painted; there were no homeless people anywhere. Comma Coffee turned out to be closed, so we continued our walk to the next closest coffee shop - Old World Coffee Roasters. We ordered the following items and decided to sit indoors, as outside was quite hot (91°F):
- Boris: Cappuccino
- Inna: London Fog
After we finished our drinks, we walked around a bit and decided to stop by for lunch at Eve's Eatery. We waited for him to be seated and were given a few menus.
We decided to order the following (as recommended by our waitress):
Our next stop was Cave Rock, only a few minutes away. After passing through the tunnel, we found a small, narrow road leading to a boat ramp (with a sign that said 'Parking Full'). Inna got out and took a few photos, while I waited in the car.
- Inna: Fresh Cucumber Lemonade, Salmon Benedict
- Boris: Iced Tea, Agnolotti, Garlic Bread
The food came slowly, and we waited over 30 minutes. However, my Agnolotti was excellent, and Inna's Salmon Benedict was outstanding as well. Inna's Fresh Cucumber Lemonade was terrific, too.
After looking at a few homes in Carson City, we decided to explore nearby tennis courts. We first stopped by Mills Park, but found only pickleball courts (generally in good condition). The large green lawns were well-trimmed, and there were no homeless people. We next drove to Carson Tennis Club, which had 8 beautiful tennis courts (but no one was playing, due to the high temperatures). However, on the nearby Eagle Valley Golf Course, there were plenty of people teeing off.
We decided to return to East Lake Tahoe and stop at some of the famous viewpoints along the way. Our first stop was at Logan Shoals Vista Point. There was a small parking lot nearby, and I managed to park our Tesla there. We scrambled around a few rocks for breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe. Both Inna and I took numerous photos and marveled at the beauty.
Our next stop was Cave Rock, only a few minutes away. After passing through the tunnel, we found a small, narrow road leading to a boat ramp (with a sign that said 'Parking Full'). Inna got out and took a few photos, while I waited in the car.
We continued our drive to Zephyr Cove and then to Round Hill, where we wanted to use the Tesla Supercharger. However, all the chargers were busy (and another car was waiting), so we decided to return to Incline Village and charge our Tesla there.
At Incline Village, we charged our Tesla Model Y (from 19% to 80%) using the Tesla Supercharger near Raley's. While the car was charging, I walked to Raley's to check out the produce. I even found that this Raley's carried Skyr - my favorite Icelandic yogurt.
We looked at a few homes in Incline Village, but found their locations difficult to reach. After returning to Incline Lodge, we stopped to sample drinks during the hotel's happy hour (from 17:00- 19:00). We selected the following alcoholic beverages:
- Inna: Wine - Château Souverain Chardonnay
- Boris: Beer - Rogue Farms Honey Kolsch
- Appetizer: Bread, Goat cheese stuffed figs
- Boris: Mahi-Mahi Fish & Chips
- Inna: Halibut
The food was mediocre and bland. Inna's Halibut was below average. My Mahi-mahi Fish & Chips were edible, but the French fries were mushy. We skipped dessert because we lost confidence in the restaurant's food quality.
After returning to our Incline Lodge, we decided to stop by the hotel's lobby. The receptionist made us hot tea, and we enjoyed relaxing there. We also shared one small pastry along with tea.
Monday, September 1, 2025
Happy Labor Day!
We woke up at around 07:00 to my iPhone alarm, although I had been awakened earlier by the sound of hotel guests departing. We packed our luggage and prepared to check out.
I reserved breakfast at the nearby Sage Leaf Tahoe Restaurant for 09:00. However, we decided to arrive earlier, in case there were open tables. Luckily, there was plenty of seating. After being seated outdoors, we looked at the menu and ordered the following items:
- 2 Coffees
- Mushroom Scramble
- Cheddar Biscuits
The Mushroom Scramble and the Cheddar Biscuits were wonderful. The coffee was delicious, too. Sage Leaf Tahoe Restaurant has become our favorite breakfast spot in Incline Village.
We had planned to see a few homes in Incline Village and drove to meet a realtor.
When we returned, we decided to stop by Fumo for lunch. We had eaten there last year and thought that it was a respectable eatery. We arrived at around 13:00, and there were a few people ahead of us. However, we were quickly seated indoors and ordered the following:
- Boris: Smash Burger
- Inna: Arugula Salad with Chicken
The Smash Burger was excellent, and Inna liked her Arugula Salad.
After lunch, we started our long drive back to San Jose, stopping in Fairfield to recharge the Tesla Model Y. Outside temperatures were hitting 106°F, and traffic to the Bay Area was very heavy.
We reached San Jose at around 19:15, stopping by Whole Foods to purchase groceries.
Lake Tahoe Trip Review
Highlights
- Kayaking at Sand Harbor State Park using Clearly Tahoe Kayak Rentals at Sand Harbor
- Relaxing and swimming at Hidden Beach
- Hiking around Spooner Lake
- Dinner at Soule Domain
- Breakfast at Sage Leaf Tahoe Restaurant
- Walking along the Tahoe East Shore Trail
Lowlights
- Heavy traffic from San Jose to Lake Tahoe on Friday evening
- Heavy traffic from Lake Tahoe to San Jose on Monday afternoon
- Disappointing dinner at Big Water Grille (avoid)
- Not finding any decent cafes in Incline Village
Links
- Parks
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Soule Domain (dinner)
- Sage Leaf Tahoe Restaurant (breakfast)
- Tunnel Creek Cafe (lunch)
- Fumo (lunch)
- Coffee
