Po and I moved to Reno, Nevada, 3 years ago, and I’ve been trying to be better about documenting our adventures here. We moved here from Portland, Oregon, and I am sad that I never documented our life there in a sketchbook. But it’s never too late to start!

In this post, we’ll take you on one of our favorite day outings - from the desert of Reno to the mountains of Incline Village, a quaint lakeside town on the north shore of Lake Tahoe!

If you are flying into Reno-Tahoe International Airport, this post is proof that you don’t have to stay within city limits. If you’re renting a car, the drive from Reno to Incline Village is only 45 minutes.

On this outing in April, we were actually meeting up with family who was driving to Reno from San Francisco. While Incline Village is bit of a detour when driving straight to Reno from California, our family was all too eager to check out our favorite spots in Incline Village, and we’ll share them with you today!

1:00 PM - Lunch at Sage Leaf

First up upon arrival - lunch at Sage Leaf! Po and I dined here for brunch during a weekend getaway and loved the menu and the atmosphere. It’s nice enough to have a date, but also cozy enough for anytime dining. The restaurant is kind of small, so I’d recommend making reservations, especially for a bigger party.

For starters, the Housemade Sage & Cheddar Biscuits ($7) are a must for us. It’s buttery and drizzled with honey and comes with seasonal housemade jam, which is so incredibly good.

They have a brunch / lunch menu as well as a dinner menu, although we were here for lunch and got to try a variety of specialties:

Braised Bacon Tacos ($20) - two grilled flour tortillas loaded with scrambled eggs, black beans, thick slabs of bacon, cheddar cheese, salsa, shaved cabbage, and pickled onions
Corned Beef Brisket Hash ($21) - seared brisket, poached eggs, crispy potatoes, old bay, baby sweet peppers, onions, tomato aioli, and watercress
Huevos Rancheros ($17) *vegetarian - two fried eggs on top of crispy corn tortillas with refried pinto beans, ranchero sauce, queso fresco, guacamole, shaved radish (nix the cilantro for me!)
The Burger ($20.75) - brioche bun with a steak patty, braised and fried bacon, fried egg, herb aioli, cheddar cheese, baby arugula, pickled cucumber & onion, plus a side of housemade fries
Niman Ranch Lamb Burger ($24.50) - brioche bun with a lamb patty, smoked gouda, spicy green curry yogurt, mixed greens, marinated tomato & onion, plus a side of housemade fries

We all loved the food and service and were super full. But of course, ready and excited to head to our next stop to get…COFFEE!

2:00 PM - Coffee at DCDS

Drink Coffee Do Stuff is our must-stop when visiting Incline Village! The coffee here is so good, but also, it’s the only “hipster” coffee shop in this whole area, and you know we love these types of coffee shops!

The interior blends industrial and alpine, and feels like a cozy ski resort cabin with its woolen throws and chunky wooden tables. The food menu is a little more simple and better for a light meal, which is why we like to eat elsewhere first and grab coffee after.

On this occasion, having already eaten, it was all about chilling at one of the tables with hot coffees in hand. They still had their Pumpkin Pie Latte, despite it being April. It’s very cozy and not too sweet!

There’s not a lot of seating, but every time we’ve come, we’ve always managed to get a table. It’s also a great spot to unwind, do some work, draw, or read a book!

3:00 PM - Hiking

Incline Village is best to experience the outdoors, so take advantage of being here by going on a hike! Stateline Fire Lookout is one of our favorite trails, as it is a relatively easy hike. You do have to go uphill (and then back down), and on this particular day in mid-April, there was still snow and ice on the ground, making it slippery and slightly treacherous to walk! So check the weather forecast ahead of time, and make sure you bring the right shoes if you plan on hiking in the mountains. Chances are there is still snow until May.

When you get to the lookout point, the views of the lake and the surrounding nature are so beautiful and worth it. As one of the clearest lakes in the world, it’s no wonder that the beautiful blue of Lake Tahoe is such a wondrous sight to see!

Living in Reno, Incline Village is the perfect day outing to get away and feel like you traveled somewhere else entirely. No matter which season you’re visiting in, it’s such a peaceful way to enjoy the outdoors without having to drive too far! And if you’re flying into Reno or driving in from California, it’s the kind of day trip that’s easy to plan and full of rewards: good food, great coffee, and unforgettable lake views.

Next time you’re visiting Reno - or just passing through - take a little detour to Incline Village! The drive there is scenic, the vibe is peaceful, and it’s the perfect reminder that some of the best travel moments happen just off the main route.

Helpful Travel Links

Sage Leaf - brunch, lunch, and dinner restaurant serving up seasonal creative menus that focus on local and sustainable ingredients
Drink Coffee Do Stuff - Here is the menu for the Incline Village location, although the menus are more or less the same across all the locations. Since writing this post, a Drink Coffee Do Stuff has opened IN Reno! While that means you don’t have to drive 45 minutes to get your DCDS fix anymore, Incline Village is still worth visiting and now you know where to get your coffee when you go!
Trailhead for Stateline Fire Lookout - trail begins in Nevada, but the historic lookout point puts you in Kings Beach, California

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