Your Weekly Guide to Free North Tahoe Markets and Music - 2022 Edition

Tuesdays

Truckee Farmers Market

When: 8am-1pm, May 14th - October 15th

Where: Truckee Regional Park

What: Mostly a farmers market, you’re sure to find a wide variety of local produce, meats, cheeses, and crafts.

Bluesdays

When: 6-8:30pm, June 21 - August 30

Where: The Village at Palisades Tahoe

What: Outdoor blues concert series with beer, wine, spirits, and food options. Bring your own low-back chair, or get on your feet and dance!

Wednesdays

Music in the Park

When: 6:30pm - 8:30pm, June 22 - August 31

Where: Truckee Regional “Salty” Gebhardt Amphitheater

What: Live music with a free bike valet at a family friendly amphitheater!

Thursdays

Tahoe City Farmers Market

When: 8am-1pm, May 12 - October 20

Where: Commons Beach

What: Thriving farmers market with a variety of goods, including fresh produce, artisan breads, meats, flowers, crafts, and more!

Incline Village Farmers Market

When: 3pm-6pm (it says 7pm in some places), May 26 - September 1

Where: Incline Village Library

What: The only afternoon market on the list, this market offers a variety of local goods!

Truckee Thursdays

When: 5pm-8:30pm

Where: Downtown Truckee, June 23 - August 11

What: A “Summer Street Festival” with an abundance of activity–live music, tap brews, food trucks, kids activities, and local artisans and business tents. The event also features widespread public transport & free bike valet to skip the challenge of parking in Downtown Truckee!

Fridays

Music on the Beach

When: 6pm-8:30pm, June 17 - September 2

Where: King’s Beach

What: Summer concert series with live music of a variety of genres, beverages, and local food vendors. Watch the sun sink low over the lake as you enjoy music on the beach!

SunSets Live Music Series

When: 5pm-7pm, June 10 - August 26

Where: The Village at Palisades Tahoe

What: Free live music every Friday in Olympic Valley, perfect after a day hiking in the valley or tubing the Truckee River!

Sundays

Concert at Commons Beach

When: 4pm-7pm, June 12 - September 4

Where: Commons Beach

What: Free live music with both local and national musicians at Commons Beach, a lakefront park in downtown Tahoe City.

Sunday Sessions

When: Shows start at 7pm, July 31 - September 4

Where: Moe’s Barbecue in Tahoe City

What: After Concert at Commons, head over to Moe’s Original Bar B Que for authentic barbecue offerings and continuation of the live music fun! Also on the water, this event is a blast.

In the Lake Tahoe basin, opportunities for adventure abound. You can take a tram up a mountain to wander around some of the highest peaks in the region. You can jet-ski in circles on the lake. You can take a 10 minute plane ride to jump out and skydive back down. These things are incredible–and it’s incredible that you can spend just a week in Tahoe and achieve so many adventurous bucket-list items. The problem is that these things take away the very challenge of adventure sports. The early rock climbers, mountain bikers, even skiers and snowboarders–they weren’t looking for ways around the climb, they were looking for the climb itself. At Tahoe Adventure Company, you won’t find a single motor–not electric, not gas, nothing more than the human-powered engines we have built-in propelling us across the lake, up the hill, down the mountain. We champion “human-powered adventures” because true adventure requires commitment, connection, challenge, and most of all: time. Sure, you’ll end the day sweatier and more sunburnt than those who opt for the easy adventure, but I’ll bet that you’ll end up happier and more satisfied, too. 

Before even considering why human-powered adventures bring more value to a vacation, let’s talk about the practical matters. If you pay attention to the outdoor world, you’ll know that until very recently, it’s been exclusively for people with an abundance of time and money. Ski-doos are expensive. Electric bikes, motor boats, airplanes–it seems like the faster you go, the more you spend. Not to mention the environmental impact: all the gas motors and jets that seem to be central to so many adventure sports these days are just pumping more pollution and carbon dioxide into an already oversaturated atmosphere. In the Tahoe area, where wildfires threaten homes, outdoor playgrounds, and the very air we breathe–and where we know that human-started wildfires are more damaging than any natural fires–I can’t help but wonder how many bicycles or kayaks have contributed. A hell of a lot more fires are started by engines and vehicles than any human-powered machine. Beyond price and risk, human-powered adventures are simply easier to get started. To hike, you need shoes. To kayak, just a boat and a paddle. To bike, only a bike and a helmet. You don’t need several thousand dollar speedboats, you don’t need any certifications nor special clothes; you certainly don’t need all the expensive gear the outdoor industry tries to convince you you need. You just need to show up–meaning that anyone can start anywhere at any time.

Picture this: you and your family go jet-skiing every summer on Lake Tahoe, but this year, you opt for a kayak tour on the north shore instead. You don’t go as fast, maybe you don’t get the same thrills, but the stillness quiets you. Your kids are talking to each other, asking your guide questions about the natural history of Lake Tahoe, wondering in quiet awe how all of this got here. You peer down over the edge of the kayak to see 60ft down in the water, something you never noticed before on the jet ski. You feel the power of your body propelling your boat through the water, you’re remembering to take deep breaths, to absorb every tree and pebble you can see. The mental health impact of spending time in nature is undeniable–lower stress, better mood, and even reduced risk of psychiatric disorders. This effect is even stronger when exercising in nature–perhaps the very feeling of using your body for how it works rather than how it looks is important in today’s culture. Not to mention the relationships we build with each other–anyone who has spent an evening, without phones, around a campfire can tell you that the relationships and connections we build with each other when in nature are stronger and truer than anywhere else. Speaking of phones–lack of service, proximity to water, and the desire to conserve battery all contribute to phones being less of a Thing in human-powered adventures. Without phones to monopolize our attention, we can focus on the things that really matter.

Now, all of this might sound like a lot of extra work, but that’s the entire point. Exercising your mind and body grows brain cells, and doing challenging things on purpose builds confidence, helps you get to know yourself, and encourages agency and control in your life. The benefits are many and the drawbacks are few–spend less, connect more, and build components of a good life that truly can last. After all, no true adventurer did more work to avoid the climb–they just tackle it, step by step, and when they get to the top, they feel better for it. Don’t cheapen value with ease and convenience–be the power behind your human-powered adventure.

This blog post is an overview of the most popular kayaking and paddle boarding tours that Tahoe Adventure Company offers--take a look to get a good idea of where each tour goes and the goals it accomplishes. I hope you'll be able to find the best fit for you and your travel buddies!

North Shore Kayak or Paddle Board Tour
10am-2pm, $95 each, lunch included, ages 8+.
This 4 hour tour is the best way to see Tahoe’s North Shore–get a paddle lesson at the beautiful Tahoe Vista Recreation Area by an experienced, knowledgeable, and frankly just really cool guide. Once they give you the run-down on how to use your kayak or paddle board, everybody launches from the beach, just steps from the meeting area, and the adventure begins! If the winds are blowing west, you’ll head east across the beautiful Agate Bay, catching views of Kings Beach and the many sandy recreation spots on the North Shore. Surrounded by mountains and dense forests, there is more to look at then you’ll know what to do with! If the group is paddling strong, you might even make it to the boulder fields at Speedboat Beach near the Nevada state border. If the wind is blowing east, you’ll head west across Carnelian Bay towards Waterman’s Landing. This is a super popular area due to the famous and fancy Gar Woods restaurant (Tahoe Adventure Company has a tour that takes you there!), and the altogether stunning views of the crystal blue lake and surrounding mountains. At some point along the way (no matter which direction you’re paddling), the group stops at one of the Tahoe beaches and your guide will whip up a delicious deli lunch and ice-cold drinks for your enjoyment. The beauty of paddling upwind to start is that after lunch, you get to cruise back to Tahoe Vista with the wind at your back. If you want, you can spend the rest of your day on the sandy beach at Tahoe Vista Recreation Area and just relax, soaking up that late afternoon Sierra sunshine. There’s nothing better in the world!

Discover Kayak or Paddle Board Tour
10am-12pm, $65 each, ages 6+.
This 2 hour guided tour is the perfect introduction to paddle sports! Starting and ending at the same spot as the North Shore tour, you’re bound to see much of the same sights, but this tour is geared up more as a lesson for those hoping to dip their toes in the (literal and figurative) water of kayaking or paddle boarding. Your guide will give you all the tips and tricks on how to be a better paddler, plus a ton of really interesting information about the natural and human history of the Lake Tahoe basin and lake itself. Perfect for kids (6+), beginners, or even just those traveling on a time crunch.

Sand Harbor Kayak or Paddle Board Tour
8:30am-12:30pm, $109 each, snacks and drinks included, ages 8+.
This East Shore morning tour begins with a group transfer from the Incline Village Visitor Center to Sand Harbor state park–sound like a drag? Way less of a drag than waking up at 4am to get there before the parking lot inevitably fills up and blocks traffic both ways! The shuttle is only a few minutes long and saves you the hassle–not to mention our guides do all the heavy lifting to get the boats into the water for you. Sand Harbor is an incredible kickoff point to explore the East Shore of Lake Tahoe–if you’re visiting to explore travel bloggers’ or instagram influencers’ photo spots, you’ve chosen the right tour. There are regal boulder fields with granite rocks towering over you in your kayak. There’s bonsai rock, a little island with a little tree that is definitely a photography hotspot. There are all kinds of secret coves and private beaches only accessible by boat where you can hop out, relax in the sun, soak in the moment like a basking lizard. After 2-3 hours of paddling and exploring the crystal blue waters, you’ll head back to the Sand Harbor beach, watch your staff haul all the boats back on the trailer while you enjoy a cool drink and yummy snack in the shade, then everyone heads back to Incline Village to get your cars! It’s a SPECTACULAR tour with a maximum of 12 people so make sure to call ahead as they fill up quickly!

Thunderbird Lodge Kayak Tour
8am-2:30pm, $169 each (includes $50 donation to the Lodge), lunch included, ages 8+.
This tour is juuuust like the Sand Harbor tour, but with a twist (and lunch!). Just like the Sand Harbor kayak or paddle board tour, the Thunderbird Lodge tour starts and ends at the Incline Village Visitor Center, heads over to Sand Harbor, and gives you a few hours to paddle around the East Shore. The difference is that after a few hours, you get to hop out, put on some dry shoes, and get an exclusive walking tour of George Whittell’s home (read: castle) nestled in the forest on the East Shore. If you’re coming to Tahoe without knowing who George Whittell was, your first task is to google him. Done? No? Fine, then here’s a run-down: the famous George owned a huge portion of the Nevada side of the lake–his dream was to build a slew of luxury travel resorts–but he passed away without ever realizing that goal. Luckily for us, this means that a huge amount of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline was unable to be developed, and is now mostly owned by the Nevada State Parks system. The Thunderbird Lodge, his not-so-humble abode, is one of the only buildings on the stunning East Shore of the lake. This tour is extra special because we are one of the only companies permitted to take our guests in and around the lodge–our guides are trained docents and have more history and information to share with you than you probably even want to know. After the walking tour, you’ll paddle over to one of the many stunning sandy beaches in the area, eat a delicious sandwich and drink cool drinks, then meander back to Sand Harbor to wrap up your day. This is one of our most popular tours and is only available on Tuesdays (unless your group is bigger than 20), so make sure to plan in advance and secure your spot!


Whether you’re looking for introductory or family fun, a full day North Shore excursion , an East Shore exploratory tour , or a historical and stunning all-day adventure , we are sure you’ll be able to find something great for you and your group. To book, just head over to the Water Adventures page on the website, or call at 530-913-9212 to speak with the amazing office staff who can help you find the best tours for you. Don’t forget that Tahoe Adventure Company does more than just kayak tours and paddle boarding tours on Lake Tahoe–they can also take you on mountain biking tours, hiking tours, and even multi-sport tours with kayaking or paddle boarding in the morning and hiking or biking in the afternoon! Visit tahoeadventurecompany.com for all your Lake Tahoe tour needs!

While we are still enjoying all the pleasures that come with winter, minus the shoveling, we can’t help but daydream about the upcoming summer months. Great winters bring amazing summers here in the Sierra’s. But, before we dust off those kayaks and tune our bikes, we wanted to share some tips in prepping for your high-altitude summer vacation.

Studies have shown that twenty-percent of visitors visiting altitude above 5,500 ft. will experience some form of altitude sickness. Although mostly mild symptoms, nobody wants to miss out on the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe.

Give Yourself Time to Acclimate
Although some are able to hit the trails upon arrival, we recommend visitors to allow their bodies to acclimate to the high altitude before activities. If you’re not used to the altitude, take your time, enjoy some of our local restaurants and shops before joining us out on the late or on the trail.

Stay Hydrated
This is one of our top priorities when taking guests out on tours. This tip should be applied for your entire vacation and especially before, during, and after any physical activity. Also remember that coffee and alcoholic drinks can affect people differently at higher altitudes. So when enjoying a cold one with dinner, remember to follow up with plenty of water before heading off to bed.

Indulge Yourself
Next to staying hydrated, eating right is always important. As much as some try to ignore it, complex carbohydrates are exactly what your body needs. Apologies to Dr. Atkins, but when taking up high altitude activities, your body is begging for some complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits and veggies. These types of foods help your body to use oxygen more efficiently and maintain energy levels, both important for preventing altitude sickness.

<b?Know the Signs
Knowing your body, allowing yourself to rest, and consuming the right foods and drinks are great suggestions to preventing altitude sickness. Headaches, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea/vomiting, fatigue or loss of energy are all symptoms.

With this said, it’s important to know that altitude sickness can strike even the healthiest of athletes. Although often very mild, don’t ignore the symptoms and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.