Incline Village comes by its name honestly. Flat it ain’t. Named for the Great Incline Tramway built by loggers in 1878. Today, Incline is where some of the world’s wealthiest people have built stunning mountain retreats. This eastern North Shore enclave features some of Tahoe’s most relaxing beaches and a genteel approach to Lake life.

In summer, theatergoers congregate to see the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at nearby Sand Harbor. Mountain bikers can get their game on with screamers down the Flume trail, which drains into the Village. Winter sees snow sliders trooping to Diamond Peak (in the city limits) and Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. Additionally, the casino gaming here is uptown and lively.