Escape the Cold with Exciting Indoor Experiences in Tahoe-Truckee

By Kirsten Alexis | Sunday, January 26, 2025
Tahoe City's The Hot Spot offers artistic experiences for all ages! Photo Credit: The Hot Spot.

Skiing, snowboarding, sledding and skating take the spotlight during the winter months in the Tahoe-Truckee region. But there’s much more to this place than epic outdoor adventures. 

Some days, it’s nice to escape the chilly weather and enjoy a rest day indoors. Whether you’re looking for a moment of rest with a self-care routine at the spa, pottery and canvas painting to get your creative juices flowing, or a trip down memory lane in a retro bowling alley and arcade, there’s something for all ages and expectations to add to their Tahoe-Truckee itinerary.

Below, I made a list of some of the most sought-after indoor spots in the region. Hope you enjoy them!

Bring your friends and family for a fun day of bowling and games at Bowl Incline. Photo Credit: Bowl Incline.

Bowling

Bowl Incline

For 55 years, Bowl Incline has been one of the go-to spots for the community of Incline Village. With bowling lanes, axe throwing, arcade games, billiards and Sam Choy’s Ohana Diner, the revamped and renovated version of Bowl Incline is a mix of mid-century memories and modern entertainment for all ages. Want a break from the high-energy of the bowling alley and arcade? Head outside to their patio, where you can sit by the fire pits or play a game of cornhole and bocce ball.

Location: 920 Southwood Boulevard, Incline Village, NV

Tahoe Bowl

The South Lake bowling alley has actually been around since 1959. Tahoe Bowl has 16 lanes, all available with bumpers for the youngsters, a pro shop and both a diner and sports bar. Party packages are available for special get-togethers.

Location: 1030 Fremont Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA

Arts & Crafts

The Hot Spot Paint Your Own Pottery, Candle Making and More

Formerly known as All Fired Up, The Hot Spot is the place in Tahoe City to bring your creative visions to life. Fun for all ages and artistic abilities, The Hot Spot offers candle making, pottery or canvas painting, mosaics, gnome and fairy gardens, and more! They have all the supplies you need. They also offer their studio space as a venue for birthdays, bachelorettes and corporate parties.  

Location: 475 North Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City, CA

Photo: All ages love painting pottery at The Hot Spot in Tahoe City. Photo Credit: The Hot Spot

Movies

Tahoe Art Haus and Cinema

Located in Tahoe City’s Cobblestone Center, Tahoe Art Haus and Cinema is North Lake Tahoe’s premier venue for mainstream, independent, and local films. As the region’s only cinema draft house, Tahoe Art Haus provides craft beers and kombuchas on tap, alongside a popcorn bar and concession stand. This venue is perfect for film enthusiasts, date nights, and events. 

Location: 475 N. Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City, CA  

Indoor Golf 

The Golf Lodge Bar & Simulators

Located in Carson City, not too far from Tahoe, The Golf Lodge offers an indoor golf Trackman simulator for all ages and skill levels. With four hitting bays featuring over 330 courses, there are endless options to level up your golf game. Instructors are available to help with your technique, and there are mini golf courses for kids. Enjoy craft beers, cocktails and charcuterie boards at the country-club-style lounge, or head to the patio to take your break with a beautiful view of the mountains. 

Location: 4530 S. Carson Street, Suites 1 and 2, Carson City NV

Tipsy Putt Tahoe

A combination of indoor mini golf, a fully stocked bar and delicious restaurant, this family-owned eatery is a recipe for a good time. Their menu is set up for those with high standards, with all of their ingredients locally sourced, especially when it comes to their beer. The mini golf course is made for the professional golfer as well as the beginner. And to help keep the enjoyment flowing, the place is stocked full of interactive games for all. For team-building events and celebrations, Tipsy Putt offers reservable space for up to 300 guests and catering options.

Location: 4101 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Suite 101, South Lake Tahoe, CA

Try indoor rock climbing at High Altitude Fitness! Photo Credit: High Altitude Fitness.

Indoor Fitness

Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District

Truckee's many hidden gems are kept shining by the Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District for the enjoyment of locals and visitors. Some of the amenities and facilities managed by the district are accessible for free, others for a fee. The district has deservedly received awards for its facilities, from the nine-hole Ponderosa Golf Course and an ice rink in winter to super-kid-friendly West End Beach and the public piers on Donner Lake. The crown jewel is the 40,000-square-foot Community Recreation Center with, among other things, a two-court gymnasium, a state-of-the-art indoor aquatics center, an indoor running track, exercise equipment, two climbing walls (one is 29 feet tall) and a state-of-the-art aquatics center. Be sure to explore all of Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District's programming and facilities that continue to provide a variety of recreational opportunities in the Truckee area. 

Location: 10981 Truckee Way, Truckee, CA

High Altitude Fitness

With two locations in Incline Village and Truckee, High Altitude Fitness is the region’s go-to gym for health, wellness and community empowerment. Both locations boast indoor rock climbing, top-of-the-line aerobic and strength equipment, and saunas. If you’re looking to level up your fitness with a group class, they offer spin, aerobics, strength and conditioning, Pilates and yoga. A day pass will grant you access to the entire gym, classes and amenities. For remote workers, each gym also has a spacious lobby with desks and couches. This is a great option for those who need space to work but also want to take wellness breaks. 

Locations: 880 Northwood Boulevard, Incline Village, NV and 11798 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA

Escape Room

Elevation Escape

Escape rooms are for all ages and offer safe, fun and challenging experiences. Elevation Escape contains a variety of themed escape rooms. Each room is a high-adrenaline escape game full of mysteries and adventures, where the players are safely locked inside the room and must complete their mission within one hour. Each team will be fully immersed into a real-life adventure where you must search for hidden clues, solve puzzles and crack codes. 

Location: 12047 Donner Pass Road, Suite A-1, Truckee, CA 

Rest & Renewal

Tahoe Forest Baths Japanese Cedar Detox

As one of the two locations in the country that offers an authentic Japanese cedar enzyme detox bath experience, Tahoe Forest Baths is the region’s premier location for detoxification therapies and lymphatic drainage. These treatments play a key role in boosting long-term benefits regarding metabolism, digestion and sleep routines. Plus, you will instantly feel relaxed and rejuvenated. Alongside the detoxification experience, there are options to add on treatments at the oxygen bar.

Location: 209 Kingsbury Grade Road, Suite 3E, Stateline, NV

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Enjoy an authentic Japanese cedar enzyme bath at South Lake's Tahoe Forest Baths. Photo Credit: Tahoe Forest Baths.

Bliss Experiences

Rest, recharge and reconnect with yourself and the natural world with Bliss Experiences, Lake Tahoe’s spiritual and wellness experts. Bliss Experiences provides a variety of retreats, mindfulness workshops, and art and yoga classes to help you connect with your passions and purpose. Self-care is important to Bliss Experiences, and they offer a variety of unique services such as alignment yoga, breathwork and sound baths. In February Bliss Experiences will be moving its location to Lake Tahoe Yoga in Stateline, Nevada, so click on the link above for location information.

Stillwater Spa

Located at the renowned Hyatt Regency in Incline Village, Stillwater Spa is dedicated to creating personalized wellness experiences to help their guests unplug, relax and rejuvenate their mind and body. Through a variety of services including massages, body exfoliants, facials, cryotherapy and float therapy, Stillwater Spa promotes healing on a multidimensional level. These services are perfect for recovery after days on the slopes or to create a day of mindfulness and escape the stressors of everyday life. You will also get access to their fitness facilities, where you can use their equipment to get a cardio or strength and conditioning workout. There are also mats to use for stretching or yoga. 

Location: 111 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, NV

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary is a place of relaxation, rejuvenation and refuge. Whether you are looking to elevate your wellness journey with a therapeutic massage, counseling, acupuncture, facials, yoga or sound immersion therapy, The Sanctuary is dedicated to help you realign and reset your body and mind with their trained and compassionate professionals. Many first-timers come for the yoga classes, which are perfect for all levels. From heated vinyasa to restorative yoga, there’s a class to help you get your desired results. Make sure to check out the sound healing classes for a truly unique healing experience.

Location: 205 Stateline Road, Kings Beach, CA

Enjoy a relaxing and indulgent day of self-care at Stillwater Spa in Incline Village, NV. Photo Credit: Stillwater Spa

For many, many more options of things to do in the Tahoe-Truckee region, visit our Things to Do pages.

About the Author Kirsten Alexis
Kirsten is an outdoor adventure enthusiast, writer and photographer. You can typically find her hiking, paddleboarding, cross-country skiing and checking out new spots to share in the Tahoe Donner region. She has been lucky to call Tahoe her second home since she was a child and aims to inspire people to experience Tahoe and fall in love with the beauty and adventurous spirit of the region through her blogs and content.
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