Change is afoot — gone are the warm summer days spent on Lake Tahoe’s beautiful waters, and the ski and board season has yet to arrive. At a loss for ways to spend fall in the Basin? Don’t fret. Whatever your fancy, fall’s offerings make the season one of Tahoe’s best.

oktoberfest

The word is essentially synonymous with the start of fall, and many organizations have a fun Bavarian-themed event to check out at as September turns to October.

Camp Richardson is celebrating its 22nd annual festival and the fun lasts two days. Bring your stein and lederhosen for beer-, bratwurst-, turkey leg-filled days and countless family-friendly activities. In all, it’s 14 hours of fun modeled after the nearly three-week festival that occurs in Munich, Germany each year.

Go for a drive

Most will agree that driving down Highway 89 is beautiful on any day, but taking the time to explore the curving roads as fall colors abound is one of the best ways to spend time between summer and winter.

Head out to Sorenson’s Resort, marked by its cozy log cabin feel, and continue on to Kirkwood Mountain Resort for breathtaking views. There might even be a chance of glimpsing some early snowfall as you search for the best fall scenes Tahoe has to offer.

Wine crush

As the harvesting season comes to a close, many local wineries throughout El Dorado and Amador counties have special events celebrating the process. One such occasion is Amador Vintners’ Big Crush Harvest Festival, where you’ll get to see portions of the crush process.

In El Dorado County, a variety of harvest celebrations are offered by individual wineries. Learn more by visiting calendars at http://www.eldoradowines.org.

Salmon run

Kokanee salmon populate Taylor Creek in early October, so don’t miss the visitor center’s Fall Fish Festival. Learn about the region while getting a close-up view of a once-a-year phenomenon. Walk the half-mile Rainbow Trail to watch the Kokanee salmon spawn just a few feet away.

If that isn’t enough, it’s also located in a beautiful spot — once again showcasing those infamous Tahoe autumn colors.

Other options

Fall is a great time to break out the mountain bikes and climbing gear. The weather is perfect, and the scenery is beautiful. Plus, a little rain always makes biking in the wilderness a bit more exciting.

If you are less inclined to be active as the weather turns cooler, check out apple picking in Placerville. Apple Hill’s prime season is September through November — get ‘em while you can.

Whether you choose to head out for an event, burn some calories on a trail or spend time reveling in the beauty of the Basin’s landscape, fall in Tahoe is something you can’t miss — no matter what your skiing and boarding friends may say about the winter season.