Nice, named after Nice in France, is on Clear Lake's north shore
Nice, pronounced “Neese,” is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lake County with a population of about 2,500, according to U.S. Census estimates. Named after Nice, a city on the French Riviera, this northern California community is on the north side of Clear Lake, the state’s largest freshwater lake. State Route 20 runs along the shoreline. “Lakefront properties are all along Highway 20. There are otherworldly views up there,” says Bridget King, a Realtor with Luxe Places International Realty. It’s about 10 miles to Lakeport and 22 miles to Clearlake, small cities on the west and east sides of the lake, respectively. The region, home of the Pomo peoples, became popular in the early 1900s as a vacation destination and is now well-known for wine production.
Most homes are under $500,000, but some on the lake cost more
Older single-family homes, including 20th-century bungalows and ranch-style homes, are about $120,000 to $440,000. Newer, and often larger, custom lakefront homes are $750,000 to $940,000. Mobile and manufactured homes typically range from about $20,000 to $200,000. The risk of wildfires may affect the availability of traditional home insurance policies.
Parks and beaches on the shore, Mendocino National Forest close by
Recreational spots along the shore include Holiday Harbor Beach and Keeling Park, which has a playground, a boat launch and a dock. Popular activities on the lake include fishing, boating and water sports. Though the lake provides drinking water to more than half of the county, issues have included pollution, toxicity from algae overgrowth and odors. Projects have been implemented to keep the lake clean, restore wetlands and control algae.
Natural resources surrounding the area include Mendocino National Forest, which is almost a million acres. People visit the forest for hiking, hunting and fishing. Wildfires, an ongoing threat in the region, have impacted some parts of the forest.
Nice’s stores and restaurants, or more in nearby Lakeport
For groceries and essentials, Nice has Mar-Vals Sentry Market and a Dollar General. The Boathouse Bar & Stowaway Grill has a dock and outdoor seating. It hosts pool tournaments and a concert series from spring to fall. Other restaurants include Romi’s Brew & BBQ and Mad House Junction, which serves classic American food in a former post office building. Clarke’s Collectables and Lunchbox Museum offers tours a couple of days a week and has a gift shop with rare collectibles and retro-themed items. “We relocated here almost 20 years ago and have never been so happy with beautiful views and some of the cleanest air in California,” says Deb Clarke, the owner and curator of Clarke’s.
For more variety, Lakeport has a Safeway, drugstores and restaurants. The Sutter Lakeside Hospital is about a 5-mile drive from Nice.
Things to do at the Nice Event Center or in Lakeport
The Nice Event Center has hosted Hallowfest in October, a spring plant sale in May and the Northshore Community Market on Sundays, seasonally. The center is home to the Vision of Hope Village, a nonprofit dedicated to young adults with autism and other neurodiversity.
Residents of Nice might head to Lakeport for other activities and events. The Lakeport Library hosts the Tuesday Market, a certified farmers market. The Lake County Fair takes place in August at the Lake County Fairgrounds, which also has a speedway.
Students may be bused to public schools in Upper Lake
Students may attend public schools like Upper Lake Elementary School and Upper Lake Middle School, which earn C-plus grades from Niche. Upper Lake High School has a B-minus and offers dual enrollment through Mendocino College. There are school bus stops in Nice, as the schools are about 5 miles away.
Long distances require driving, a bus links Nice to its neighbors
Nice has some hilly areas and curving residential streets without sidewalks. Lake County Transit’s North Shore bus route goes from Clearlake to Lakeport. However, people typically drive to travel long distances. Santa Rosa is about 72 miles away, it’s about 110 miles to Sacramento and 130 to San Francisco. The Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa offers domestic passenger service on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Avelo Airlines.
Economic challenges due to limited businesses and jobs
Nice has experienced some economic challenges in recent years as some businesses have closed. Ceàgo, a 160-acre estate that had been previously approved for extensive resort and residential development, went on the market in 2023 for $21 million. As of the summer of 2025, the Ceàgo Vinegarden remained closed to the public. With little in the way of commercial businesses, few jobs are available in Nice, so residents may commute to other towns and cities.
Written By
Robin Silberman
