RenoNevada

The famed neon Reno Arch stretching across Virginia Street
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Ask a Local: Reno-Tahoe, Nevada Transcript
Speaker:
There’s a lot to see about Reno. We’re part desert, part Truckee Meadows, and we’re right on the foothills of the eastern Sierra Nevada.
My favorite thing to do here is to go up to Lake Tahoe. It’s this beautiful, pristine, clear body of water in the middle of the forest. So, it’s a great place to go hiking and rock climbing. One of the most beautiful things is being out on the lake, whether you take out a paddleboard or kayak, and getting that vantage point of looking back at the beach, looking back up to see how massive those mountains are. It’s something that makes Lake Tahoe truly special.
Reno’s got to be the best place in the world for skiers. There’s about nine major downhill ski resorts within an hour of downtown Reno. To have the city life right here, so close to so many great ski resorts, it’s just something that you’re not gonna find someplace else.
People don’t expect to see this great canopy of trees in the Reno area and in the actual city of Reno. It’s very easy to get on a kayak and go through downtown. It’s purpose built for kayaking right through downtown. BaseCamp is pretty cool, you know; it’s right by the Reno Arch. Great climbing wall, it brings the outdoors right into downtown.
The scenery here is crazy. Facing west, it’s all mountains and you can see the trees on the top of the mountains heading up into Lake Tahoe. Facing east, you can see the rolling hills heading into the desert.
Virginia City is western heritage. The whole town is built upon the American dream: heading out west to find your fortune. It’s an old-time, old west town. You can do mine tours, take an old train ride, and they also keep the city up like it was in the 1800s.
Carson City is cool, kind of a smaller city to be a state capital. We have a Basque population here. The Basque came over here because they like the geography. It’s really great for sheep herding, which is what they did. We have two Basque food restaurants.
The events in Reno are insane. There’s a great big balloon festival, which is free to go to, motorcycles, classic cars. The Nugget Rib Cook Off is huge. They go through like a hundred tons of ribs.
I think the way I would really describe Reno is it’s easy. No matter what time of year you’re here, you’re gonna have something nearby that you can do. I really love this area because it’s different every single day.

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Overlooking Rancho San Rafael Park for the Great Reno Balloon Race

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Truckee River Whitewater Park, a focal point of the Riverwalk District

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Bright lights illuminating the downtown skyline.

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Sunrise in winter at Slide Mountain on the Mount Rose Highway

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Spying the city in the distance during a biking excursion on Peavine Mountain

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Vintage cars in the National Automobile Museum

NaughtyNut/Shutterstock

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Fly-fishing in the fall in the Truckee River

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Major Airports:
Reno-Tahoe (RNO)
States:
Nevada

An elevated good time

This little city with big entertainment is a playful, spirited destination with as much to do outdoors as inside. Here, you can hit the slopes or the links (50 golf courses are within an hour drive). As for nightlife, Reno overflows with options. Head to a saloon, go on a themed bar crawl or try some Latin dancing at one of many clubs, where closing time is flexible. Shop the bargains at the Outlets at Sparks or get yourself to The Summit, an open-air lifestyle and shopping plaza. From downtown entertainment to white-water rafting on the Truckee River, Reno’s diversions all have excitement in common.

The Riverwalk District

Set along the Truckee River, Reno’s revitalized downtown is bursting with activity. This scenic shopping, eating and entertainment area has plenty of green spaces and a well-maintained bike path (and offers bike tours, too). Find intimate Italian dining, Irish pubs and upscale cocktail lounges. Shop the boutiques or explore several art galleries. See live theater, catch a show at the Reno-Tahoe Comedy Theater or settle in for a more dramatic performance at Pioneer Center for Performing Arts.

Attractions of Note

Animal Ark, a wildlife sanctuary, hosts lots of family-friendly events and has cheetahs, bears, birds of prey and other exotics. If car culture is more your thing, take a day to visit the 220 on display at the National Automobile Museum, which also hosts themed events and happy hours. The Wilbur D. May Center, named after a Reno adventurer and philanthropist, has an arboretum, botanical gardens and museum featuring art and artifacts picked up from May’s 40 trips around the world. To get a real sense ofReno urban culture, head to Midtown District, where you’ll find funky indie stores, artisanal shops and plenty of innovative dining.

Mountain Adventures and Resort Fun

The Sierra Nevada Mountains are never far away, promising lots of rugged alpine fun when you’re done enjoying the city. Mount Rose, the most prominent on the skyline, rises 1,828 meters over Reno. Hike to the summit, or take one of the world-class mountain biking trails that fan out from the adjacent highway. Otherwise, take in the landscape by horseback riding, hang gliding or driving scenic byways. The Truckee River, Lake Tahoe’s only outflow, is perfect for white-water rafting, kayaking and fly-fishing. If you’re visiting in winter, 15 ski areas dot theLake Tahoe Regions. As casino resorts go, Reno has plenty, including the Atlantis, the Nugget and Silver Legacy, all of which offer great dining, fabulous spas and lots of nightlife.