Set in the foothills of the magnificent Sierra Nevada with the beautiful Truckee River winding through its center, Reno’s natural beauty is a striking contrast to the neon lights of its famous casinos. Known as the biggest little city in the world, it’s a somewhat scaled down version of Las Vegas, complete with shotgun wedding chapels, surprisingly good museums, and good national travel deals.
Getting there
Most people head to Reno and nearby Lake Tahoe from California. I-80 is the principal east-west route through Reno, continuing westwards through the vast deserts of Nevada and eastwards through the stunning Sierra Nevada and on to Sacramento and San Francisco. U.S. 395 heads north and south through Reno, while McCarran Boulevard loops the city and provides easy access to all major highways by car rental.
Reno/Tahoe International Airport is situated four miles southeast of downtown Reno. It services frequent regional flights; Los Angeles and San Francisco are the West Coastеs major air hubs. Almost all hotels provide complimentary shuttles into downtown, otherwise, cabs are readily available or you can drive a rental car to Reno. Shuttle buses also run to Lake Tahoe. Greyhound offers a daily bus service between Reno and Los Angeles (both directions).
Key attractions
Downtown Reno is packed with glitzy casinos and miles of poker machines and card tables waiting to take your money 24 hours a day. Here you can also enjoy lavish stage productions and cabaret acts that regularly attract the big name performers, as well as some fine dining opportunities.
The Nevada Museum of Art focuses on the art and life of Nevada communities, while the National Automobile Museum houses more than 200 vintage cars in period settings. The University of Nevada is the location of the Nevada Historical Society whose museum boasts a fine collection of Native American artifacts along with displays documenting Wild West and Nevada history.
Out and about
Carson City, the state capital, lies south of Reno by car rental. Like Reno and Las Vegas, the local economy relies on gambling, but it is also home to some fine museums and elegant buildings. The Nevada State Museum showcases local Wild West history and the areaеs rich mining heritage, as well as detailing natural history and geology. The State Capitol is worth checking out, as are the numerous 19th-century Victorian houses and churches on the western side of town.
Straddling the border with California is the mountain resort town of Lake Tahoe, America’s largest alpine lake and home to excellent skiing, hiking, boating, kayaking, swimming and camping, as well as a vibrant arts scene and the ever-present casinos. National travel deals to all of the above destinations are easy to find.
Leisure options
Take a welcome break along the Truckee River with a relaxing stroll along the nature trail, or drive a rental car in Reno to Rancho San Rafael Park which contains the Wilbur D. May Museum and Arboretum and the historical theme park Great Basin Adventure. Reno’s municipal rose garden grows in Idlewild Park, while Wingfield Park is a relaxing place for kayaking or simply watching the world pass by.
Safety
Reno’s biggest safety risks are petty crime and vagrants in the Truckee River area. Panhandlers and vagrants can also be found in Idlewild Park. Eye goggles and dusk masks come in handy during sudden desert dust storms, while travel insurance comes in handy at all times.