This is a great city to spend your vacation, and there is more to it than slot machines; although, those are nice too. There is something for everyone to do here year round. Hit the slopes during the winter, or relax by the river during the summer. There are so many great tourist attractions in Reno, Nevada.
10. Mt. Rose Ski Resort
Mt. Rose Ski Resort is a great place to spend a weekend while visiting the city and it is just a 30 minute drive from downtown, and ten minutes from Lake Tahoe. This small ski resort is perfect for any level skier. They offer lessons for beginners. Along with renting skis and snowboards you can also rent snowshoes and go on a hike in the snow. Mt. Rose is the highest base resort within the Lake Tahoe area at 8,260 feet. This means that the snow conditions are typically superior to other resorts around the area. This cozy resort is a nice romantic getaway.
9. Truckee River Walk
The river walk district is a wonderful area to spend an afternoon. There are about eight miles of shops, restaurants, and bars. The local shops and boutiques are fun to wander in and out of along the stretch of river. You can grab an ice cream and sit on a bench while you watch people passing by on the river’s other side. There are eight parks along the river walk; however, the most popular, Wingfield Park is on an island toward the river walk’s center. The island is the best spot for fishing, kayaking, and swimming. It is also the center for several festivals throughout the year. The best part is, it’s free to walk around the river walk.
8. Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum
The Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum is a great place for the kids to have a blast. It is a science museum dedicated to the hands on exploration of science, art, math, engineering, and the world around you. There are tons of exciting exhibits to keep the kids entertained and learning. They have 67,000 square feet of exhibit space, and the museum is always changing and updating the exhibits. They do not have a café on site, but there is a picnic area and you can bring a lunch for your family and friends. They are closed on Mondays.
7. University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada opened in 1874, 300 miles northeast of its current location. Eleven years later they relocated the school to Reno after realizing that half the schools population already lived there. The vine covered red brick buildings give the small school an intimate ivy-league feel. It currently has less than 20,000 students; which allows this research campus to remain focused on its students and programs. It won’t take long to walk across this gorgeous campus. As you explore take a moment to appreciate the architecture and the lush green spaces.
6. Peppermill Casino
The Peppermill Casino is an excellent place to come for a weekend getaway. It has everything you need onsite; live entertainment, gambling, food, drinks, and a place to stay. It opened in 1971 and has undergone several renovations and expansions since then. The casino is Tuscan themed and has over 1,600 hotel rooms, 10 restaurants, and 15 themed bars and nightclubs. They have the largest poker room across the city with 19 tables and a VIP room. When you walk in you feel like you have just stepped into a casino in Las Vegas, but without the extreme prices for food and entertainment.
5. Casino at Silver Legacy Resort
This place is the newest and tallest casino in Reno. This hotel is fully equipped to meet all your needs. It has a pool, spa, fitness center, six restaurants, eights shops, and of course a beautiful casino area. They have 85 table games and 1,400 slot machines under their high-ceilinged casino area. Their race and sports book is a great spot to relax; with comfortable seats and 30 TV’s. There is always something happening at the Silver Legacy Resort, and you won’t want to miss out on some of the entertainment they regularly have booked.
4. Animal Ark
Animal Ark is not a zoo; it is a wildlife sanctuary for injured, abandoned, and non-releasable wildlife. They do not breed, sell, or trade the animals; they are simply a refuge for animals that cannot take care of themselves in the wild. They have about 30 different animals in habitats similar to their natural home. This is a wonderful place for kids and adults alike to learn about the importance of wildlife protection, and what you can do to help. Animal Ark is only open March 28th through November 1st, and they are closed on Mondays. This is amongst the lovely places to visit in Reno, Nevada with the whole family.
3. Reno Aces Ballpark
Plans for this stadium began in 2002, and finally seven years later, the Reno Aces played their first game in 2009. The stadium is located next to Truckee River. They are a minor league baseball team. The stadium seats just a little over 9,000 people, and they were over capacity for their very first game. The field is longer than the average field which makes it very rare to see home runs; however, it makes it more likely to see line drive triples. Concessions are reasonably priced and good quality. This is a fun place to spend the evening with family.
2. Reno Air Racing Association
This air racing event is the last of its kind, similar to the Chicago races from the 1920’s. The races in Nevada began over 47 years ago, and they are held for one week every year in September. This is a fun event for the entire family. Buses from most hotels in downtown will bring you out to the airstrip. Watch as planes zip, dive, and spin through the sky during this event. The TORA TORA TORA event is one you will not want to miss. A recreation on the attack on Pearl Harbor makes for a great history lesson with fire and explosions. This part of the show is a memorial to those that gave their lives during the conflict. There are several other spectacular events throughout the week.
1. National Automobile Museum
The National Automobile Museum is rated one of the top five automobile museums around the country today. It opened in 1989; the majority of the cars within the collection came from collector, Bill Harrah. When he passed he had over 1,400 cars in his collection. They have over 200 cars displayed, and the background story for the cars. Some cars are set in scenes to mimic the time period of the car. This makes for great picture opportunities. There is an audio self-guided tour included in the admission ticket as well as a docent guided tour every day at 1:30 p.m.
With all the cool things to do in Reno, Nevada, you won’t want to miss visiting this spectacular city. Reno is the original “sin city,” and has become a smaller, less expensive version of Las Vegas, without compromising any fun! The summer heat is moderate, and the cold winters make for great ski weather.