Reno Mini Guide
What is Reno Like?
It’s like a mini
Las Vegas but with a wider range of things to do. You wouldn’t be able to ski in Las Vegas but you can in Reno and still stay at a posh hotel with its own casino. Reno has four distinct seasons whilst Las Vegas barely manages two. Still Reno tries to stand on its own two feet offering a different brand of experience and billing itself as having so much to do in a small city. It rarely gets too hot to do anything in Reno and early summer is a great time to wander around the parks and botanical gardens of the city. The public library is interesting too in having its garden inside the library!
How do I get to Reno?
Reno is a great place for a long weekend although flight prices rise to reflect the popularity of this part of the week. Fly into Reno-Tahoe International airport from dozens of cities across the States or connect from abroad via ones such as
Denver, Chicago or
Seattle. The airport is within easy distance of the city and with a variety of methods of getting there including bus, car hire or taxi. If you struggle with mobility, you may qualify for a free shuttle into the city.
What is There to see and do in Reno?
Begin with a photo by the city entrance sign telling you that it’s ‘The Biggest Little City in the World’. That way you’ll be sure people back home know you’ve been to Reno. In winter you’ll find you are within two hours of dozens of top class ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada. The city is hoping to host the 2022 Winter Olympics and is readying the resorts for the final push for success. In the city there are many parks and a fabulous botanical garden that is a great place for a walk, especially in the shadier parts, during the summer. The city also hosts an air show consisting of air races, every September when thousands turn out to watch the spectacular show.
What Should I buy as Souvenirs From Reno?
Rather strangely, some of the best purchases from Reno are chocolates from The Chocolate Bar. They make really unusual chocolates including chilli infused truffles. Be careful that they don’t melt in the summer sun! Elsewhere there are souvenirs made by Native Americans that used to live in the desert. These traditional gifts make good presents for friends back home and help an ancient culture maintain its traditions.
What is There That’s Special to eat in Reno?
Much of the food there has a Mexican or Hispanic flavour to it whilst steaks and chilli con carne are also popular staples. Some places may even tempt you with traditional ‘rattlesnake stew’ – not for the faint-hearted.
What About Festivals and Celebrations?
One of the best has to be the ‘Burning Man Festival’ at Black Rock City. Each year in August a makeshift city is constructed and a week-long music festival takes place before everything is burned and the area returned to how it looked before the festival. It’s quite an experience!
Just under a quarter of a million people live in this Nevada city which is famous for its gambling. With car hire Reno though you can also travel around the surrounding metropolitan area which is known to the locals as Truckee’s Meadow.
This was the name of the fertile plain which first drew the early settlers to Reno as they made their way between Pyramid Lake and Lake Tahoe. However it was not until the 19th century that Reno really began to take off as a major stop on the railroad track between Salt Lake City and Sacramento.