Reno is a city of Washoe county, western Nevada, U.S. which is one of the largest cities that known as The Biggest Little City in the World. This city is located on the Truckee River that is near to the California border. Lake Tahoe is a freshwater lake which is located in the basin on the California-Nevada border in the northern Sierra Nevada, U.S. Reno offers visitors a broader spectrum of entertainment. Especially to those who are nongambling travelers. It is the downtown area’s riverwalk with dozens of independently owned galleries, boutiques, restaurants and many more things which you should visit. This city is also known for a range of outdoor activities.
In this blog we will tell you about the best attraction places in Reno Nevada and some things to do in Reno, Nevada. Then about Lake Tahoe and at last some tips that you should not forget before visiting Reno Nevada.
Top Attractions in Reno Nevada
There are many attractions in Reno where visitors can spend some time with their loved ones. So let’s discuss some of the top attractions in Reno:
The National Automobile Museum
It is one of the best attractions, situated at 1 Museum Drive near Downtown Reno, on the banks of the Truckee River. This museum has more than 240 rare, antique and collector cars. They have the authentic scenes and sounds with the artifacts, presentation in the theater, audio tours and museum store. In this museum there are more than 225 vehicles like racing cars, celebrity cars and a lot more.
It will take you a minimum 2 hours to a maximum half day to spend in the museum. The price of the museum is $15 for adults, $10 for kids at the age of 6 to 15 and there is no charge for kids who are 5 or younger than 5. The timing is 9 am to 5 pm for 7 days. You will get a guide at 1:30 pm daily for 90 minutes only.
The Nevada Museum of Art
It is a cultural center with paintings, photographs, drawings and prints. This museum is at 160 West Liberty Street in downtown Reno, Nevada. In this museum, there is always something going on every time which makes you enjoy the Reno culture. They take place the special events too like talks and films. In this museum you can even organize weddings or other events too.
The price of the museum in general admission is $15, for seniors who are 60 + and those who are students is $13. Children who are at the age of 6 to 12 have to give $3. Children whose age is 5 or less then, the members of the museum, high school students with the valid id card it is free for them. The timing of the park on Tuesday to Sunday is 10 am to 6 pm but on Thursday it is 10 am to 8 pm and Monday will be closed. There are also parking facilities which are free.
The Rancho San Rafael Regional Park
This is 600 acres in northern Reno park where visitors can enjoy volleyball, outdoor activity, picnic, dog park, hiking and biking. It also has the Wilbur D. May Museum which has a collection of objects of different countries such as African tribal masks, Chinese pottery, Egyptian tomb relics, Japanese swords, Polynesian carvings and taxidermy. In the northern area, it has largely undeveloped but hiking trails, disc golf course and softball field. You can visit here at any time of year but the best time is fall.
There are no parking and entrance fees for the park. But you have to pay for the museum like $6 for the adults and $4 for seniors or children at the age of 3 to 17. The timing of the museum is 10 am to 4 pm on Wednesday to Saturday and for Sunday it is 12 pm to 4 pm. And the park is open 8 am to 8 pm daily. Which is free of cost.
Things to do in Reno, Nevada
There are many outdoor activities in Reno like hiking, water activities and many more. In this we will tell you about the Hunter Creek Trails and Galena Creek Trail which is popular among hikers and nature trails. And the best part is you can go there with your pets and pet dogs. There is also a famous Lake Tahoe which is popular for beaches, mountains and water activities or snow activities.
Hunter Creek Trail
Hunter Creek Trail is a hiking place which is in Washoe County, Reno. The length of the trail is approx 3 miles for just one side. The surface of the trail is dirt, river and stream. Pets are allowed on leash as many people like to bring their pets and there are no fees for hiking. The hiking starts from the beautiful parking areas till the water fountain, picnic table and kiosk. The route is moderately difficult with approx 1000 feet.
If you visit in late afternoon, then you should bring plenty of water, sunscreen and hat with you as the trail is exposed and the temperature has increased and it becomes hot. That area is popular for the rattlesnakes, mountain loins and black bears in large numbers. There are wildflowers, shrubs, trees and birds. If you visit in the fall then you can see the trees and shrubs are changing their colors in the shades of red and orange.
Galena Creek Trail
Galena Creek Trail is a hiking, biking and horse riding place which is located in Washoe County, Carson city, Reno. The length of the trail is approx 2 miles for just one way. Pets are allowed and there are no fees for hiking. This trail starts at the back of the Phillip and Annie Callahan Park. The area is so beautiful and lush riparian woodland. The route is moderately difficult. Galena Creek is situated below the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.
The trees give the perfect view of different shades in morning and afternoon. In the fall, the area becomes beautiful and you can take pictures as the leaves change their color. This trail is connected to the Galena Creek Regional Park which is in the west of Mt. Rose Highway. This Trail has some private property. In this park and in the visitors center there are many family friendly activities.
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is approx 2 million years old and it is considered as one of the 20 oldest lakes in the world. It is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains straddling the border of California and Nevada. This is the largest lake in North America and it is as deep as 1,650 feets approx. This lake is surrounded by clear water and mountains. It is different in every season. But the best time to visit is summer in the month of June to August for water based activities. And winter in the month of december to february for snow based activities. So here we will talk about how it looks in the summer and winter seasons.
Summer
In summer you have enough time to explore the whole lake and the south and east sides of the lake for hiking and water activities. In the morning for breakfast The Driftwood Cafe in South Lake Tahoe is the best and it is famous for their pancakes. Then a morning hike on the Eagle Falls Trail is a popular and beautiful waterfall trail. You can also go to the Emerald bay State Park for the landscapes and hiking. In the mid day you can rent a kayak or paddleboard and go on a sailing trip on the top of the clear lake waters. In the afternoon you should go on the scenic drive. Then there are also so many beaches like Cave Rock Beach, Sand Harbor Beach etc.
Winter
In winter you can come for winter activities. There are many activities which take place in wintertime only like skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and spa. So for skiing or snowboarding you can go to the head of Heavenly Mountain Resort or Palisades Resort for a better experience. For ice skating you should go to South Tahoe. You can also do snowtubing there. You can take a massage and spa at The Landing Resort and Spa. After that you can have your lunch at the ski lodges with their famous fries and chicken strips.
Casinos in Reno Nevada
There are many places to go for the casino in Reno.
Peppermill Resort Spa Casino
Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno is the newest, hottest slot and video poker place. It has been voted the Best Casino in Reno in many slot categories. They offer a high limit table games area, Reno’s biggest or most luxurious high limit slot areas and Reno’s best poker rooms. You can play 24/7 with the gaming rules. In the Peppermill Reno there are a variety of casino awards, including Best Casino and Best Place to Gamble in Reno. This casino also has single and multi deck Blackjack, 3-card or 4-card poker, let-it-ride, a smoke free poker room, non smoke race and sports book with 100 screens for the best viewing.
Grand Sierra Resort
Grand Sierra Resort stands for luxury and excitement. This resort got the award for Reno’s Best Overall Gaming Resort. They provide an expansive array of slot machines, table games and sports books. Their restaurants also win the award and they have the tastiest food or best taste buds. They also offer the best venues for entertainment such as Grand Theatre, LEX nightclub and Crystal Lounge. In which the hottest acts and parties take place. It also organized the performances from the world class DJ for the live concert. They also provide the facilities of a spa to melt away the stress. For the families there will be fun at Fun Quest in the poolside oasis and hot tubs.
Best Places to Eat in Reno
There are a lot of best places to eat in Reno and many must try dishes from Nevada.
Local Restaurants and Dining Experiences
So here are the most popular local restaurants which open at dinner time.
Bimini Steakhouse
This restaurant is located at 2707 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502-4213. In this you will get the proper open spaces that provide pools and gardens for dining. There are more than 1000 wines to pair with a new and innovative menu. It helps to make the Bimini Reno the best steakhouse. They provide American and steakhouse cuisines. They have dinner and after hours meal types with vegetarian friendly, vegan and gluten free special diets. It also provides facilities like accepting credit cards, parking, private dining, reservation and wheelchair accessibility.
Bistro Napa
This restaurant is located at 3800 S Virginia St 2nd floor, Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Reno, NV, 89502. In this you will have contemporary cuisine inspired by Napa Valley. They provide seasonal, organic ingredients and simple or fresh flavors. Bistro Napa offers innovative dishes, seafood bar from the pacific northwest and cocktails with fresh fruit purees, liquors and bitters. They have more than 4000 wine bottles. This restaurant make French, American, Bar and Gastropub cuisine. They provide dinner, after hour and drinks types of meals and it is vegetarian friendly, vegan and gluten free special diets. It has features like private dining, gift cards are available, wheelchair accessible and many more.
Unique Nevada Cuisine to Try
So here are also 2 of many must try dishes.
Surf and Turf
The Surf and Turf includes a variety of traditional foods but it includes only a portion of meat and a portion of seafood. The meat is a steak but the seafood can be anything like lobster to shrimps or prawns. In this dish the meat is grilled and served with a thick sauce. The seafood is also grilled, fried, baked or boiled as depending on which seafood is chosen. The ingredients which are used to make this dish are beef, lobster, prawns, shrimps, garlic, olive oil, parsley and scallions. This is a popular dish and there is even a food holiday called National Surf and Turf Day which is celebrated on every leap year on 29 february.
Tuna Tartare
Tuna tartare is made with raw tuna, avocado, egg yolks, green peppercorns, capers, chives, tarragon, mustard, oil and lemon that comes from Los Angeles. It was invented in 1984 by chef Shigefumi Tachibe at the chaya brasserie. When some customers came to eat beef tartare but one didn’t eat beef so the chef tried to make tuna instead of beef and it was an instant success.
Best Time to Visit Reno
The right time to visit Reno is October to November and April to May. This time the weather will be so pleasant and the crowd will be less. It has lakes, beaches and ski slopes to make it a beautiful place to explore. But still you can visit in any season but make sure to visit during the weekdays and avoid it on weekends because the hotels raise the price of rooms on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year.
Travel Tips for Visiting Reno
There are many things you should know before going to visit Reno. Like which mode of transport you should go, where to stay and how you are going to manage your budget.
Transportation and Getting Around
You can go to Reno by plane, train, car and Charter bus.
- Plane: It is a perfect way to visit Reno, to the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. It is approx 4 miles away from the city. From there you can take a 19 number bus which costs approx $2, you can take a taxi or book a car to drive around.
- Train: There is a station of Reno’s Amtrak station which is on the route of California Zephyr. It is between Emeryville and Chicago. The station is located near so you can walk to the hotels and casinos in a few minutes.
- Car: Driving is the best option and most popular way to Reno. US-395 takes you to Reno from Southern California, I-80 takes you to San Francisco and Northern Californian cities. From Las Vegas you have to take US-95 then US-50 and last I-80 to Reno.
Budget Tips for Travelers
- Before booking the hotels you should call as many hotels as you can to identify the discounts and packages that hotels are providing.
- You can rent a car when you plan to go outside the city. Or else you can roam around by charter buses or taxis. You can also rent the bike.
Conclusion
We hope that this blog helps you to understand about things to do in Reno Nevada and best attractions to visit. There are also famous casinos available that are the best for gaming and gambling. There are also local restaurants where you must try their delicious dishes, like tuna tartare. At the end there are some tips like you should check the hotels before booking for a discount, rent the car or taxi for a trip etc.