Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place, offers a year-round, 24-hour, play all day and night atmosphere that’s not found anywhere else. Enjoy a variety of accommodations at top-notch resort-casinos, fine dining, luxurious spas, 24-hour gaming and exciting nightlife. Head outdoors for more than 900 miles of mountain trails, cool off at the Truckee River Whitewater Park, experience 50 signature golf courses, attend one of 72 community-wide special events or an afternoon of shopping and arts and culture. Reno-Tahoe also boasts the highest concentration of ski and board resorts in North America, all surrounded by breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada. Reno-Tahoe is America’s Adventure Place.
The discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859 brought a flood of immigrants to northern Nevada, which has previously been inhabited only by Native American tribes, strong-minded ranchers and religious missionaries. A large portion of the silver mined from Virginia City was used to fund Civil War efforts and help construct the area’s booming cities. Until “Progressives� succeeded in its prohibition in 1910, gaming was a legal and prosperous industry. It was reinstated in 1931 in hopes of boosting Reno-Tahoe’s Depression-era economy. In years since, Reno-Tahoe’s quality of life has attracted top industries in gaming and distribution.
The Reno-Tahoe welcomes a diverse array of cultures and lifestyles. According to 2005 City of Reno reports, the population is 205,000. Combined with neighboring Sparks’ population of 81,763, the metropolitan area includes 286,763 residents. Within 25 years, Reno-Sparks’ anticipated population is 320,000.
Located along a major interstate, Reno and neighboring Sparks are flanked by the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the west and high desert mountains to the east. Only a 45-minute drive to Lake Tahoe, and 30 minutes to the state’s capital, Carson City, the region offers a diversity of cultures, activities and attractions. As the area continues to grow, city planners realize the importance of avoiding further sprawl. The Truckee Meadows Regional Plan allows for high-density development, which calls for growth in "regional centers," with rapid transit corridors connecting these areas to each other for more efficient transportation.
The Reno-Tahoe International Airport, www.renoairport.com, offers convenient daily flights from 17 non-stop and 25 one-stop destinations. Daily Amtrak stops in both Reno and Sparks make rail transportation a breeze, while Key Holidays’ Fun Train and Snow Train services offer fun-filled sightseeing trips. Reno-Tahoe is also within close proximity to many northern California destinations including San Francisco and Sacramento, and is an hour’s plane flight to Las Vegas.
Visitors to Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place can hit 855 putts on 50 area golf courses; explore 968 miles of Sierra trails; ski or ride 22,000 acres of snow-covered terrain; play in 440 square miles worth of water; relax on the white sand beaches of North America’s largest alpine lake, Lake Tahoe; visit 31 museums; gamble with Lady Luck at 14,000 slot machines or 600 tables; fish at 250 fishing holes; attend special events 188 days per year; dine 1,200 different ways; meet in 1.2 million square feet of space; and sleep in one of 20,000 luxurious guest rooms.
Reno is the perfect starting-off point for your next adventure. Experience one of the many exciting day trips within close proximity to the downtown corridor including the “Most Beautiful Drive in America� at Lake Tahoe, America’s largest designated historic landmark Virginia City, Pyramid Lake, famous for its record-breaking cutthroat trout fishing, Nevada’s capital, Carson City or the oldest settlement in Nevada, Genoa. Head back to Reno to enjoy fine dining and exciting nightlife before starting out on tomorrow’s adventure.
As a year-round destination, Reno-Tahoe has both peak and shoulder seasons, with shoulder seasons providing more affordable lodging rates. Typically, from early spring to mid-June, and again from October until early December, hotel prices at Lake Tahoe tend to decline, while those in Reno tend to stay the same year-round. Reno-Tahoe is one of the most affordable destinations on the West Coast and also offers a variety of fully-customizable vacation packages to make planning a breeze.
Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place offers customizable vacation packages to suit any traveler’s needs. From large group functions to exclusive golf vacations, ski getaways, spa retreats and arts and culture packages, Reno-Tahoe will take care of all the details. All you need to do is sit back and enjoy the ride. Log on to www.VisitRenoTahoe.com/packages for more information.
Reno-Tahoe Activities and Events
July
Travel through history as scholars portray major literary
and historical figures in a tented outdoor setting each summer. Celebrating its
..25th anniversary in 2016, Chautauqua is held in conjunction with
Artown and provides five days of both education and entertainment in fun
summertime surroundings at Ranch
San Rafael Park.
The Great Basin Chautauqua Festival also features a Young Chautauqua portion
that includes children aged eight to 18 who research develop their characters
for six months before performing in front of the festival audience. Visit www.nevadahumanities.org
or call 775-784-6587 for more information.
Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center
900 North
Virginia St.
Phone: 775-784-4811
Hours: Monday—Friday, 9 am – 8 pm, Saturday—Sunday, 11 am –
8 pm
Cost: Admission is $7 for patrons ages 13-59 and admission
for patrons under 13 or over 59 is $5
www.planetarium.unr.nevada.edu
Located at the north end of the University of Nevada Reno
campus, the planetarium houses the Star Theater with its Skydome giant format
movie system, and the Hall of the Solar System with many fascinating exhibits.
Wilbur
D. May
Museum, Arboretum
& Botanical Garden
Rancho San Rafael Park,
located minutes north of downtown Reno
Phone: 775-785-5961
Hours: Winter: Wednesday—Sunday, 9 am – 5 pm; Summer:
Monday—Sunday, 9 am – 5 pm
Cost: Admission is $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for children
www.maycenter.com
The May
Center offers a
unique adventure for the entire family. Located in Rancho
San Rafael Park,
the center is comprised of the May
Museum, May Arboretum and
the Great Basin Adventure. The May
Museum houses the
collections of Wilbur May, who traveled around the world forty times. Numerous
animal trophies offer a close-up look at the world of animals and their
habitat. All exhibits have plenty of hands-on activities for kids of all ages.
National Bowling Stadium
300 North
Center St. (Corner of Center and 4th Street
in downtown Reno)
Phone: 775-334-2600
Hours: Tuesday—Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm
Cost: No cost to view the bowling stadium
www.VisitRenoTahoe.com/nationalbowlingstadium
Reno
is the proud home of the National Bowling Stadium, built in 1995. Features
include 80 championship lanes, a video wall and the world’s longest screen
scoring display. The National Bowling
Stadium is currently hosting the 2004 ABC Tournament with more than 17,000
teams from February until June 2004 participating.
July 18 – 19 events and activities
Nevada Historical Society Museum
1650 North
Virginia St.
Phone: 775-688-1191
Hours: Monday—Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm
Cost: Admission is $3 for adults and children under 18 are
free
www.clan.lib.nv.us/
Founded in 1904, the Nevada Historical Society in Reno is Nevada’s
oldest museum. Inside, visitors will find displays describing Nevada’s
native people, the first explorers to cross the state, the discovery of silver
and gold, the emergence of Nevada’s
ranching industry, and the state’s gaming industry.
Victorian
Square
Located in downtown Sparks
Phone: 775-353-2376
Victorian
Square is a plaza designed for special events. It
features a 14-screen Cineplex, interactive foundation, amphitheater,
bandstands, sand-stone mosaics, and Victorian
street lamps, in addition to numerous restaurants.
Reno Hilton Ultimate Rush and
Go Kart Center
2500 East 2nd
St.
Phone: Go-Karts, 775-786-5278, Ultimate Rush, 775-786-7005
Hours: 12 – 10 pm
daily
Cost: Go-Kart $6, Ultimate Rush $25
www.caesars.com/hilton/reno/activites/recreation/recreation.htm
The Ultimate Rush will get your adrenaline pumping. With up
to three jumpers tethered to the same elastic wire you fall 185 feet swinging
back and forth for several minutes. In addition to the Ultimate Rush, the Reno
Hilton also has a 400 ft Go-Kart center with half-scale NASCAR racers.
Sparks Heritage Foundation & Museum
820 Victorian
Ave.
Phone: 775-355-1144
Hours: Tuesday—Friday, 11 am – 4 pm; Saturday, 1 – 4 pm
Cost: No Cost
This museum features displays relating to “The Rail City� of
Sparks, dating
from the city’s founding in 1904. Special emphasis is placed on railroad
artifacts, including a lantern display.
Nothing To It! Culinary Center
225 Crummer
Lane
Phone: 775-826-2628
www.NothingToIt.com
Nothing To It! has been recognized on a national level by
the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) through
nominations for the Julia Child Electronic Media Awards and the Cooking School
Award of Excellence. Nothing To It! makes its home in a house that was once a
part of Harrah’s ranch and has recently welcomed the Campbell Art Center, which
specializes in art classes for children and adults and includes an art studio,
teacher recertification program, portrait studio and gallery.
July 18 – 19 events and activities
National Automobile Museum
10 Lake Street South
(corner of Lake & Mill)
Phone: 775-333-9300
Hours: Monday—Sunday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm, Sunday 10
am – 4 pm
Cost: Admission is $8 for adults,
$7 for seniors and $3 for juniors; ages 5 and under are free
The National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection) lets you travel
through time like few other places can. Just two blocks from the streets of
downtown Reno,
you will walk down streets of the past.
Beyond the streets, you will discover a century of automobiles: more than
220 antique, vintage, classic, special interest and one-of-a-kind wonders as
well as cars of the stars.
Verdi Trails West Inc.
775-345-7600
Just west of Reno, visitors
can enjoy guided trail rides and hayrides on more than 2500 deeded acres in the
scenic foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Verdi
Trails also provides boarding and private horsemanship lessons year round.
Animal Ark
Take 395 north to Exit #78, Take Red Rock Road
Phone: 775-970-3111
Hours: Tuesday—Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm
Cost: Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children
www.animalark.org
This 38-acre wildlife sanctuary gives you the chance to get
up-close and personal with rare and beautiful creatures such as wolves, regal
birds of prey and a white tiger named Khan.
Huffaker Hills Trail
1 Mile up Alexander
Lake Road in South Reno
The Huffaker Hills Trail is separate from the Huffaker Hills
Park and includes a 2.5 mile trail to
the top of Twin Peaks. Once at the top hikers
find themselves flanked by the Virginia range
to the east and Mount Rose and Slide
Mountain to the
west. The trail was built by community
service workers over the summer of 2005 as a land conservation project. There
are also portable restrooms, signs explaining landmarks and other features
along the trail and picnic areas at the trailhead.
Great Basin Adventure
Rancho San Rafael Park,
located minutes north of downtown Reno
Phone: 775-785-5961
Hours: Winter:
Wednesday—Sunday, 9 am – 5 pm; Summer: Monday—Sunday, 9 am – 5 pm
Cost: Admission is $5 for adults and $3.50 for children and
seniors
www.maycenter.com
This theme park features a log flume ride, walk-through
mining exhibits, gold panning, petting zoo, and a discovery room.
July events and activities
Wild
Island Family
Adventure Park
250 Wild Island
Ct.
Phone: 775-359-2927
Hours: Adventure
Park, May—September, 11 am – 7 pm daily; Bowling Center, Sunday—Thursday, 10 am
– 10 pm and Friday—Saturday, 10 am – 12 pm
Cost: Admission is
$18.95 and junior admission is $14.95 for the complete adventure experience;
additional pricing available
www.wildisland.com
From water slides to wave pools Wild Island
has all the fun needed during the long winters and hot summers. With over 14
attractions open during the summer, guests can enjoy waterslides and wave
pools, along with restaurants, bowling and go-karts. During the winter, the
bowling center and Smokin Marlin Grill restaurant remain open.
Idlewild
Park
1900 Idlewild
Drive, Reno
Phone: 775-334-2270
Cost: $2 per guidebook for the walking tour of the Arboretum
Idlewild Park, near downtown Reno, holds softballs fields, a skateboard
and rollerblade park, volleyball courts, barbeque and picnic areas and is home
to the Municipal Rose Garden and City Arboretum. The Park also has a play area
for children and a beautiful pond which is home to a variety of animals.
Oxbow Nature Study Area
On the Banks of the Truckee River
at the end of Dickerson Road,
Reno
Phone: 775-334-3808
Cost: None
With two miles of boardwalks and trails this is the perfect
place to learn more about the Truckee
River and its
inhabitants. Displays situated
throughout explain the park in depth to curious visitors and nature lovers.
Fisherman’s Park
55 Galletti Way,
Sparks
Hours: Park is open one hour before sunrise until two hours
after sunset.
A fisherman’s haven at the eastern edge of Sparks, the Park has picnic areas for
fisherman to gather and tell their tales after a long day of casting their
lines.
July 18 – 19 events and activities
Rock
Park
1515 Rock Blvd.,
Sparks
Situated on the edge of the Truckee
River in Sparks, this park has picnic tables and
barbeque areas, a play ground and a group picnic area.
Tahoe Whitewater Tours
Truckee
River Kayak
Park, Downtown Reno
(satellite branch)
Tahoe City,
CA (home office)
Phone: 1-800-442-7238
www.gowhitewater.com
A guided, 2 or 4-hour inflatable raft tour through the
whitewaters of the Truckee or American
River begins at Chrissie
Caughlin Park
or in Tahoe City,
CA.
Wild Sierra Adventures
254 W. 1st
Street, Reno
Phone: 866-323-8928
www.wildsierra.com
Wild Sierra offers all of the Sierra’s adventures in one
with guided whitewater and kayak trips on the Truckee
River and Hiking or mountain bike
tours down Peavine Peak and the Truckee River
bicycle path.
Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway
P.O. Box
20288, Reno
Phone: (775) 825-9868
www.tpbikeway.org
The Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway, while currently under
construction, has 40 miles of accessible trails with stretches open from Vista Boulevard in Sparks
through Reno and ending in Verdi, Nev.
Another section of the trail is open west of Reno
from Boca Reservoir through Truckee to Tahoe City, Calif. A completion date for the trail is not yet
known.
Truckee River White Water park at Wingfield Park
Arlington and First
Streets at Wingfield
Park
Downtown Reno
www.RenoRiverFestival.com
With 11 drop-pools,
class two and three rapids, 7,000 pounds of smooth, flat-top boulders and 2,600
square-feet to play in, this downtown Reno Park
is a great place for amateurs and professionals alike. 
