Reno has everything to offer you can possibly imagine!  Have you ever gone snow skiing in the morning and water skiing in the afternoon?  You can do that in “The Biggest Little City in the World.”  There are so many forms of entertainment.  You can go fishing right in town, head up to Lake Tahoe or out to Pyramid Lake, both within about an hour.

There’s an abundance of outdoor activities:  the Truckee River White Water Park where you can go kayaking right in the middle of town, hiking trails, parasailing, hang gliders, mountain biking, rock climbing, hot air ballooning, scenic glider rides, snowmobiling, off-roading and 4×4 adventures, plus you’re close to many interesting, smaller towns.

Carson City, Genoa, Gardnerville, Minden, Dayton, Virginia City, Fernley, Yerington and offer “ghost towns” galore, plus all kinds of historic places to visit.

If you prefer the indoors, beside gambling, the Reno Convention Center offers all types of expos throughout the year.  Fundraising clubs, such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Desert Big Horn Sheep, Mule Deer, Ducks Unlimited and others have annual events.  The National Bowling Stadium is the only facility of its kind in the world and is referred to as the “Taj Mahal of Tenpins” with 78 lanes.  There are plenty of places to find great food – Reno has 21 Michelin Star restaurants!

The abounding beauty and history in and surrounding Reno are both breathtaking and mind-boggling.  We hope you enjoy these limitless options on your next visit!

Reno is conveniently located on Interstate 80 and US 395.  The Reno International Airport is easily accessible in the center of town.  There are plenty of hotel accommodations, car rentals and an efficient public transportation system.

From Reno, you can easily get to San Francisco in approximately 3 and ½ hours or make the drive down to Las Vegas in less than 8 hours.

The weather can be unpredictable – check well in advance and be prepared for all seasons!  Bring layered clothing and rain gear.

As always, make sure your camera batteries are fully charged – you’ll be taking lots of photos!

Orient yourself with both GPS and a good old-fashioned map – it’s easy to get turned around or disoriented.

In May of 1868, the railroad tracks had reached the Truckee Meadows in the most promising valley on the edge of the Sierra.  Superintendent, Charles Crocker, decided to start a town there in a place previously known as Lake’s Crossing.  The businessman, Myron Lake, owned an inn on the south bank of the Truckee River and operated a toll bridge that connected the road through Truckee Meadows to Virginia City.  He sold about 80 acres of his land north of the river to Central Pacific which laid out the town of Reno.  On May 9, 1868, town lots went on sale at an auction to over 1,000 bidders, some of whom paid as much as $1,000 a lot.

Reno became a thriving distribution site with teamsters hauling cargo between the depot and Comstock towns.  Reno boomed with saloons coming to serve clients and the town’s early reputation became notorious like other mining towns.  In 1870, the county commissioners approved the removal of the county seat from Washoe City to Reno.

It had steam-generated electrical power as early as 1882 thanks to its readily available water.  By 1890, the population was about 3,500 people and it was virtually the only town in Nevada that was still growing rather than declining. In 1886, it became home to the University of Nevada

In the 1920s and 1930s, the permissive side of town began to cater to divorcees. Reno had gained notoriety for the ease in which its courts granted divorces.  Its laws required only six months of residency in the early 1920s and enabled the divorce to be granted easily if both parties agreed.  In 1927, the residence requirement was reduced to 3 months and, in 1931, it was further reduced to 6 weeks.  Thousands flocked from all over the country including celebrities and other high- profile people.  This created the “cottage industry” catering to the divorcees, such as short-term rentals and “dude ranches.”  The owners became notorious for vouching the people deeming residency whether they were there or not.

Although Las Vegas has outgrown Reno over the years, “The Biggest Little City in America” continues to grow with many new high-tech businesses, including Tesla.  Most importantly, it still maintains its charm and fascinating history.