8 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do in Reno

The phrase “luck always runs out” may prove true on the casino floor (and in Reno there are plenty of them), but there’s more to this mountain city than crossing your fingers while giving those one-arm bandits a pull. Unlike Las Vegas, the so-called “Biggest Little City in the World” is not the Nevada of flat, desert expanse punctuated by distant red rock. Rather, it’s a city set 4,000 feet above sea level flanked by the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains and only a stone’s throw from Lake Tahoe. (Fun fact: The city receives more than 21 inches of snow annually.) Once the casinos have exhausted you, here are eight ways to make the best of that landscape.

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Ski Squaw Valley

You’ll be crossing into the Golden State for this one, but it’s worth the day trip. Squaw Valley Ski Resort is beloved by skiers; it’s one of the largest ski areas in the United States and in 1960 played host to the Winter Olympics. Combined with nearby Alpine Meadows, these two resorts attract more than 600,000 skiers annually. Visitors in summer will find themselves equally charmed; the area goes crazy during warm weather with numerous festivals and outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, sky jumping, yoga and even mini golf.

Visit the state capital

A zip down I-580 will bring you to Carson City, the state capital, in under an hour. Even closer to Tahoe than Reno, the capital is a destination in its own right. The Brewery Arts Center spans two city blocks and showcases live theater, art exhibitions, an artisan shop and more; the Nevada State Railroad Museum brings the romance of the railroad to life; the Bowers Mansion was built in 1863 by a silver magnate and boasts a naturally fed swimming pool; and then there’s the capitol building which looks straight out of New England.

Glamp Lake Tahoe

If you kinda like nature, but also enjoy high-end bath products and Instagrammable accommodations, the Base Camp Hotel is for you. This 74-room boutique hotel brings the great outdoors inside with special in-suite and tented rooms featuring a king size bed, faux fire pit and starry ceilings. There are also bunk or family guestrooms and tastefully appointed standard king and queen rooms (some with balconies). The courtyard and beer garden mean you never have to cook your own food and the fire pits will keep you all toasty on chilly nights.

Stroll the Truckee River Walk

In old-timey days, rivers were necessary modes of transportation (hence the reason cities were built on their banks), but these days they’re more likely to serve as recreational outlets. Enter the Truckee River Walk. Only a short stroll from the Reno Arch—you know, the sign that proclaims Reno to be the “Biggest Little City in the World”—is this walkable tourist attraction full of shops, cafes and restaurants. For a more ambitious outing, grab a bike and hit the 12-mile trail which follows the river through downtown or grab a kayak and tackle the river itself.

Fish Pyramid Lake

The American West is full of all kinds of natural wonders both majestic and, in some cases, downright odd. This is true of Pyramid Lake, a 45-minute drive north of Reno and an eye catcher thanks to the ‘grammable tufa formations (a variety of limestone rock) which give the lake its name. Want to pull some lip? Fishermen love Pyramid Lake for its numerous species, including Sacramento Perch and Lahontan cutthroat trout. Fish hatcheries ensure a sustainable population so go ahead and cast your line guilt-free. Shops along the way sell permits.

Hit up the casinos—but don’t gamble

Sure, you’ll probably want to take your turn as shooter at the craps table or try a hand or two at blackjack, but there’s much more to Reno’s resorts than what happens on the casino floor. Enjoy cascading waterfalls, a sun deck and indoor pool at the rejuvenating Caldarium at the Peppermill Resort Hotel; drink in a Reno sunset (or sunrise!) with cocktail in hand at the 24/7 Sky Terrace Bar at Atlantis Casino Resort Spa; or win an oversized stuffed animal at the Carnival Midway at Circus Circus, a sibling to the long-running Vegas icon.

Catch some rays

Lake Tahoe inspires an almost religious zeal among its many admirers. Its Alpine waters have been a siren call for kayakers, hikers, campers, swimmers and more for decades. A cinch of a day trip from Reno, people almost forget the lake is ringed with stunning beaches for all types. Families gravitate to Kings State Beach Recreation Area and Camp Richardson; dogs run, play and fetch (leashed only) to their heart’s content at Kiva Beach; and sunbathers can tan from head to toe at clothing optional—and appropriately named—Secret Beach.

Discover the Old West

If silver brought an abundance of anything to Nevada it’s the proliferation of ghost towns. Abandoned towns are littered throughout the state and several are within a stone’s throw of Reno. Don’t miss Virginia City. While not technically a ghost town, it’s population peak of 25,000 has declined to about 800 residents. A 45-minute drive from the city, these days it thrives on Wild West tourism—check out the old facades!—including several hotels, restaurants and saloons. A stone’s throw from Virginia City, nearby gold hill is noteworthy for its abandoned structures.

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