Visitors Guide to Reno, Nevada

If Las Vegas has become too big and crowded for you, Reno may be just what you're looking for. Reno, Nevada likes to market itself as "the biggest little city in the world". Having been there, I think it's a pretty accurate description. Reno has large casino-hotels and office buildings, but they are grouped close enough together that you can walk from place to place. Virginia Street, Reno's main artery, is much more similar to Fremont Street in Las Vegas than it is to the Las Vegas Strip. The casinos are big, but not nearly as large as the mega-casinos in Las Vegas. Even with the casinos and tall buildings, Reno still has the feel of an old western town in some ways. Reno is definitely more laid back than Las Vegas, although there is still a lot to do there.

Within downtown Reno, there are about ten casinos that are all within walking distance. Among them are Harrah's, Circus Circus, Fitzgerald's, the Eldorado, Silver Legacy, and the Golden Phoenix. On average, room rates are much more affordable in Reno than they are in Las Vegas. Likewise, food, show tickets, and nightclubs are also more reasonably priced, so your entertainment dollar will go a lot further. One neat feature of downtown is that the Eldorado, Silver Legacy, and Circus Circus are all connected indoors. So, whether it's snowing, raining, or too hot outside, you can move from one hotel to the next without wearing a coat or breaking a sweat. A short distance from downtown, there are also some nice casino-hotels, such as the Reno Hilton, the Peppermill, and the Atlantis. Much like Fremont Street in Las Vegas, after dark it is probably a good idea to walk only in the well lit areas on Virginia Street and not to venture too far off it.

If you grow tired of the casinos, buffets, and shows, there are many outdoor activities nearby as well. Lake Tahoe is only a 45 minute drive from Reno, so many people will visit both places on one vacation. If you've never visited Lake Tahoe before, it is incredibly beautiful. Mark Twain described its beauty by saying it is "the fairest picture the whole earth affords." Lake Tahoe is an enormous, crystal-clear body of water tucked within the magnificent Sierra Nevada mountains. In the summertime, you can golf, fish, hike, go boating, or just lay on the beach. During winter, you can ski at any number of ski resorts near both Lake Tahoe and Reno. There are also ski shuttles that will pick you up right at your hotel in Reno and whisk you away to the mountain slopes.

In addition to Lake Tahoe, Virginia City and Carson City are also nearby. These cities are historical gems that provide a glimpse into the frontier past and the gold and silver rush days. Within Reno, other sites include the National Bowling Stadium, the Reno Arch, and the University of Nevada. The National Bowling Stadium was dubbed the "Taj Mahal of Tenpins" by the Los Angeles Times and hosts many professional bowling tournaments. It was also used for the 1996 bowling movie "Kingpin" that starred Bill Murray and Woody Harrelson.

So, as you can see, there is quite a bit to do in and around Reno, Nevada. Las Vegas is a great travel destination, but Reno is nice if you are looking to try something a little different. Perhaps the best website to get information on Reno is: www.visitreno.com. The site is owned and operated by a local Reno resident and is chock full of helpful information. The message boards are also very active on this website, in case you have a specific question. Good luck and have fun on your next trip to Reno, Nevada.