USA
Reno, Nevada Offers Much More Than Casino Thrills
by Randy Mink
I n my travels to just about every corner of the world, I still haven’t made it to Las Vegas. But, to get a taste of the gaming and entertainment scene that lures people to Nevada’s urban hotspots, I recently spent a few days in Reno, Vegas’ smaller counterpart, to explore the city of 225,000 and nearby Lake Tahoe.
For years I had seen Reno’s signature landmark, the lighted gateway arch on Virginia Street that proclaims Reno “The Biggest Little City in the World.” That sign alone—one of America’s best-known city symbols—had always piqued my curiosity, and I’m constantly on the lookout for secondary cities that don’t get the attention of big kahunas like Vegas.
I’m not a gambler but enjoyed poking around downtown Reno and its three interconnected casino hotels—Circus Circus Reno, El Dorado and Silver Legacy. Part of Caesars Entertainment and known collectively as THE ROW, all three hotels offer vast gaming floors, shops, restaurants and bars. There’s also gaming action at hotel-casino complexes outside downtown, namely the Peppermill, Atlantis and Grand Sierra.
Along the Truckee River, downtown’s revitalized Riverwalk District encompasses parkland, cultural attractions, boutique shops, art galleries, and places to eat, drink and listen to music. You might see folks taking a dip in the river or floating along in tubes, kayaks or rafts.
The National Automobile Museum, at the edge of the Riverwalk District, is Reno’s premier attraction—in my book anyway. A gold mine for antique car buffs and nostalgia-seekers, it displays some of the oldest and rarest cars in existence. You can pose seated in a 1926 Ford Model T, the only car guests are allowed to touch.
The museum has about 200 cars on display in galleries and period streetscapes with storefronts and old-time gas pumps. My favorite section was Cars of the Stars. I saw Elvis Presley’s 1973 Cadillac Eldorado, the Batmobile from the “Batman” TV series and the 1953 Chevy Corvette bought sight unseen during the model’s first year by 6’4” John Wayne, who could barely fit into the small cockpit.
The Nevada Museum of Art, three blocks south of the river, hosts touring exhibitions and rotates works from its collections, which are strong on Indigenous, African American and Western art.
One of my favorite Reno discoveries was Midtown, a once neglected area that today buzzes with an artsy vibe and eclectic array of shops and eateries. The highest structures in this low-rise neighborhood are neon motel signs harking back to another era; some of the retro motels are still in business.
One day I drove from Reno through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Incline Village, Nevada for a look at Lake Tahoe, North America’s largest alpine lake. Remarkably clear and surrounded by lush forests of fir and pine, the lake straddles the Nevada-California state line. I stopped at a scenic viewpoint and walked along a short segment of the lakeside Tahoe East Shore Trail, taking pictures like crazy.
Reno and Lake Tahoe—the perfect one-two punch.
