reno & beyond | las vegas & beyond | Get a little out there
Nevada
w elcome to a secret sweet spot on the Silver State’s calendar, with increasing daylight and days that are starting to warm. If you get there soon — and you’re willing to get a little out there — you can orchestrate two amazing spring breaks in one, often on the same day. Let’s call them dual days, actually: perfect combinations of fun and sun that start on the slopes and end on, say, a biking trail or rafting route. So, if not everyone in your travel party shares the same priorities, or you yourself can’t decide between snow and sun, this is the win-win solution. The bonus? Having one of the most mountainous states in the nation serve as the backdrop, where gorgeous peaks await at every turn and sun-splashed adventure outposts are always close by. Read on for some of our favorites.
Morning snow activities
Lake Tahoe’s skiing is sufficiently legendary that people travel from everywhere to experience it. And who can blame them? The snowfall tends to be measured in feet rather than inches, the skies are a brilliant blue more often than not — and the magical centerpiece to the whole scene is a see-through lake that never freezes.
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Snowboarding at Rifle Peak, near Incline Village
Reno & beyond
Las Vegas & beyond
Get a little out there
Mt. Rose
Plan your trip
Lamoille Canyon | credit: Roberts Were Here
Red Rock Canyon
Paddleboarding on Lake Tahoe
Galena Creek Trail (left); Hunter Creek Trail (right)
Noble Pie
Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge | credit: Roberts Were Here
Chickadee Ridge
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Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge | credit: Roberts Were Here
Where to eat
There will clearly be a lot of refueling to do, and fortunately, the Reno-Tahoe corridor doesn’t want for hearty, delicious options. In Incline Village, Inclined Burgers and Brews is a popular choice starting at breakfast time, thanks to such goodness as the fried chicken biscuits. If you’re looking for a bubbling-hot slice between the slopes and the trails, consider Reno’s Noble Pie, where traditional recipes handed down from Sicily and Brooklyn mingle with modern fusion fare that Nonna herself couldn’t argue with. Think Frachos: parmesan garlic fries topped with green onions, red bell pepper, wing sauce, ranch dressing, cheese and your choice of homemade sausage, rotisserie chicken or sautéed mushrooms.
Morning snow activities
Las Vegas is accustomed to being the kind of place about which no one finds anything shocking — except maybe this: Not even an hour away sits a winter wonderland that can get snow well into April and sometimes even into May. The Lee Canyon skiing and snowboarding resort in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, is home to 28 ski trails, five lifts, gear rental, a lodge and a range of lessons and special events.
Indeed, springtime throughout the Spring Mountains can involve good, old-fashioned snowy fun. Mt. Charleston, for example, is a good place to snowshoe, sled and wildlife-watch. Even the odd elk sighting isn’t unheard of.
Afternoon sun activities
Your typical après ski pursuits may not involve golf, but then again, the local golf scene is hardly typical either. Bear in mind: This is the city that gave the world the Netflix Cup, wherein F1 drivers were paired with golfers to take on the Tom Fazio-designed Wynn Golf Club at Wynn Las Vegas right on the Strip. Shadow Creek is another beloved Tom Fazio-designed course to consider if you want something quieter, though he’s hardly the only big name to have had a hand in the local scene. There’s also the Pete Dye-designed trio of courses at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort and the Jack Nicklaus-designed Reflections Bay Golf Club (technically in Henderson, on the shores of Lake Las Vegas).
Where to eat
Las Vegas has become such a foodie hotspot, one of the best ways to edit down your amazing choices is to tackle one restaurant-rich neighborhood at a time. This time? We suggest Downtown and its increasingly vibrant Arts District, where restaurants such as The Pepper Club by the James Beard award-winning Todd English are becoming destinations unto themselves (the Pepper Club has become a brunch pilgrimage site in particular, thanks to the likes of the Ube French Toast, with its ube cream, ube glaze and jewel-like adornment of berries). At Able Baker Brewing, home to an iconic atomic duck mascot, try at least one of the related beers on tap, whether the Waddle IPA-Session or Duck Around and Find Out IPA-Imperial. The brewery also houses the Arts District Kitchen, where the signature banh mi sandwiches are not to be missed.
Morning snow activities
For the freest of spirits and boldest of adventurers, rural Nevada is hereby rolling out the white carpet. Indeed, the entire wild and snowy north is yours to explore (for Game of Thrones fans, an enticing parallel), though much of it is BYO equipment. If you’re basing yourself in Elko, one of the best snowmobiling and backcountry skiing destinations in existence, you can find outfitters and guides such as SledNV, whose services include backcountry sled tours through the nearby Ruby Mountains and Independence Range. Other nearby snowmobiling areas — each absolutely stunning for the vastness and variety of its terrain — include Wild Horse Reservoir, Gold Creek and Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway.
Afternoon sun activities
Here, once again, the slopes-to-links combo is worth doing just because you can. The Ruby View Golf Course, for one, juxtaposes its emerald-green18-hole course against the surrounding Rubies to startling effect. And you’ll find another low-key, lovely option about 45 minutes from there: the Chimney Rock Municipal Golf Course in Wells.
For other kinds of fun in the sun, consider bass fishing at South Fork Reservoir and wildlife watching at the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge. If you’re looking for something that feels more traditionally après snow, the Ruby Valley Hot Springs could be just the ticket.
Where to eat
Here in the heart of Nevada’s Basque-descended community, the very first item on your culinary agenda should be The Star Hotel Basque Dining, a classic of the genre. As much a history lesson as a restaurant, this beloved institution opened in 1910 as a home away from home for Basque shepherds, who arrived in such great numbers in those days, the building had to be doubled to accommodate the growing need within a couple of years. Today, you’ll hear at least as much English as Basque, but the culinary traditions are going strong, complete with family-style service (afaria) and the calling dinner bell. Come for the Picon Punch and lamb; stay for the flan.
For sweeping city views instead, consider one of Reno’s soaring stays. A classic? Peppermill Hotel & Casino, with its AAA Four Diamond designation and easy access to every conceivable amenity within a multi-tower resort complex. There’s also Whitney Peak Hotel, home to that record-breaking outdoor climbing wall that you’ve no doubt seen, plus a massive indoor bouldering park. Another good option: the Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa, a riverside retreat where you’ll find other amusements such as bocce courts, darts, shuffleboard, air hockey, pool tables and arcade games. One more Reno icon to consider: The Grand Sierra Resort, where the gaming, entertainment and nightlife are unrivaled.
Climbing wall at Whitney Peak Hotel
Where to stay
If you’re finishing up a feast at La Mona Rosa, you won’t find a more convenient Las Vegas stay than El Cortez Hotel & Casino, not even a minute’s walk across Fremont, and the first hotel and casino to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Rest assured: Though the property has been around since the early 1940s, it has just been expanded and upgraded substantially.) For something thoroughly modern, consider The English Hotel, a beautifully designed boutique property that’s slightly pricier than the others, but worth it for the easy access to everything cool in the Arts District, not least, the aforementioned Pepper Club by the same celebrity chef whose name is on the hotel (his first hospitality project).
El Cortez Hotel & Casino
Where to stay
Maverick Hotel and Casino, formerly the iconic Red Lion, will keep you entertained long after you’re off the slopes, greens and trails in Elko. The 24-hour casino packs table games, live poker and more than 350 slot machines. And should you lose track of time there, head straight to the lobby Starbucks, one of the very few in town.
For a more old-timey variation on the theme, check out Stockmen’s Casino, which dates to the 1940s. Or for more a vintage road-trip style experience, check out the Thunderbird Motel, a mid-century gem on Elko’s main drag.
Stockmen's Casino
Lee Canyon (left); Mt. Charleston (right)
The Star Hotel Basque Dining
Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge | credit: Roberts Were Here
A mere 22 miles from Reno, Mt. Rose offers the city’s closest skiing — amazingly, at Tahoe’s highest base elevation: 8,260 feet. The convenience continues to impress when you arrive at the slopeside parking lots, which get you on the lifts in no time. And once you’re on the mountain, you’ll find a 1200-acre playground with an average snowfall of 30 feet, a vertical drop of 1,800 feet, and a good mix among the 70+ trails of beginner, intermediate, advanced black, and expert double black runs — all with an excellent chance of staying open through late April. Smaller and quieter with absolutely stunning lake views is Diamond Peak above Incline Village. If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll find a dedicated learning area for them, plus plenty of beginner-friendly trails in addition to the new Village Terrain Park for the daredevils in your travel party. Like Mt. Rose, Diamond Peak is open until late April, with such convenient parking that you can be off the slopes and on to your next adventure in no time.
Paddleboarding on Lake Tahoe
A local landmark can be found on the Monkey Rock Trail, accessible via Tunnel Creek Road, where a moderate 2.5-mile trek offers hikers panoramic lake views and an introduction to the trail's namesake boulder formation, carved to resemble a gorilla's head. You can also bike this as part of the famous Marlette Flume trail, but the trail's higher elevations will likely still be under snow at this time of year. More dedicated mountain bikers will want to check out the Sierra Vista Bike Park, where a onetime golf course has been converted into 4.5 miles of trails. Then again, after a morning on the slopes, your legs may well protest anything else strenuous for the rest of the day, and would instead prefer to chill out during a paddle boarding or kayaking session on Lake Tahoe — equal parts stunning and serene.
Feeling like something more refined? Try Reno’s Liberty Food & Wine Exchange, a market, wine bar and artisan eatery where the gruyere and white wine fondue with brioche pretzel twists and apples is apres-everything perfection. And speaking of European mountain town specialties, we’d be remiss if we didn’t also suggest two more Reno favorites: Von Bismarck for the brats and schnitzels — and Louis' Basque Corner for the Picon Punch and roast leg of lamb, another local ode to the shepherding community that moved here from the Basque lands.
Louis' Basque Corner
Where to stay
Whether you want to base yourself in Reno or Lake Tahoe, you have plentiful — and wonderful — options. Consider the town's first luxury boutique hotel, Incline Lodge, where you’ll find a daily wine reception in the fireplace-warmed lobby and private balconies with forest views.
High Sierra King guest room | credit: The Incline Lodge
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Snowshoeing in northern Nevada
Elko SnoBowl — a sweet little city-run ski resort — will likely be closed by the time you arrive, but other skiing ops abound. If you’re looking for some cross-country adventure, great options include the aforementioned Lamoille Canyon as well as the Angel Lake Scenic Byway. And for something even more adrenaline-pumping, consider the ski guides at Ruby Mountain Heli, who’ll take you to new heights, conditions permitting. For example, you may be able to land and ski or board off the 11,387-foot Ruby Dome, the highest peak in the Rubies.
Snowmobiling with SledNV
Other local eateries worth checking out include McAdoos, where the spring menu packs a lot more plant- and herb-forward delicacies than you might expect in these meat-and-potatoes climes. Think peach caprese on toasted baguette paired with a blueberry basil mojito. Also be sure to check out Luciano’s for the margherita flat bread and fried ravioli nachos, and Odeh’s Mediterranean Restaurant for the homemade pita, hummus and kuba.
Falafel plate at Odeh's Mediterranean Restaurant (left); Orange cheesecake at Luciano's (right)
Spring Mountain
Red Rock Canyon
If you’d prefer an afternoon of hitting the trails, head to Red Rock Canyon about 20 minutes from Vegas. Designated as Nevada's first National Conservation Area, this desert wonderland is home to miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails, plus rock climbing ops for good measure. Indeed, the whole neighborhood is full of fun and fascinating trails, such as those around Spring Mountain Ranch State Park — a historic ranch turned luxury retreat whose owners have included Howard Hughes. And avid mountain bikers should check out the beloved trails at Blue Diamond Hill.
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Meanwhile, Downtown’s Carson Kitchen has made a name for itself on the food alone — especially anything pork- and bacon-related — but the restaurant comes with a bonus draw: a particularly beloved rooftop. And if you’re looking for Mexican food, as you absolutely should be in Las Vegas, consider La Mona Rosa for the acclaimed menu full of regional specialties and fusion fare. Think carne asada with russet potato chips or blistered shishito peppers with lime dressing and morita chili salt.
Carson Kitchen
On the other hand, for the sheer novelty of staying in a cozy log cabin — complete with fireplace and pine-dotted mountain views — anywhere near Las Vegas, you’ll want to consider Mt. Charleston Lodge & Cabins. And for a rustic resort-style variation on the theme, check out The Retreat on Charleston Peak.
The Retreat on Charleston Peak
Able Baker Brewing
The Pepper Club
The Pepper Club
The English Hotel
Afternoon sun activities
If your legs still have enough strength, consider one of the epic trails around Reno. Arguably most famous is the Hunter Creek Trail, a 6-mile challenging out-and-back that rewards you with dramatic views of a 30-foot waterfall. There are also a number of great multi-use trails to consider if you’re not sure whether you want to hike, mountain bike or even horseback ride. The Galena Creek Trail, for example, lets you do any of the above as you follow the woodsy, serene lower Galena Creek on an almost 4-mile out and back. The Evans Canyon trail is another popular choice among both hikers and mountain bikers who enjoy the varied scenery — such as the monument to the local Basque sheepherding community — along this 3.3-mile loop.
reno & beyond | las vegas & beyond | Get a little out there
reno & beyond | las vegas & beyond | Get a little out there
Morning snow activities
Lake Tahoe’s skiing is sufficiently legendary that people travel from everywhere to experience it. And who can blame them? The snowfall tends to be measured in feet rather than inches, the skies are a brilliant blue more often than not — and the magical centerpiece to the whole scene is a see-through lake that never freezes.
Afternoon sun activities
If your legs still have enough strength, consider one of the epic trails around Reno. Arguably most famous is the Hunter Creek Trail, a 6-mile challenging out-and-back that rewards you with dramatic views of a 30-foot waterfall. There are also a number of great multi-use trails to consider if you’re not sure whether you want to hike, mountain bike or even horseback ride. The Galena Creek Trail, for example, lets you do any of the above as you follow the woodsy, serene lower Galena Creek on an almost 4-mile out and back. The Evans Canyon trail is another popular choice among both hikers and mountain bikers who enjoy the varied scenery — such as the monument to the local Basque sheepherding community — along this 3.3-mile loop.
Where to eat
There will clearly be a lot of refueling to do, and fortunately, the Reno-Tahoe corridor doesn’t want for hearty, delicious options. In Incline Village, Inclined Burgers and Brews is a popular choice starting at breakfast time, thanks to such goodness as the fried chicken biscuits. If you’re looking for a bubbling-hot slice between the slopes and the trails, consider Reno’s Noble Pie, where traditional recipes handed down from Sicily and Brooklyn mingle with modern fusion fare that Nonna herself couldn’t argue with. Think Frachos: parmesan garlic fries topped with green onions, red bell pepper, wing sauce, ranch dressing, cheese and your choice of homemade sausage, rotisserie chicken or sautéed mushrooms.
Where to stay
Whether you want to base yourself in Reno or Lake Tahoe, you have plentiful — and wonderful — options. Consider the town's first luxury boutique hotel, Incline Lodge, where you’ll find a daily wine reception in the fireplace-warmed lobby and private balconies with forest views.
Morning snow activities
Las Vegas is accustomed to being the kind of place about which no one finds anything shocking — except maybe this: Not even an hour away sits a winter wonderland that can get snow well into April and sometimes even into May. The Lee Canyon skiing and snowboarding resort in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, is home to 28 ski trails, five lifts, gear rental, a lodge and a range of lessons and special events.
Indeed, springtime throughout the Spring Mountains can involve good, old-fashioned snowy fun. Mt. Charleston, for example, is a good place to snowshoe, sled and wildlife-watch. Even the odd elk sighting isn’t unheard of.
Afternoon sun activities
Your typical après ski pursuits may not involve golf, but then again, the local golf scene is hardly typical either. Bear in mind: This is the city that gave the world the Netflix Cup, wherein F1 drivers were paired with golfers to take on the Tom Fazio-designed Wynn Golf Club at Wynn Las Vegas right on the Strip. Shadow Creek is another beloved Tom Fazio-designed course to consider if you want something quieter, though he’s hardly the only big name to have had a hand in the local scene. There’s also the Pete Dye-designed trio of courses at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort and the Jack Nicklaus-designed Reflections Bay Golf Club (technically in Henderson, on the shores of Lake Las Vegas).
Where to eat
Las Vegas has become such a foodie hotspot, one of the best ways to edit down your amazing choices is to tackle one restaurant-rich neighborhood at a time. This time? We suggest Downtown and its increasingly vibrant Arts District, where restaurants such as The Pepper Club by the James Beard award-winning Todd English are becoming destinations unto themselves (the Pepper Club has become a brunch pilgrimage site in particular, thanks to the likes of the Ube French Toast, with its ube cream, ube glaze and jewel-like adornment of berries). At Able Baker Brewing, home to an iconic atomic duck mascot, try at least one of the related beers on tap, whether the Waddle IPA-Session or Duck Around and Find Out IPA-Imperial. The brewery also houses the Arts District Kitchen, where the signature banh mi sandwiches are not to be missed.
Where to stay
If you’re finishing up a feast at La Mona Rosa, you won’t find a more convenient Las Vegas stay than El Cortez Hotel & Casino, not even a minute’s walk across Fremont, and the first hotel and casino to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Rest assured: Though the property has been around since the early 1940s, it has just been expanded and upgraded substantially.) For something thoroughly modern, consider The English Hotel, a beautifully designed boutique property that’s slightly pricier than the others, but worth it for the easy access to everything cool in the Arts District, not least, the aforementioned Pepper Club by the same celebrity chef whose name is on the hotel (his first hospitality project).
Morning snow activities
For the freest of spirits and boldest of adventurers, rural Nevada is hereby rolling out the white carpet. Indeed, the entire wild and snowy north is yours to explore (for Game of Thrones fans, an enticing parallel), though much of it is BYO equipment. If you’re basing yourself in Elko, one of the best snowmobiling and backcountry skiing destinations in existence, you can find outfitters and guides such as SledNV, whose services include backcountry sled tours through the nearby Ruby Mountains and Independence Range. Other nearby snowmobiling areas — each absolutely stunning for the vastness and variety of its terrain — include Wild Horse Reservoir, Gold Creek and Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway.
Afternoon sun activities
Here, once again, the slopes-to-links combo is worth doing just because you can. The Ruby View Golf Course, for one, juxtaposes its emerald-green18-hole course against the surrounding Rubies to startling effect. And you’ll find another low-key, lovely option about 45 minutes from there: the Chimney Rock Municipal Golf Course in Wells.
For other kinds of fun in the sun, consider bass fishing at South Fork Reservoir and wildlife watching at the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge. If you’re looking for something that feels more traditionally après snow, the Ruby Valley Hot Springs could be just the ticket.
Where to eat
Here in the heart of Nevada’s Basque-descended community, the very first item on your culinary agenda should be The Star Hotel Basque Dining, a classic of the genre. As much a history lesson as a restaurant, this beloved institution opened in 1910 as a home away from home for Basque shepherds, who arrived in such great numbers in those days, the building had to be doubled to accommodate the growing need within a couple of years. Today, you’ll hear at least as much English as Basque, but the culinary traditions are going strong, complete with family-style service (afaria) and the calling dinner bell. Come for the Picon Punch and lamb; stay for the flan.
Where to stay
Maverick Hotel and Casino, formerly the iconic Red Lion, will keep you entertained long after you’re off the slopes, greens and trails in Elko. The 24-hour casino packs table games, live poker and more than 350 slot machines. And should you lose track of time there, head straight to the lobby Starbucks, one of the very few in town.
For a more old-timey variation on the theme, check out Stockmen’s Casino, which dates to the 1940s. Or for more a vintage road-trip style experience, check out the Thunderbird Motel, a mid-century gem on Elko’s main drag.