Reno

can't-miss neighborhoods | adventure everywhere | all-ages fun

Reno

W hen local businessmen dubbed Reno, Nevada, “The Biggest Little City on the Map” in 1910, the term “city” may have been a bit of a stretch. With a population hovering around 10,000 and an economy that was (at the time) dependent on a fledgling divorce industry, Reno was more akin to a remote desert outpost than the neon spectacle that would come to define its neighbor to the south. Yet even then, Reno exhibited the hallmarks that would shape its future as a unique travel destination. The University of Nevada, founded in 1874, lent an air of sophistication to the city, while its natural setting amidst the Sierra Nevada Mountains hinted at its potential as a hub for outdoor recreation.

Downtown Reno is the natural starting point for most visitors, dominated by the bright lights of the city’s famed casinos and the iconic arch that presides over the skyline. THE ROW is a sprawling hotel and casino complex that incorporates the Eldorado Resort Casino, Circus Circus Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino. A public art display located along West 4th Street called J Resort’s Reno Neon Line features a mix of contemporary sculptures that include past Burning Man installations. Just a few blocks away, the Truckee River Walk offers a scenic respite from the glitz of the casino spectacle. A stroll along Reno’s most prominent natural feature reveals public art sculptures like The Space Whale (another relic from the annual Burning Man festival), as well as shows at the Brüka Theatre and kayaking at Truckee River Whitewater Park. Wine Walks, held the third Saturday of each month, welcome visitors to sample local vintages at participating merchants along the river's edge.

A journey through the 'Biggest Little City in the World'

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Downtown Reno

Can't-miss neighborhoods

Adventure everywhere

Peppermill Casino

Hiking in Reno Tahoe

Plan your trip

The Reno Arch

photo credit: Aly Nicklas

Peavine Peak

Reno Brewery District

Pyramid Lake

Fly Geyser in Black Rock Desert

Reno's MidTown neighborhood

Peavine Peak

Once a gritty commercial corridor just south of downtown, the MidTown District has emerged as one of Reno’s most vibrant creative hubs. The district is anchored by more than 100 murals adorning the walls of buildings throughout the area. Take a self-guided tour by bike or on foot to discover colorful works by local and internationally renowned artists, including “Reinventing the Wheel” by Joe C. Rock. The MidTown District is also home to a thriving community of indie boutiques like Junkee Clothing Exchange inside Reno Public Market, Micano Home & Garden and Bad Apple Vintage; cafes like The Isles Teashop and Stella Coffee Company; craft cocktail bars like Chapel Tavern; and restaurants like Noble Pie Parlor for some of the city's best pizza.

Located just east of downtown—one block away from Greater Nevada Field (home of the Arizona Diamondbacks Triple-A affiliate, the Reno Aces) and the National Bowling Stadium (nicknamed the “Taj Mahal of Tenpins")—the Reno Brewery District serves as the city's suds-based counterpoint to MidTown's creative energy. This compact neighborhood is home to a cluster of beloved craft breweries like Lead Dog Brewing, Pigeon Head Brewery and The Depot Craft Brewery Distillery, which occupies a building from 1910 that once housed the headquarters for the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway. Louis’ Basque Corner, a landmark Basque restaurant serving oxtail, tongue and lamb chops, is also located within the district—a convivial spot to refuel between brewery tastings. Make sure to order the restaurant’s signature cocktail, a Picon Punch, while you’re there. 

Lake Tahoe was a revelation to Mark Twain when he visited in 1861, calling the "air up there ... the same the angels breathe." More than 150 years later, his words still ring true today. The largest alpine lake in North America has become a magnet for those yearning to experience its crystalline waters, pine-fringed shoreline and jagged mountain vistas—all just a 45-minute drive from Downtown Reno. Take a shuttle from Flume Trail Mountain Bikes in Incline Village to Spooner Lake State Park and ride the Flume Trail. The 14-mile route begins with a 1,000-foot climb in the first 4 miles, followed by 4 ½ miles of exhilarating singletrack hugging the side of the mountain. Fuel up next door with breakfast at Tunnel Creek Cafe before your ride or stop in afterward for lunch and one of eight aprés-bike beers on tap. The cafe is also near the starting point for the Tunnel Creek Trail—a 4.7-mile trail leading to one of the best panoramic views in the area. For a gentler alternative, the 1.3-mile Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop is perfect for viewing wildflowers.

Located 40 miles north of Reno, Pyramid Lake (named for the rocky, pyramid-shaped tufa formations jutting out of the water) is a vast desert lake with a striking geological history and cultural significance for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. (Stop by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum to learn more.) Every October, the lake becomes a bucket-list destination for anglers seeking to hook into the famed Lahontan cutthroat trout—a massive salmonid species once thought to be extinct that can weigh up to 40 pounds. Autumn Harry, a Pyramid Lake Paiute tribal member, leads tours for tribal-owned Kooyooe Pa’a Guides, providing insight into the lake’s ecology and indigenous history. The lake is also notable for fishing from ladders to account for the steep drop-offs that occur the farther you get from shore.

About an hour north of Reno, the remote and otherworldly Black Rock Desert is best known as the home of Burning Man—an annual arts and culture festival that transforms the arid landscape into a temporary metropolis each summer. During the rest of the year, the Black Rock Desert draws perhaps a different breed of adventure-seeker, from off-roading across the cracked earth of the Playa to enjoying the steaming waters of Soldier Meadows Hot Springs, Trego Hot Springs and Black Rock Hot Springs. Getting to these remote oases requires some level of preparation and a high-clearance vehicle; make sure to read the Dirt Road Code and Hot Spring Etiquette Guide before you go, or book a guided tour through Friends of Black Rock-High Rock.

By the time the Reno Arch was erected in 1926, the slogan that greeted visitors—“The Biggest Little City in the World”—had come to encapsulate Reno’s evolving identity and outsized ambitions. In the decades that followed, behind a dazzling blend of casinos, museums and a commitment to the arts, that enthusiasm for continuous transformation would only intensify. And with nonstop flights from 20 airports across the U.S., including short hauls from California and longer routes from the East Coast, Reno is more accessible than ever. From the Truckee River that winds through the heart of downtown to the massive sculptures of Playa Art Park to stunning Lake Tahoe just a short drive away, Reno offers plenty of surprises for those who look beyond its famous neon glow. Here’s how to make the most of your visit.

Wingfield Park

All-ages fun

For those who prefer their museums a bit more interactive, the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum in MidTown Reno is the perfect place to explore science, technology and history through hands-on exhibits and immersive experiences. Permanent exhibits include “Da Vinci’s Corner” (an art and engineering lab inspired by the Renaissance polymath), “Spark! Lab Smithsonian” (an exploration of the process of invention) and “Allosaurus” (a full-scale cast of the carnivorous dinosaur from the Jurassic period). The Discovery also hosts an adults-only lecture series called “Science Distilled” in partnership with the Desert Research Institute.

Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum | photo credit: The Discovery

The National Automobile Museum in Downtown Reno is home to more than 200 classic vehicles—many of which were previously owned by legendary casino mogul Bill Harrah—and four period-specific streets chronicling the evolution of transportation throughout the 20th century. The museum’s “Cars of the Stars” exhibit features vehicles driven by notable figures like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and John F. Kennedy. Cars from “Titanic,” “Batman & Robin” and “Back to the Future” are also on display. The Nevada Museum of Art in MidTown Reno is one of just five art museums in the United States accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, placing it in the same company as The Met in New York City and the MoMA in San Francisco. Designed by internationally renowned architect Will Bruder, the four-story, 70,000-square-foot building was inspired by the geology of the Black Rock Desert. More than 1,500 pieces are on display, including works by Rembrandt, Andy Warhol and Chuck Close. Free guided tours are provided on the weekends, and the admission fee is waived every other Saturday.

National Automobile Museum

Journey back in time to explore the Western frontier at the historic mining town of Virginia City. Once the center of the Comstock Lode silver rush, this day-trip destination located 30 minutes outside Reno has preserved its 19th-century charm, from the wooden sidewalks lining Historic C Street to the infamous Bucket of Blood Saloon. For a spooky yet illuminating look into the town's past, book a ghost tour at the Silver Queen Hotel, Mackay Mansion or Washoe Club. During the day, catch a ride on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad for a 35-minute excursion that carries passengers through some of the same scenic terrain that lured prospectors to the area in the 1800s. A 1916 steam locomotive from Virginia City was used in Martin Scorsese’s 2023 film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” while another historic coach was featured in “Gone With The Wind.”

Virginia City

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The adjacent city of Sparks, Nevada, located 5 miles east of Reno, is an honorary extension of Reno's urban core. Like the mural tour in MidTown Reno, the Sparks Art Walk in Victorian Square is a self-guided walking tour highlighting the murals and sculptures of the city that includes a stop at Great Basin Brewing Co. The Generator, meanwhile, is a 70,000-square-foot art incubator that helps bring many of the large-scale Burning Man sculptures to life. The Nevada Department of Wildlife stocks the Sparks Marina with rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout, as well as spotted largemouth bass and green sunfish, making it a popular local fishing spot. Sparks Marina Park offers kayaking, paddleboarding, volleyball courts, sandy beaches and a dog park, providing additional opportunities for recreation while Mt. Rose in Lake Tahoe looms in the distance.

A registered state historic landmark and Reno’s only mineral hot springs, Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa features thermal waters believed to possess restorative healing properties. The springs have been active for more than 150 years—the aforementioned Twain is responsible for its moniker—and have offered a respite of relaxation and rejuvenation to weary travelers dating back to the Native Americans. Today, the spa's indoor and outdoor thermal pools, mineral mud baths and massage therapy services continue to draw visitors in search of natural healing and wellness. The water is purportedly so pure that one could drink it unfiltered directly out of the ground—though most choose to simply soak up the sulfate minerals or indulge in the spa's other treatments.

Peppermill Resort Spa Casino

The arrival of fall in Reno is marked by a calendar packed with festivals and events. Dragon Lights Reno (Sept. 27–Nov. 30) invites guests to wander through the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Rancho San Rafael Park amid a vibrant display of lantern sculptures. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the Reno Air Show (Oct. 4–6), which turns the skies above the Reno Stead Airport into an arena of aerial acrobatics. THE ROW’s Great Italian Festival (Oct. 12–13) returns for its 42nd year, celebrating Italian cuisine, music and culture across the Downton Reno complex. Celebrity chef Buddy V of “Cake Boss” fame will be in attendance. For those seeking even more of a party atmosphere, THE ROW’s Silver Legacy Resort Casino is the starting point for three of the city’s famed bar crawls: the Reno Zombie Crawl (Oct. 19), the Reno Santa Crawl (Dec. 14) and the Reno Leprechaun Crawl (March 15, 2025).

Reffen Street Food Market Photo credits: Lukas Bukoven (left); Reffen - Copenhagen Street Food (right)

Reno Air Show

Big and little kids alike can find plenty of reasons to love the Biggest Little City in the World. From inspecting the exotic artifacts found at Wilbur D. May Museum in Rancho San Rafael Park to scaling BaseCamp Reno, the Guinness-certified tallest artificial climbing wall in the world, the options for family fun are endless.

While Reno came to prominence for its neon-lit entertainment, its natural wonders shine just as brightly. The city’s proximity to Lake Tahoe, Pyramid Lake and the Black Rock Desert make it an ideal base for exploration. No matter the season, adventure awaits just a short drive away.

Reno’s compact core makes it amenable to exploration by foot, bicycle or even aboard the city’s growing network of electric scooters. Downtown Reno and the MidTown District are particularly pedestrian-friendly, anchored by the Truckee River and the Riverwalk District. While having a car opens up access to Reno's surrounding areas like Sparks, Lake Tahoe and Virginia City, they are still easily accessible from the heart of the city.

Junkee Clothing Exchange

Rancharrah

Truckee Bike Park

Fly fishing in the Truckee River

photo credit: Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa

Rancharrah

Bike path along Sparks Marina

Peppermill Casino

Public art

The Space Whale

Peppermill Casino

Smith and River

Rum Sugar Lime bar

Nevada Museum of Art

Tamarack Trail, Lake Tahoe

can't-miss neighborhoods | adventure everywhere | all-ages fun