Come down the Mt. Rose Highway and Reno unfolds fast: a compact downtown on the Truckee River, a university, and a food-and-arts scene that has boomed over the past decade. Yes, the casino towers are still there —” and fun on a snowy night —” but the reasons locals actually drive down are the museums, the Riverwalk and Midtown.
It's also the region's practical hub: the airport, the big-box stores and the concert venues all live here, so a Tahoe trip often starts or ends with a Reno afternoon. Build in a few hours; the good stuff is walkable.
One of America's great car collections —” 240+ rare and one-of-a-kind automobiles staged along recreated period street scenes, on the riverbank downtown. Worth the trip even for the mildly car-curious.
Nevada's only nationally accredited art museum, in a striking black building on Liberty Street —” contemporary art and the standout Art + Environment collection, plus a good café.
A 3.5-mile walkable stretch of the Truckee River through downtown, dotted with sculpture, cafés and beer halls. In summer, watch kayakers surf the rapids of the whitewater park at Wingfield Park island.
South of downtown along Virginia Street, Midtown is the mural-covered neighborhood of record shops, vintage stores, craft cocktails and farm-to-table kitchens —” Reno's best food per block.
September's Great Reno Balloon Race fills the dawn sky for free; Hot August Nights brings thousands of classic cars downtown; and the Reno Aces play downtown ballpark baseball all summer.
Carson City's museums and Virginia City's boardwalks are an easy add-on loop from Reno.
All day trips