Arts and adventure in Reno Tahoe
In Reno Tahoe, adventure seekers can satiate their need for adrenaline downtown, in the desert, or downslope. The region features extreme variations in topography, climate, and landscape—from alpine mountains and rolling meadows to dry, flat desert and urban oasis, making Reno Tahoe the ultimate destination for outdoor adventure.
The Truckee River winds its way from Lake Tahoe, down the Truckee Meadows, and through the heart of downtown Reno, all the way to Pyramid Lake. Reno Tahoe lends itself to nearly every water activity imaginable, including fishing, boating, stand-up paddle boarding, and jet skiing. Just 40 minutes southwest of Reno—and its sister city of Sparks—lies the largest alpine lake in the U.S., where summer and winter collide: North Lake Tahoe. Surrounded by majestic mountains and acres of breathtaking Sierra Nevada wilderness, North Lake Tahoe is a spectacular outdoor destination suited for visitors of all ages.
An ethereal desert landscape collides with the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, where skateboarders, rock wall climbers, and kayakers make downtown come alive, and where urbanites escape the city for the largest concentration of ski resorts in North America. Whether your action is biking, hiking, camping, or climbing, Reno Tahoe makes it easy to get out there.
Just 40 minutes from downtown Reno, Virginia City is complete with Old West saloons and wooden sidewalks, offering group tours of abandoned mines, haunted cemeteries, and centuries-old steam trains. Wild horses still roam nearby and guests may enjoy them on fully guided tours.
The Reno Tahoe region has more than 15,500 high-quality hotel rooms in settings and styles that are as unique and varied as the visitors who stay here. Major resort casino hotels feature multiple restaurants, entertainment, and spas, while other downtown hotels have a decidedly indie vibe. Investment of more than $1 billion over the last 10 years has kept lodging inventory in Reno Tahoe vibrant and affordable. New hotels are on the horizon, with the Element Hotel coming to the new Reno Experience District within the next year and a Kimpton hotel set to open in downtown Reno by 2025. The original Harrah’s property is being revitalized in downtown Reno as an experience district all its own, with restaurants, retail, and event space in the heart of the city.
Art and culture in Reno Tahoe is a collision of nationally recognized institutions such as The Nevada Museum of Art—the only accredited art museum in the state of Nevada—featuring modern and contemporary works by artists that include Roy Lichtenstein, Georgia O'Keeffe, and William Wegman, and vibrant street art by muralists such as Joe C. Rock, whose celebrated work is featured in Reno Tahoe’s marketing materials. Guided art tours, some incorporating former playa installations from the famed desert festival known as Burning Man, are offered year-round.
Special-events season in Reno Tahoe spans from spring to fall, with one-of-a-kind events like the 100-year-old Reno Rodeo, known as the “Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West.” And with a growing brewpub, distillery, and live music district, Midtown promises the finest local food, beer, liquor, and entertainment throughout all four seasons in Reno Tahoe.
For more information, go to VisitRenoTahoe.com.
Photos by Reno Tahoe