Reno: The Biggest Little City in the World
by Linda Hourston
Many of us would be aware of Reno's reputation as America's mini Las Vegas and as the land of the quickie marriage and divorce. The self-proclaimed “Biggest Little City in the World” more than admirably lives up to its reputation on all counts. There's glitz and glamour abound here and no matter what time of the day or night, you'll always be entertained and be able to “place a bet”.
But what many of us may not be aware of is that Reno also boasts the most spectacular outdoor environments, which are perfect for many seasonal sporting and recreational activities. Numerous lakes and rivers, such as Lake Tahoe, Truckee River and Pyramid Lake are not only picture-perfect, but also provide for fantastic water skiing, kayaking, parasailing, wakeboarding and fishing opportunities. And given Reno's fourteen ski areas, eight of which are major ski resorts, the city is also renowned for its world-class snow skiing facilities and opportunities such as cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and ice-skating. Its surrounding forests and mountains are a nature-lover's delight and offer excellent hiking, “boony-bashing”, white water rafting, mountain biking and camping options – in fact, with such excellent land and water features, Reno is hoping to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Clearly, Reno offers all the gambling, sporting and natural wonders you could ever imagine, but it doesn't stop there – Reno is also bursting with great cultural and family-friendly attractions such as:
* The Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center is housed in the University of Nevada and features the most amazing state-of-the-art technology that will astound young and old alike. The planetarium's unique hyperbolic parabaloid design is breathtaking and features include an exhibition hall (showcases many interactive permanent and temporary displays), a 60-seat theater with a large format (70mm) projector and surround sound system, an interactive “classroom” and a gallery featuring 3-D films such as The Alps and Journey into Amazing Caves along with star and light shows such as Extreme Planets, Black Holes and Dark Side of the Moon. There's a well stocked gift shop and café here too and a visit is guaranteed to keep you all very busy for hours.
* You'll also find the Nevada Historical Society Museum on the university's grounds and it's here you can learn about the region's earliest inhabitants from the first white trappers to Comstock miners and buckaroos and gain valuable insight as to how Reno grew from a small town with just a one-room schoolhouse, to the vibrant and progressive city it is today. The museum features historic manuscript, photographic and literary collections and more recent collections showcase pieces relating to the city's gaming industry such as neon signs, early slot machines, casino souvenirs and even showgirl costumes. Exhibitions and multimedia presentations include Women of the West and The Comstock Era and with over 15,000 artifacts, which includes fine examples of art, pottery, basketry and even various ranching and mining tools, the history and culture buffs among us are sure to love this wonderful museum.
* Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary (A Sanctuary for Life) is dedicated to the protection of non-releasable, endangered and mostly predatorial wildlife. The sanctuary began in 1980 with the acquisition of just two gray wolves and has since become one of Reno's most popular attractions. Today, the sanctuary is home to hundreds of animals such as bears, arctic foxes, leopards, tigers, raccoons, falcons, kestrels and owls. Animal Ark's Science Classroom presents entertaining and educational multimedia presentations and hands-on displays, and the kids will be kept physically and intellectually stimulated for hours in the popular Kid's Zone.
There's much more - the National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, the Sierra Safari Zoo, Sierra Arts Foundation, the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden and the Ultimate Rush Speed and Thrill Park are all well worth a visit.
The city also hosts a plethora of events and festivals each year including:
* The Reno River Festival (May 10 – 13) is a relatively new festival but as one of America's top kayaking competitions, is already attracting record attendances. You'll see professional kayaking competitions and demonstrations and be able to participate in various freestyle competitions, workshops and industry related Expos. There's also rock climbing walls and a skate park available for use, lots of great live music to groove to and the food and beer gardens are fantastic.
* The Reno Rodeo (June 19 – 28) is a lively ten-day event offering rodeo fun for everyone and given it's sanctioned by the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association), attracts over 120,000 fans annually.
* The Brews & Blues Festival (July 7) attracts music and brew lovers from a round the world. Brewers from California, Oregon and Nevada make their way to Reno to set their stalls up in the city center and amid lively music and street entertainment, tempt you with their local and traditional concoctions. Evening entertainment is available at the city's Convention Center, but you must be over 21 to attend.
* The Hot August Nights (August 1 – 10) is an exciting (and very loud) extravaganza that attracts more than 800,000 hot rod enthusiasts from across the globe. It's a lively affair especially popular with the “baby boomers”.
* The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off (August 29 – September 3) features good humor, great food, music, competitions and lots of fun for the kids.
* The Great Reno Balloon Race (September 5 – 7) fills the sky with color and novelty races, including some you may actually participate in, include the Hare and Hound (hunting balloon style), Balloon Blackjack and Fly in Task events.
* The Street Vibrations Motorcycle Festival (September 24 – 28) is so large, it's held simultaneously at several city locations. In a celebration of “music, metal and motorcycles”, the festival includes motorcycle tours, parades, live entertainment and stunt shows.
Renoites are proud of their city - and so they should be. The city's Mayor, Bob Cashell summed their feelings up aptly during a recent interview with the Reno Business Directory by saying, "I'm proud to be Mayor of the city of Reno, a modern progressive and dynamic city. Reno is nationally recognized as one of the best places to live and raise a family in the United States. And, Reno has been voted the 'Friendliest Town in Nevada' seven years running. Reno offers year-round recreational opportunities, exciting community events and entertainment for the whole family. Reno is also one of the major tourist destinations within the United States. In addition, we enjoy a strong economy with very low unemployment, affordable housing, an excellent school system, low taxes and wonderful higher education opportunities. I'm proud to live here and invite you to visit our wonderful community."
So … what are you waiting for?
Further information about Reno can be found at:
www.wegoplaces.com/NVReno_Region_81.aspx
www.gosw.about.com/od/renonevada/a/reno.htm