Question: Reno, NV

[torquill]

We've been offered a promotional trip to Reno (basically we get paid to go) for four days. Is there anything to do there if you aren't the gambling type? It's not exactly a lively town.

We need to know within the next couple of days, I think, though I can probably draw that out. If we wouldn't be bored out of our skulls, it seems like a good deal.

Comments

[catnip13.livejournal.com]

Sierra Trading Post has an outlet store there, which isn't any fun if you have no money at all, but is a great place to pick up budget outdoor gear. There's also some free exhibits at the Fleischmann Planetarium.

There are shows and movie theaters and the like. I've gone with family for a weekend a few times, and had fun even though I don't gamble. We got there late at night, and left early in the morning, and stopped to play in the snow enroute in both directions.

Also, I don't know how you do with tobacco smoke, but I had forgotten, and was unpleasantly surprised by the Nevada smoking laws when I went up there after a decade. And they use lots of fragrances to compensate for the smoke smell, which did not do me any favors. I also had trouble finding food the first trip, but I have a different set of dietary restrictions than you do, so you may not have a problem. The second trip we stayed at a hotel a block away from Whole Foods, and that was just awesome.

[dicedork.livejournal.com]

It's very much Vegas-lite. If you like buffets or just people watching, you might like it more than a kick in the nuts.

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

I remember enjoying some walking, and dining at a place called the Pneumatic Cafe. There is some skiing at Mt. Rose.

[redrob.livejournal.com]

Perhaps not this time of year, but there is some nice hiking in the area, and I think there are some nice bike trails as well. The Truckee River on the west side of town is particularly beautiful (IMHO).

UNR has a nice geology exhibit.

About 1/2 mile south is Carson City, which has a lot of history - the old mint, the capitol building, the governor's mansion, etc. Also nearby is Virginia City, which is largely a huge boom-town tourist trap, but definitely has some spots of color (newspaper office where Mark Twain worked, etc.)

Hope this helps.

Alex