Since the 1850’s, when the first homesteaders settled in a picturesque natural depression between the Sierra Nevada and Virginia Mountains, the Truckee Meadows and Reno, the city it birthed, have attracted people from across the globe, reaching its apogee of fame when, in the early half of the last century, Reno was the original Las Vegas.
Thankfully, after the heady days of fame and decadence, Reno has settled down, embraced its intrinsic qualities, and now truly is America’s Adventure Place.
On average, the sun shines 318 days a year in Reno, making downtown a hotbed of festivals and special events during the summer months, from July’s ARTown to the world-famous Hot August Nights and the Eldorado’s Great Italian Festival, to name a few. If summer festivals aren’t your thing, then a short trip up Mt Rose highway will lay Lake Tahoe before you in all it’s grandeur, opening up a range of outdoor recreational opportunities. History buffs will find Virginia City, site of the famous Comstock Lode and the largest historical monument in the USA, an enlightening, family friendly experience.
But when the temperature drops, the fun continues. While the activity downtown is decidedly a summer thing, the Sierra Nevada shines under the fresh-fallen snow. Within a 2 hour scenic drive from downtown sits many world famous ski and snowboard resorts, from Heavenly at South Lake Tahoe, to Squaw Valley USA, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. Mt. Rose Ski Area, over a mile above sea-level, has picturesque views of the city from nearly every run (on clear winter nights, you can see the lights of the SnoCats from parts of the city!)
But it’s not the natural beauty that is Reno’s best attribute: No, Reno’s true beauty is its people.
From all across the globe, people have always congregated in Reno. From Basque ranchers to Italian traders and Chinese laborers, people have been drawn to Reno for the easy living and accepting community, and all of these diverse peoples have brought their cultures, and cuisines, to the Truckee Meadows.
Wallace Stenger has called the Arid West the true west, and no where is that more evident than Reno. Come pay us a visit, take in the sights, sounds, and flavors, and fall in love.
