Introduction to Reno
Reno, Nevada is known as the "Biggest Little City in the World" and is famous for its casinos and for being the birthplace of Harrah’s Entertainment, one of the largest gaming corporations in the world. It is also the headquarters for International Game Technology, which is responsible for manufacturing a majority of the world’s slot machines. European pioneers settled in Reno in the 1850s, and the discovery of silver in the area led to a boom of epic proportions. The mining boom declined in the early 20th century, and casino gambling was legalized in 1931.
Reno Culture
Despite its reputation as a casino haven, Reno also has a thriving arts community. The Nevada Museum of Art allows visitors to engage and enjoy a range of art, and the Art District in downtown Reno has a wide array of coffeehouses, galleries, shops, and restaurants. Stremmel Gallery houses the area’s best in contemporary paintings, drawings, mixed media, and sculpture. Ancient rock art sites and walking tours provided by the Historic Reno Preservation Society capture the spirit of the West that is still embodied in contemporary Reno culture. The award-winning Nothing To It Culinary Center offers cooking classes and other hands-on culinary adventures. Reno’s performing arts companies include the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, the Reno Chamber Orchestra, the Nevada Opera, the Broadway Comes to Reno series, and many community theaters.
Reno Sports and Leisure
Reno has a large number of gyms and fitness facilities where members can enjoy basketball, racquetball, swimming, or consulting with a personal trainer. Golf is huge here, and Reno has world-class courses like PGA Tour host Montreux Golf and Country Club. Reno has the National Bowling Stadium, which is a destination for any bowling enthusiast. The Stadium was the site of the final bowling showdown scenes in the movie "Kingpin." Ballooning is a popular sport in Reno, and the Great Balloon Race is held here every September. Recreational vehicles are also popular in the area, allowing people to explore northern Nevada.
Reno Outdoors
The Reno area has a variety of outdoor experiences for different outdoor tastes. There are many places to take a leisurely Sunday drive and take in the sights. There are places to walk along old wooden sidewalks in an original Comstock silver rush town. Wild horses roam in the hills and alpine lakes are abundant. There are fifteen ski resorts within an hour’s drive of Reno, and they offer something for the beginner and the advanced extreme thrill seeker. Reno’s parks give people the chance to walk next to a river or picnic with family and friends. Cyclists, divers, climbers, hikers, hunters, horseback riders, and fishermen will all find plenty to do in Northern Nevada.
Reno at Night
Nightlife is the name of the game in Reno. There are more nocturnal adventures to be had here than in most larger cities. Gaming is huge, from conventional reel slot machines to the new multi-coin, multi-game videos. Blackjack, poker, and keno slot machines are everywhere. Table games are also abundant, such as blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, baccarat, and pai gow. For those not in the mood for gambling, there are numerous showrooms that offer headliner celebrity entertainment, R&B sessions, golden oldie revues, rock concerts, country-western shows, and comedy. There is world-class dining and many hot nightclubs as well.
