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Reno

Photo: Reno Skyline

It's been called the Biggest Little City in the World and when you discover all there is to see and do there, you might agree. Reno is a fascinating combination of the rugged individualism of Northern Nevada and the sophistication of a much larger city. The spirit of the West, of unbelievable gold and silver strikes, of cowboys and prospectors and cattle and sheep, still lives in this part of Nevada.

Reno was established in 1868 following the arrival of not only the Central Pacific Railroad, but the discovery of the fabled Comstock Lode, a fabulous silver strike, considered the greatest single mineral strike in history. Although their nickname is The Silver State, the state is now the largest gold-producer in the nation and the third largest in the world.

Reno found more gold and silver of a different sort after 1931 when the state legislature approved casino gambling. While not as overwhelming as Las Vegas with glitter & glitz, Reno has a much more laid back atmosphere, looser slots and many people claim, better odds. Perhaps it's the location near the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the easy access to one of the most beautiful spots on earth, Lake Tahoe, the history of the region, or just the fact that there is an atmosphere of the old west here that is missing in Las Vegas.

Photo: Downtown Reno

So there is the gambling and there are the shows. But there is much more to Reno than that. Check out the trails the wagon trains followed to get to the Pacific, including the ill-fated Donner Party or the Pony Express route. Take a ghost walking tour - Nevada is rich in history and mystery with nearby Virginia City considered Nevada's most haunted city, but Reno also has their share of ghosts. There are many historical sites in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area, from ghost towns to castles, all of which are worth seeing.

Located in downtown Reno, the Art District is situated along the Truckee River in an eclectic array of antique stores, boutiques, galleries, coffee shops and restaurants. It's a delightful place to spend an afternoon, or you can spend some time at the landmark Nevada Museum of Art.

Along the river is also the Reno Wild Waters Family Fun Park with slides and flumes and even a surf pool. Then there is the only Whitewater Park located in the heart of a city in the U.S., featuring 11 drop pools and a great variety of whitewater kayak, canoe, raft and inner tube activities for different skill levels.

Reno is also home to the Fleischmann Planetarium and since the area has little light pollution, the clarity and amount of stars you can view is unbelievable. On Fri. and Sat. night visitors can visit the public observatory to scan the heavens with a C-14 telescope, free of charge.

Photo: Pyramid Lake

It is said there is nothing more magical than the drive to Pyramid Lake. Only 30 minutes from Reno you drive through desert mountains to reach the final summit and look down upon Pyramid Lake, one of the largest in the world. The water is a stunning sapphire blue in color, at least 300-feet deep and home to the famous Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, which draws sports fisherman from around the world.

Of course, there always is the snow in the winter on the Sierra Nevada Mountains and time for skiing, snowboarding, sledding and any other type of winter sport you can imagine and it is all just a short drive from Reno.

So why go to Reno? Gambling, entertainment, history, scenic wonders, snow sports, water sports, golfing, hot air balloon races, tennis, hiking, horseback riding, museums, Jazz Festival, Shakespeare Festival, star watching and that Old West atmosphere. The better question to ask is why not go to Reno!