Reno Attractions
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Reno. Is it big? Is it little? Is it a city? Why are we asking so many questions? Here’s why: Known as the “Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno is a thriving metropolis in northern Nevada that’s home to nearly 500,000 people. With a diverse, growing population, Reno has begun to shed its reputation as a casino town, becoming something so much more: a welcome place for events and festivals, a foodie hub, an emerging tech city, and a place where outdoor fun blends seamlessly with urban living.
Here, we’ll explore some of the top Reno attractions, from nearby Lake Tahoe and its world-class ski resorts to a stunning automobile collection, the Truckee Riverwalk, and lots more.
Find more Iconic Attractions here.
Reno Tourist Attractions
Not all Reno tourist attractions fit neatly into a single category, which is very typical of Reno—you expect one thing and get something totally surprising instead. Best of all, Reno’s famous hospitality ensures that you’ll have no shortage of places to wine, dine, and relax. Here are a few items worth adding to your itinerary.
Greater Nevada Field
Home to the Reno Aces (Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks), this award-winning ballpark seats 9,000-plus fans. The complex also features an open berm in the outfield for general admission seating and a pair of party zones for those interested in sipping a local craft beer while taking in a game. Fireworks shows routinely cap off night games, while the park’s downtown location makes it easy to access from area resort-casinos.
BaseCamp Climbing Gym
Visitors to downtown Reno often gawk at The Big Wall, a heart-pumping, 164-foot climb located outside the iconic Whitney Peak Hotel. But don’t forget that the conspicuous wall is just part of the BaseCamp gym. Open to the public—head through the hotel lobby—this facility features a 7,000-square-foot bouldering park, a separate room for kids, and expert instructors.
Reno Arch
Built to celebrate the 1927 completion of the Transcontinental Highway, the Reno Arch has gone through several iterations over the years. The one you see stretching across Virginia Street was erected in 1987, while the original stands on nearby Lake Street near the National Automobile Museum. A third arch was relocated and repurposed in Willits, California. Now decorated in silver and blue neon bulbs and sporting the city’s “Biggest Little City in the World” logo, the current Reno Arch welcomes visitors with colors that pay homage to the nearby University of Nevada, Reno.
Outdoor Reno, NV Attractions
Reno is nestled against the Sierra Nevada, which is great news for outdoor lovers: The town offers tons of scenic and challenging hiking trails, parks, lakes, rivers, and more.
Downtown Reno Riverwalk
Casually stroll through the Downtown Reno Riverwalk along the beautiful Truckee River and enjoy colorful blocks of parks, bars, shops, and restaurants. The Riverwalk—which runs from Idlewild Park in the west to Wingfield Park to the east— parallels a portion of the Truckee River that’s considered a world-class water park. The annual Reno River Festival turns the entire area into a multi-day block party every summer.
Galena Creek Regional Park
Set near Reno in the dense forests of the Sierra Nevada foothills, this park is packed with pioneer history, fishing springs, and scenic vistas. Locals are particularly fond of its expansive trail system that features a wide range of difficulties and distances. Make your first stop at the visitor center to get a lay of the land and take a stroll along the paved interpretive trail. Next up, take the Galena Creek Nature Trail, a 1-mile loop outfitted with 18 signposts that highlight the park’s history and ecology.
Idlewild Park
The above-mentioned Downtown Reno Riverwalk begins at this green, shaded 49-acre park on the western edge of town. Home to duck ponds, the Truckee River, and plenty of room to picnic, this park plays host to events like Food Truck Friday, which is held each Friday night during the summer.
Wingfield Park
Further along the river, as you approach Downtown Reno, you’ll discover Wingfield Park, an open, grassy area that stretches across several city blocks and is bisected by the Arlington Street Bridge. Once an amusement park and resort called Belle Isle, Wingfield Park now is home to basketball courts, an amphitheater, a whitewater park, and a pair of quaint bridges for leisurely strolls. Artown is just one of many special events that take place here.
Pyramid Lake
Further afield, what remains of prehistoric Lake Lahontan is now Pyramid Lake, a 188-square-mile body of water that’s popular with boaters and fishermen. About 45 minutes northwest of Reno, Pyramid Lake is the ancestral (and current) home to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. Bring binoculars to check out Anaho Island National Wildlife Refuge, which serves as the largest breeding ground of the American White Pelican.
Museums and Culture
Thanks to its abundance of museums and arts centers, Reno is as cultured and cosmopolitan as other major metropolitan areas on the West coast.
Wilbur D. May Center
Located in Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in north Reno, the Wilbur D. May Center’s permanent collection includes impressive artifacts from around the world . Visitors will spotWestern art, Japanese swords, European glasswork, Egyptian tomb relics, African tribal masks and, yes, a couple of bona-fide shrunken heads. This is also a great family-friendly location that offers an abundance of interactive exhibits for kids. This museum—along with its fantastic gift shop—is one of our top picks for any Reno trip.
Pioneer Center For Performing Arts
Broadway comes to Reno each year at this gold geodesic-domed performance hall that’s sunken into the ground along Virginia Street. Home to the Reno Philharmonic, the Pioneer Center was constructed in 1967 and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Ballet, classical, jazz, and comedy performances are also held here throughout the year.
National Automobile Museum
Immerse yourself in late casino magnate Bill Harrah’s collection of more than 200 rare, classic, and special-interest vehicles that span several large garages and showrooms. See the 1907 Thomas Flyer automobile that made a cross-country trek in a time when such a thing was nearly unthinkable. Check out an authentic Elvis Cadillac, a car once owned by John Wayne, and a presidential limo that took part in John F. Kennedy’s infamous Dallas motorcade. Located in downtown Reno, the National Automobile Museum is worth every penny of its $15 general admission cost (military, senior, and other discounts are available).
Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center
Located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, this 1963-built planetarium projects movies in its dome-shaped theater that seats 60. Learn about the millions of stars, planets, and galaxies visible to the naked eye right here in Nevada in this building that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We’d say it’s great for kids—which it is—but we also know a few adults who geek out over their visits to the Fleischmann.
Nevada Museum of Art
While in Reno, don’t miss a stop at the only accredited art museum in the state. Since 2003, the Nevada Museum of Art has hosted masterpieces from around the world (Rembrandt, Warhol, Monet, and more) and currently exhibits more than 1,500 paintings, photographs, sculptures, drawings, and prints over four beautifully executed floors. On your next visit, go all the way up to the rooftop for sweeping views of the city and surrounding Sierra Nevada.
Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum
The Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum—locals usually call it The Discovery—sits in the heart of Reno’s thriving Midtown District. This67,000-square-foot exploratorium is packed with hands-on exhibits, dinosaur fossils, arts and crafts workshops, and plenty of things for kids to climb on. In fact, it’s the largest children’s museum and science center in the area. In recent years, the museum has expanded its all-ages programming, making it perfect for anyone who visits.
Animal Ark
Get a little wild out there at Animal Ark, just 30 minutes from Reno. Home to dozens of species, including cheetahs, black bears, tigers, arctic foxes, kit foxes, and exotic birds, this animal sanctuary is a perennial favorite for school field trips and families who visit on weekends. Take a self-guided tour and, if you show up at the right time, you might catch a bear feeding or the annual Cheetah Run, which is exactly what it sounds like.
Casinos and Resorts You Must See in Reno, Nevada
Offering luxurious, spa-like accommodations to rival their Las Vegas counterparts, here’s our “must-see in Reno, Nevada” casino list for anyone who likes to roll the dice and pull the slot handles.
Peppermill Resort Spa Casino
With a decidedly Italian theme, the Peppermill Reno Resort Spa Casino is a local landmark and has been run by the same group of families since it started as a coffee shop in 1971. An all-inclusive, AAA Four Diamond resort with multiple towers, the Peppermill offers extravagant guest suites and tons of amenities. Don’t miss the poolside action (complete with waterfall) in the summer and the iconic Fireside Lounge in the winter.
Atlantis Casino Resort Spa
The Atlantis Reno Casino Resort Spa offers a dizzying array of restaurants, gaming tables, and slot machines alongside a massive sports book on the casino floor. Just a few miles south of downtown, the Atlantis is popular with convention-goers thanks to its proximity to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. It’s also home to Reno’s only Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award spa along with state-of-the-art meeting facilities.
Silver Legacy Resort Casino
The Silver Legacy Reno Resort Casino literally and figuratively towers over the competition with its distinct Old West mining theme (check out the two-story mining rig in the middle of the casino floor). This 1,600-room premiere getaway is packed with amenities and restaurants that remain popular with locals and visitors alike.
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