There is plenty to do and see while in the Reno - Tahoe region. To do and see everything, plan to make many trips.
In Downtown Reno alone, there are plenty of choices, too many to check out in one weekend. Here are a few of our favorite things to do.
Let's start with where to get good food and drinks. For dinner and/or a glass of wine or cold microbrew, then go to The River Room, The Wild River Grille, Campo, JB Mapes, Café Beaujolais, The Imperial Lounge, Silver Peak Grill and Taproom, Bowl, Men Wielding Fire, Old Granite Street Eatery, Hill Street Grill, Slice, La Famiglia, Bertha Miranda's, Midtown Eats, Lulou's, Louis' Basque Corner, the Santa Fe or any of the restaurants in the Freighthouse District adjacent to the Aces Ballpark. The following do not serve food, but serve wine or beer very well: West Street Market Wine Bar, Craft, Red Rock Studio, Sierra Taphouse, St. James Infirmary, the Public House and Ceol Irish Pub. For breakfast or brunch the morning after the relay, go to Daughter's Café, Pegs, PJs, Rapscallions, or the Stone House. If you want to hang out in a coffeehouse, then stop by Bibo Coffee Company on Mt. Rose or by the University of Nevada campus, The Hub, Java Jungle, Fairly Grounded, or one of the downtown Starbucks.
As for what else you should do in Downtown Reno, you cannot go wrong with any of the following activities: Watch the Triple A Reno Aces play baseball at the new, first class ballpark that backs up to Truckee River; saunter through the Nevada Museum of Art which is located in a distinctly shaped building modeled after the Black Rock for which the Black Rock Desert is named (yes, that is where the Burning Man Festival happens); explore all the exhibits in the Nevada Discovery Museum (a must do if you have any children with you); climb a rock wall at CommRow; check out vintage cars at Harrah's Automobile Museum; watch the trains pass by in the "Train Trench" and study the railroad history exhibit at the restored Amtrak Station; kayak or tube or jump in the river at the Whitewater Park; run, walk or bicycle along the river or around the University of Nevada campus; listen to an organ concert at Trinity Episcopal Church; see a movie at the Century Theaters; or watch a theatrical production at the Pioneer Theater or the Bruka Theater or the Good Luck Macbeth Theater or the Reno Little Theater.
You can do all of the above and never stop in a hotel-casino. If you want to venture into one of those places, then you have even more options for eating, drinking and entertainment. And of course gaming.
For another perspective about what to see and do in Downtown Reno's Truckee River Arts District, see www.viamagazine.com/weekenders/renoart_district06.asp.
To learn about things to do and see at and around Lake Tahoe, start with www.tahoechamber.com.
For South Lake Tahoe only, go to www.bluelaketahoe.com.
For Truckee, visit www.truckee.com.
For Genoa, see www.genoanevada.org. And www.visitcarsonvalley.org for the rest of the Carson Valley.
For Carson City, visit www.carson-city.org. And for Virginia City, don't miss www.virginiacity-nv.org.
For much more information on the Reno-Lake Tahoe area, please see www.VisitRenoTahoe.com.
