Any mention of Reno Nevada will invoke two thoughts. First, Reno has great historical value as one of America’s original “Wild West” cities, having been founded in 1868. After all of these years, the city still carries the familiar tag as the “Biggest Little City in the World.”
The second thought will generally center on Reno’s place as one of America’s most popular and longest-standing retail casino gambling destinations. For casino gambling enthusiasts who prefer live gambling instead of online gambling with rewards like a no-deposit bonus, Reno is a pretty cool place to visit and gamble.
Before Bugsy Seagal opened up Las Vegas to tourists who loved to gamble, Reno was considered the gambling capital of the United States. Much has changed in Reno over the last 60+ years, but casino gambling still plays a role in driving the local economy. The downtown Reno area offers popular casino and resort properties like Circus Circus Hotel Casino, Eldorado Resort Casino, and Harrah’s Casino Hotel.
What visitors will want to note is today’s Reno economy is driven by more kinds of fun and exciting entertainment options. If you would be interested in visiting the Biggest Little City in the World, here are a few events/attractions you might want to put on your bucket list.
Snowmobiling Packages in the Sierras
Reno has long been a favorite vacation destination for snowbirds young and old. The city is located a short distance from the majestic Sierra Mountains where outdoor winter activities are abundant.
A visitor favorite is snowmobiling through the Sierra base with its scenic views and beautiful forest lands. While these group packages are a little expensive at just over $400 per person for a 4-hour excursion, it’s one of those things that could be worth the price of admission. Groups are limited to 14 people and excursions are scheduled when weather conditions permit.
Brewery Tours
After a busy day in the mountains or casinos of Reno, it might be that you would enjoy having time to relax and partake in an adult beverage or two. There are plenty of small craft breweries throughout the area that are creating an impressive list of beers and ales for adult consumption.
Brewery tours are available throughout the day and into the night. For an attraction fee of $130 per adult, each small group gets access to a motorized pedicab that will drive them to several private breweries. Each stop will last approximately 30 minutes (2-3 hours in total) with visitors getting a chance to sample a nice selection of snacks, beers, and ales, which is included in the attraction price. Bartender tips are not included.
Historic Donner Party, Emigrant Trail, and Lake Tahoe Photo Tour
History buffs will no doubt know about the tragedies that surrounded the Donner Party. The Donner Party was a group of American settlers who were traveling from Illinois to California during the great California Gold Rush. During their pilgrimage, they met the harsh winter conditions of the immigrant trail that went through Reno and the Sierra Mountains. As the story goes, death and starvation inflicted the party, resulting in some settlers having to resort to cannibalism for survival.
This historic tour covers the path of the Donner Party as well as other trails traveled during the migration west into states like Oregon. The guide provides lots of historical tidbits to keep things fun and interesting. For an attraction fee of $189 per person, the 3-5 hour tour, weather permitting, includes beverages, snacks, and alcoholic beverages on request.
Gangs and Gamblers Haunted Walking Tour
If you don’t believe in the myth of ghosts, the Gangs and Gamblers Haunted Mansion might change your mind. This walking tour of 2-3 hours is headed by a tour guide who will tell tales of the gangsters who have visited the property. You’ll also hear tells of the curses the place left on celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. Current tours are running about $25 per person.
National Automobile Museum
Car enthusiasts can find themselves in automobile heaven in the heart of Reno. The National Automobile Museum features over 225 cars dating back to the original horseless carriages to celebrity-owned vehicles like the 1949 Mercury Series 9CM convertible, which James Dean drove. A full museum tour will take about 4 hours to complete at a reasonable price of $15 for adults and $10 for kids.
As a side note: Reno is 22 minutes (miles away from Lake Tahoe. Between these two historic cities, there are plenty of daily activities for the entire family. When the lights go down in each city, the casino nightlife includes first-class entertainment, fine dining, and unfettered access to video slots, table games, video poker machines, and full-service sportsbooks and racebooks.
