| RENO-TAHOE, AMERICA’S ADVENTURE
PLACE, BOASTS VIBRANT ARTS AND CULTURE
Under the Sign
Photo provided by The Reno-Sparks
Convention & Visitors Authority
|
Look beyond the rolling
golf greens, snow-covered ski slopes and bright lights of
downtown Reno and you will find a vibrant arts and culture
community that rivals any big city. Reno-Tahoe, America’s
Adventure Place, offers a wide variety of artistic and
cultural attractions from museums and galleries featuring
exclusive exhibits and collections to unique places to visit
and themed special events.
Museums and Galleries:
The Nevada Museum of Art
welcomes guests to three floors of breathtaking art exhibits
and eye-catching architecture. Currently on display is the
Wynn Collection, an exclusive private collection of such
masterpieces as Van Gogh’s “Peasant Woman Against a
Background of Wheat,” Picasso’s “Le Reve,” Henri Matisse’s
“The Persian Robe” and Andy Warhol’s “Steve Wynn.” Also
donning the museum’s walls starting in November is a
collection of Ansel Adams’ photographs capturing the beauty
of the West in black and white, as well as several
year-round collections unique to the museum and Nevada. |
Snowboarder ~ Photo provided by The
Reno-Sparks
Convention & Visitors Authority |
|
Sierra Arts, the local,
private arts agency for northern Nevada, actively supports
and advocates awareness, appreciation, excellence,
accessibility and development of all arts, highlighting the
five major disciplines of art – music, painting, poetry,
creative writing, dance, theater and sculpture. Visitors can
see the artistic disciplines in full color at the Sierra
Arts Gallery, located on the lower level of the historic
Riverside Artist Lofts, in downtown Reno.
Stremmel Gallery was
founded in 1969 as a fine-arts gallery specializing in
contemporary paintings, drawings and sculptures by
mid-career and established American and European artists.
Located in an architecturally award-winning building,
Stremmel Gallery showcases artist exhibits and offers a full
range of client services, including appraisals, framing,
restoration of paintings and fine-art auctions. The gallery
offers clients and designers a wide selection of
contemporary art from an extensive inventory.
Founded by world-traveler
Wilbur D. May, Reno’s May Museum, Arboretum and Botanical
Gardens features a collection of animal trophies and
artifacts from May’s 40 trips around the world. The hands-on
attractions offer a variety of activities for kids about the
world of animals and their habitats. |
Outdoor Theater
Photo provided by The Reno-Sparks
Convention & Visitors Authority |
Rev up your engines for a tour
through the National Automobile Museum, which houses more than 200
cars from the 1890s to the 1990s and beyond. See the 1907 Thomas
Flyer, winner of “The Great Race” from New York to Paris, and stand
in awe of the 1910 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Tourer and the 1936
Mercedes Benz 500K Special Roadster – two of the most beautiful cars
ever built. Feel history roar to life as you move from the
one-of-a-kind 1892 Panhard & Levassor Voiturette through the decades
to the 1913 Stutz Series B Bearcat and Al Jolson’s 1933 Cadillac
Phaeton – one of only 126 produced. You’ll also find the 1953
Corvette convertible owned by John Wayne and Lana Turner’s 1941
Chrysler Newport.
Must-See Regional Attractions:
Visit Carson City, just 30 minutes
south of Reno, for the state’s most historic attractions including
the Nevada State Museum, named one of the top 10 regional museums in
the West, the Nevada State Railroad Museum, which displays a
collection of restored historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad
equipment or Northern Nevada’s Children Museum, which provides a fun
learning environment for children with 25 hands-on exhibits.
Virginia City – an entire town
dedicated as a national historic landmark – is where the Silver
State’s history comes alive in the streets and buildings of this
historic Comstock Lode town. Take a walking tour through the
silver-mining town where men made millions and Mark Twain started
his career writing about it. The town is home to the Fourth Ward
School Museum, a former school and “monument to education,” which
now houses exhibits on Comstock mining and Mark Twain memorabilia,
as well as Piper’s Opera House. Both these historic buildings are
recipients of the National Park Service’s “Save America’s Treasures”
grants, and the Fourth Ward School Museum recently won the National
Preservation Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic
Preservation.
The Truckee Riverwalk, a walkway
of marble, granite and bronze, graces the banks of the Truckee River
as it flows through downtown Reno. Lining the walkway is an open-air
gallery with sculptures depicting Nevada’s wildlife. The River Walk
is a focal point for many downtown activities, including the
Festival of Trees at Christmas. On the third Saturday of each month,
Riverwalk merchants open their doors and pour free samples of wine
during the Wine Walk. While the Wine Walk is free, for $10 tasters
will receive a Wine Walk map and commemorative wine glass.
Nothing To It Culinary Center,
founded by Jennifer Bushman, recent author of the nationally
released cookbook “Kitchen Coach Weeknight Cooking,” offers hands-on
and demonstration cooking classes for the home chef. In addition,
the center features a Napa-style gourmet deli and a kitchen store
with a wide variety of ingredients, kitchen tools and accessories
for the everyday cook. Classes are available for visitors by calling
in advance.
Performing Arts:
The Reno Philharmonic, led by
Maestro Barry Jekowsky, who has conducted ensembles world-wide
including the London Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony, is
a constant source of classical entertainment. Also bringing culture
to the Reno stage is the Nevada Opera, entering its 37th season with
Puccini’s “Turnadot,” and the Reno Chamber Orchestra, led by Maestro
Theodore Kuchar, one of the world’s most recorded maestros. The
Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts lights up downtown Reno with
its “Broadway Comes to Reno” Series, featuring master illusionist
David Copperfield and Broadway hits like “The Graduate,” starring
Morgan Fairchild, “The Producers,” “42nd Street” and “Stomp.”
Art Events:
Artown is a month-long festival
that celebrates the arts in northern Nevada with 31 days of cultural
festivities designed for every artistic taste and talent. More than
60 organizations participate in the July celebration offering more
than 200 performances at 50 venues city-wide. Artown has proven
itself to be among the top cultural events in the country.
Travel through history at the
Great Basin Chautauqua Festival and the Lake Tahoe Chautauqua
Festival in June. Scholars portray major literary and historical
figures in an outdoor tent setting, providing both education and
entertainment in a fun summertime setting.
Experience one of Lake Tahoe’s
most popular summer events and one of the most awe-inspiring
Shakespeare venues in the country, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare
Festival. The Shakespeare Festival is set against beautiful Lake
Tahoe with the swaying pine trees and crystal-clear night sky
serving as the backdrop in the natural outdoor amphitheatre at Sand
Harbor State Park.
Family Fun in Reno-Tahoe
Junior wants game rooms and rides.
Mom and dad just want to relax. And what about the teens? Yes, trips
for the family take some planning. That is unless you decide to come
to Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place. Even though Reno-Tahoe is
known for its Nevada-style gaming, the kids can find plenty of
things to do while the parents try to win cash and prizes.
A popular spot is Circus Circus
Hotel Casino, where midway games and circus acts from China and
Europe entertain patrons both young and old. Among the more amazing
feats are balancing acts and wild acrobatics. The Reno Hilton
features a go-kart track, an Ultimate Rush Thrill Ride and Fun Quest
Family Fun Center, which has laser tag, video games and a special
area for toddlers to play. Boomtown Hotel Casino in Verdi (about
five minutes west of downtown Reno) has a large fun center with a
carousel and other rides for those less adventurous kids, plus
arcade games and a Motion Theater for those who desire a thrill ride
while in air-conditioned comfort.
You can also make vacation a fun
learning experience for the kids by visiting one or several of the
area’s museums. Carson City Children's Museum (about 30 minutes
south of Reno and 30 minutes west of Tahoe) has more than 25
exhibits designed to give kids hands-on learning opportunities.
There's also the Sierra Nevada Children's Museum in Tahoe and the
National Automobile Museum in downtown Reno, which gives guests a
glimpse into automotive history with more than 220 antique, vintage,
classic and special-interest cars. Watch history drive by in the
multimedia theater, exhibit gallery or masterpiece circle. The
Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City houses more than 60
pieces of railroad equipment from Nevada’s past. The bulk of the
equipment is from the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, America’s
richest and most famous short line. Museum visitors can operate
historic railroad equipment, compete in hand-car races and enjoy the
museum’s changing exhibits.
For an indoor spectacle, try
Fleischmann Planetarium on the campus of the University of Nevada
(just a few minutes north of downtown Reno). Besides the show for
stargazers, there are displays on astronomy, animals and other
scientific feats. You can also participate in free telescope viewing
on Fridays.
For good old-fashioned family fun,
play at Magic Carpet Golf. There are three themed courses, as well
as a video arcade and amusement rides. Wild Island, located in
Sparks, is home to an array of family-fun activities including the
region’s only water adventure park. Families can enjoy the
waterslides, outdoor volleyball and the Family Entertainment Center,
which offers Indy cars, miniature golf, an arcade and the new
Wildcat Rollercoaster. For family fun at night, visit Magic
Underground, a showcase of magical arts including; levitation,
transformation, and death-defying escapes. Magic Underground is
located on the corner of South Virginia and Mill Street below the
Pioneer Center in downtown Reno.
If the family wants to take in
attractions in a one of a kind setting, Virginia City is the place
to be. You can take a short walking tour and see a variety of
historic saloons, hotels, candy shops and houses. And don’t forget
to listen for the many ghost stories surrounding Virginia City’s
wild past or partake in one of the mine tours with their interesting
tales. Virginia City is like stepping into a time machine and back
into the Old West. Downtown buildings feature restaurants and many
unique gift shops.
Amazing Hiking and Biking Awaits in Reno-Tahoe
Reno-Tahoe caters to weekend
warriors and avid athletes with amazing hiking and biking. From
leisurely bike paths to high-altitude adventure, Reno-Sparks and
neighboring Lake Tahoe challenge beginners, experts and every level
in between.
Mountain Biking
For those looking for a scenic and
leisurely ride, the Truckee River Trail boarders 14 miles of paved
trails through downtown Reno and Sparks, bordering the crystal clear
Truckee River.
The Virginia Range, located in
Reno, provides a rugged nine-mile trip on smooth gravel and bumpy
four-wheel-drive roads, winding through pines and junipers. Bikers
pass herds of wild mustangs, an old ranch and a babbling creek to
find a perfect rest stop at a small pond. The ride begins at 6,460
feet, and at the four-mile mark, riders encounter a brief and rocky
descent.
One of the most heavily traveled
bike paths in Lake Tahoe is the two-lane paved trail that runs from
Squaw Valley USA, along the Truckee River and down the west shore of
the lake. Bikers find ample parking and a relatively flat course, as
well as exceptional scenery of Lake Tahoe, pine forests and Tahoe
City, a quaint lake town with unique shops and restaurants.
Expert bikers won’t want to miss
the Flume Trail, beginning at Spooner Lake in the Lake Tahoe Nevada
State Park on the east side of Lake Tahoe. The ride begins at 7,000
feet and climbs to 8,157 feet. Bikers who finish the Flume Trail
must tackle the three-mile, 1,500-foot descent at the finish,
dropping into Incline Village. Peaceful, pristine lakes, dense aspen
forests and spectacular views make the trail a must-see for those
wanting to experience Lake Tahoe mountain biking.
Several of Lake Tahoe’s ski
resorts operate year-round, turning ski runs into single bike
tracks.
Northstar-at-Tahoe offers more
than 100 miles of marked trails, which are serviced by chairlifts
equipped with racks to take bikers and their bikes from the Village
elevation of 6,330 feet to the mid-mountain elevation of 7,040 feet.
Squaw Valley USA offers rugged terrain for the more experienced
biker. Bikers can choose to take the tram or embark on the
2,000-foot climb up to the peak. Bike rentals are also available.
Hiking
Mount Rose is Lake Tahoe’s third
highest peak at 10,776 feet and has a path all the way to the top.
Easily accessible from the Mount Rose Highway, hikers enjoy
expansive desert views and a diverse array of alpine flora. Hikers
can expect to see Freel Peak, Job’s Sister and Job’s Peak, which
rank first, second and fourth among Sierra Nevada’s highest peaks.
On clear days, hikers may even catch a glimpse of Mount Lassen in
California, 115 miles away. The Mount Rose hike is of moderate
difficulty, with a 2,000-foot climb in six miles.
The Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) winds
for 150 miles through national forest, wilderness and state park
lands bordering Lake Tahoe. The TRT was built to accommodate hikers,
mountain bikers and equestrians to showcase the breathtaking views
of Lake Tahoe, California’s High Sierra, and the Great Basin of
western Nevada. Trails are of moderate and advanced difficulty with
an average grade of 10 percent at elevations ranging from 6,300 to
9,400 feet. Since construction began in 1984, thousands of visitors
from throughout the United States and beyond have hiked or biked the
Tahoe Rim Trail and even assisted in its construction.
On the northwest side of Reno,
Peavine Mountain, located in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest,
is an area of solitude within minutes of paved city streets. Peavine
Mountain features former mining roads and trails on Forest Service
land that have been converted into a web of hiking and mountain
biking routes with extensive views of Reno and Sparks. The trails
are of moderate difficulty and varied distances.
Considered by locals to be the
ultimate hiking area, Desolation Wilderness is located in the high
peaks above Lake Tahoe’s west shore. Huge masses of jumbled granite,
a stunted pine forest, azure lakes, wildflower fields and mineral
springs abound in Desolation Wilderness. The area is northern
California’s most accessible wilderness and averages 12 ˝ miles long
and eight miles wide with numerous trails available.
Voted one of the best outdoor
locations, Reno serves as the gateway to more than 50 golf courses —
all within 90 minutes of the Reno/Tahoe International Airport. With
world-famous Lake Tahoe just a short drive away, visitors can enjoy
a premier four-season destination with unlimited outdoor recreation,
amazing arts and culture, numerous dining options and 24-hour gaming
excitement.
SUMMER ADVENTURES ABOUND IN RENO-TAHOE
|
Think Reno adventure and
often people think blackjack and 24-hour neon lights.
However, few think about the more than 960 miles of mountain
biking and hiking trails, 300-plus days of sunshine, in
addition to outdoor adventure from water activities to hang
gliding and more than 50 golf courses within 90 minutes of
the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. In other words,
Reno-Tahoe takes its claim as America’s Adventure Place
seriously.
Land Adventures:
Reno-Tahoe and the
surrounding Sierra Nevada range entice explorers with
endless possibilities. Try the Tahoe Rim Trail, a 165-mile
loop trail that runs along the ridges and mountaintops
circling Lake Tahoe, for unbeatable scenic views or take in
a leisurely stroll along the Truckee River and stop by to
view kayakers playing at the downtown Reno Truckee River
Whitewater Park and Kayak Course. Visitors can explore
numerous parks and recreation areas designed for hiking,
biking, motor bikes and more just 15 minutes from the heart
of downtown Reno. In Reno-Tahoe, there is terrain for every
level of ability and an ideal backdrop for other favorite
summer pastimes including horseback riding, rock climbing
and even off-road Hummer tours. |
Reno River Festival
Photo provided by The Reno-Sparks
Convention & Visitors Authority |
If golf is the game of choice,
Reno-Tahoe boasts 50 challenging golf courses each with its own
flare of tranquility. Named one of Golf Digest’s Top 50 Golf
Destinations, Reno-Tahoe’s impressive selection of signature courses
range in difficulty and style, welcoming all levels of players to
the green. Annually, Reno-Tahoe plays host to the PGA TOUR’s
Reno-Tahoe Open at Montreux Golf and Country Club with a field of
top professionals competing for a $3 million purse. It is also home
to the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Edgewood Golf
Course in South Lake Tahoe featuring the biggest names in sports and
entertainment.
Water Adventures:
Having Lake Tahoe and several
other surrounding lakes in proximity to downtown Reno, vacationers
will find a plethora of water activities. From boating and testing
out the latest watercraft toys to canoeing, sailing and fishing,
Reno-Tahoe offers it all, plus a whitewater park in the heart of
downtown Reno. The park is both Nevada’s and the region’s first
whitewater park and kayak slalom racing course and invites kayak
enthusiasts of all abilities to test out the water.
Special Events:
Known for its nationally
recognized events, Reno-Tahoe lives up to its nonstop 24-hour name
with events including Artown, Hot August Nights, the Lake Tahoe
Shakespeare Festival, the Reno River Festival, Lake Tahoe Jazz
Festival, the Great Reno Balloon Races and the National Championship
Air Races, just to name a few. With more than 40 events attracting
thousands of attendees, Reno-Tahoe knows how to do events right.
Information
submitted by:
|
|
