See Burning Man Art on the J Resort Neon Line in Reno

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

About the J Resort Neon Line

Located on the west end of downtown Reno, just steps from the J Resort, is an urban trail called the Neon Line featuring a vast and growing collection of art sculptures, once featured at the famed Burning Man festival, dotted along the path.

The Neon Line, which came about with the recent transformation of the Sands Regency into J Resort, is one aspect of a multi-phase revitalization project of West 4th Street and the surrounding area.

The best part is it’s completely free to take part in and you don’t need to be a guest of the J Resort Reno Hotel. The art sculptures are located along public sidewalks, making them accessible to everyone, day and night.

There’s no official beginning and end, and accessing the Neon Line from the downtown area is easy, as the sculptures begin just steps away from other popular attractions like The Row and the famous Reno Arch.

Neon Line at Night vs. Day

The J Resort Neon Line can be experienced at both night and during the day. Both have their positives and drawbacks, but they also offer their own unique perspectives that can’t be experienced during both.

Clearly, nighttime would be the preferential time to walk it, as that’s when all the sculptures are lit up. Additionally, some of the sculptures feature special effects and music, giving onlookers the full experience.

Conversely, there are some sculptures that have an immense amount of details which are difficult to see when it’s dark. So day time would be the best time for that. Additionally, some may feel safer in this area during the day (we’ll discuss that later into the post).

No matter which time of day your choose to walk the Neon Line, you’ll still be able to see and appreciate the art sculptures. My wife and I walked it at night and during the day and I’ll display photos of the sculptures under both conditions below.

J Resort Neon Line Art Sculptures and Path

The Neon Line is easy to follow, particularly at night. All along the path is a literal blue neon light throughout the sidewalks. As long as you see the light, you’re on the Neon Line. There’s no official beginning or end, so just start walking.

If you’re driving here specifically to walk the Neon Line, I suggest parking in the small lot at the J Resort on the Ralston Street side and crossing the street from there. If you’re coming from the area of The Row or the Reno Arch, simply start walking up West 4th Street.

My wife and I found out about the Neon Line during our stay at J Resort Reno (check out my honest review here), and we accessed it from Ralston Street. If you do the same, the first art sculpture you’ll walk up on is The Rearing Horse.

It was featured at Burning Man 2018 and is nearly entirely made up of repurposed machinery parts found in junk piles. Also, it’s one of the only sculptures that are interactive, as you can make its legs, mane, tail, neck, and ears move via the various cranks.

From the Rearing Horse, make your way north up West 4th Street towards the Gold West Casino. Here, you’ll walk adjacent to J Resort’s Glow Plaza, and check out the numerous neon signs and a huge Polar Bear sculpture towering above you.

Just past this block, you’ll pass Chapel of the Bells on your left, which is one of the oldest chapels in Reno. Just past that will be the next sculpture, Bee Dance. We only saw this one at night and I couldn’t see it’s description, but when you see it, it’s pretty self-explanatory.

Head a bit further up West Fourth Street until you reach the intersection with Vine Street. For reference, you’ll see the Gold and Silver Inn restaurant on your left. Past here, there are two more art installations across Vine Street, which essentially resemble fancy light posts.

If you decide to skip these, simply cross the street to other side of West Fourth (towards Gold Dust West casino). The first piece you’ll come upon here is the Lincoln Bear. This piece pays tribute to the President Lincoln memorial, and its “fur” is made up of 127,000 pennies, collectively weighting 5,200 pounds.

From here, continue down West Fourth Street going back towards J Resort. Between Lincoln Bear and the J Resort, you’ll come upon several more art pieces, including Desert Guard, Neptune’s Luminous Dance, Odyssey, and Jibaro Soy.

The Desert Guard piece stands out from the pack. It was inspired by the armor of the ruthless Mongolian ruler, Genghis Khan, and towers over onlookers at nearly fifty feet and weighs over ten tons. It’s truly a sight to behold up close. I liked daytime, better, as I was able to see more of the detail in the armor.

Beyond the West Fourth Street and Ralston Street intersection is the Jibaro Soy piece. This piece was right up there with Lincoln Bear as one of our favorites. “Jibaro” is a Puerto Rican word describing the humble working class throughout the island.

The piece is meant to be a symbolic image of a shameless Jibaro, representing the demand of respect and dignity of preserving the culture. The details within the sculpture are amazing, as you can see the resemblance of a Puerto Rican barrio (neighborhood). The song in which it was inspired by, “Esta mi barrio y yo soy del”, translates to, “This is my neighborhood, and I’m from…”.

Past Jibaro Soy, there are three more art pieces and you’ll need to cross the street once again to see them. The first crosswalk is near Jibaro Soy, but there are no lights and people tend to fly through here. For safety, your best bet is to walk a bit down the road to the second crosswalk with stoplights.

From here, you’ll find yourself on the other side of J Resort, closest to the Silver Legacy and El Dorado Hotels. Over here, the final three pieces on the neon line (for now) include Squared (pictured above), Tara Mechani, and Bloom (pictured below).

These are their order if viewed coming from the direction listed above. If you’ll be starting the Neon Line from downtown, simply reverse the order.

Tara Mechani, another favorite of ours, was inspired by the ancient female Buddha, Tara. It’s made with 80% recycled, non-traditional materials like bike chains, hinges, machine parts, keyholes, and hardware. It’s the most beautiful of the collection.

It’ll be interesting to see if J Resort will add any additional Burning Man art to the Neon Line. The most recent additions include Jibaro Soy, Lincoln Bear, and Odyssey pieces, which were all from the 2023 event. Neptune’s Luminous Dance was commissioned in 2024, but wasn’t featured at Burning Man.

There appears to be two addition plots just past the Bloom piece that could hold more sculptures, in addition to several more spots along West Fourth Street. Burning Man 2024 just concluded last August, so it’s possible that another sculpture could be on the way.

Is the Neon Line Safe?

It’s no secret that downtown Reno has long struggled with image issues. The downtown and West Fourth Street areas, like many cities, have historically seen rapid homelessness and drug use. I won’t lie to you, those issues are still ever present but I’ve personally never had a problem.

As a local, I have explored downtown Reno on foot, during day and night, lugging around an expensive camera many times and I’ve never had an issue. No one’s ever bothered or threatened me in any way. This is also true for cities like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Inglewood.

That’s not to say you’re 100% safe. Anything could happen to anyone at any time or place. From downtown Reno to Mayberry, there’s always a risk. Keep your wits about you, keep your head on a swivel, and don’t flaunt expensive looking jewelry or tech.

Many times, simply making eye contact with folks and giving a friendly “hello” is all it takes to ward off a potential unwanted interaction. It lets people know you’re paying attention and you’re not going to be an easy target. Just be street-smart and you’ll be fine.

Neon Line Recap

To recap, here are the names of the art sculptures you’ll see if starting across the street from J Resort Reno on the Ralston Street side and circling back:

• The Rearing Horse

• Broken but Together

• Various old neon signs

• Longview the Polar Bear

• Bee Dance

• Sprouts (across Vine Street)

• Lincoln Bear

• Desert Guard

• Neptune’s Luminous Dance

• Odyssey

• Jibaro Soy

• Squared

• Tara Mechani

• Bloom

My Honest Review of J Resort: A Downtown Reno Hotel

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.

In early 2023, Jacob’s Entertainment completed the purchase of one of Reno’s oldest hotels, the Sands Regency. After promptly changing its name to J Resort, the company announced a nine-figure upgrade to the property, including an arts district, new pool, room and suite upgrades, restaurants, and more.

While the changes are ongoing, as it’ll take a couple more years for the project to reach completion, I recently had the opportunity to spend a weekend at J Resort and experience the changes made thus far.

Many people search for cheap hotels in Reno, you may be one of them. If so, I believe J Resort Reno is a solid option as its nightly rates are reasonable and is in an up-and-coming location near many attractions, including the Riverwalk, Reno Arch, and more.

Full transparency, J Resort did not offer me any kind of incentive to write this. I paid for my room and meals out of pocket. This is to ensure that I give you the most honest and unbiased review to help you decide if this property is what you and your family are looking for.

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J Resort Reno Location, Parking and Rates

J Resort Reno’s main parking lot and entrance is located on Arlington Ave., but other entrances include the West 4th Street and Ralston Street sides as well. When it comes to parking, J Resort isn’t lacking what-so-ever. There are multiple parking lots around the property, in addition to a multi-story garage.

As is the case with most casino hotels in Reno, parking is free of charge for both registered guests and visitors, regardless of where you choose to park. For those who prefer valet, you can find that service at the main entrance off of Arlington.

If you’re coming from the parking garage, you’ll likely use the elevator attached to the Aspen Tower (more on those later). You’ll find the check-in desk straight ahead coming off said elevator. From the main entrance, walk straight through the casino and head up the short stairwell to reach it.

Compared to photos I’ve seen of the Sands online, J Resort has definitely upgraded the interior. Gone is the dated reflective paneling, as well as the reds and yellows that scream 1980’s Reno. They’ve been replaced with a more modern approach of cream-colored ceilings, with touches of blue and gold throughout.

You can still tell it’s an aged property, but the effort is just as noticeable. The casino is largely made up of slot machines, but they also have a walled-off high limit area and a few blackjack tables across from the check-in desk.

In my experience, checking in was a breeze. They have self-check in kiosks, but both were out of commission. We had a bit of a wait, but the giant screen behind the desk featuring rotating photos of area attractions kept us occupied. I snapped a photo right as a photo of Emerald Bay, one of my most favorite places, popped up.

Once my credit card was approved, I was given my room keys and a quick break down of the property. All in all, checking in took about fifteen minutes (including waiting in line). That’s good, especially for a Saturday.

I booked our stay through Expedia and paid a total of $215 for two nights in an Aspen Tower king room, which included tax and the $30 per night resort fee. So not accounting for tax, I paid less than $100 per night. Looking at averages throughout the year, their rate tends to hover under that mark. If you’re looking for cheap hotels in Reno, I would consider starting here.

J Resort Reno Towers

There are three towers that make up J Resort Reno. They are the Aspen, Birch, and Cedar Towers. As of January 2025, Birch Tower and its room are under renovation and not available to book. Rooms in the Aspen and Cedar Towers are currently available, though.

Depending on which tower you’re staying in and the amenities you care most about, each tower offers its own set of locational advantages. For example, staying in the Birch Tower would put you close to the main hotel entrance, Hanna’s Table restaurant, the buffet and the smoke free area of the casino.

The Cedar Tower is the newest, but offers the least amount of advantages to guests. All you’re close to is the hotel entrance, a slot machine-heavy area of the casino, a small bar and the gift shop.

Conversely, the Aspen Tower is the only tower with rooms featuring kitchenettes and quick access to the 16th floor fitness center. Additionally, you’ll be closest to the check-in desk, J Paul’s Italian Steakhouse, the blackjack tables, and Afterglow Lounge.

J Resort Reno Aspen Tower King Room

My wife and I booked a king room in the Aspen Tower and were pleasantly pleased with the upgrades. Each wall featured a different color in a mixture of creams and browns, with the main wall featuring a patterned design. The flooring is carpeted, which I look at as a negative as I personally prefer hard floor.

Aside from the king size bed, the room featured a bed bench, small work space, flatscreen TV, ironing board with iron, hair dryer, small array of toiletries, walk in-style shower, an abundance of USB ports and standard plugs, and a kitchenette with microwave, mini-fridge, and coffee maker.

The bathroom was much smaller than it looked in photos, but it was well appointed and made good use of the space. The walk in-style shower was a nice touch, though I can see this being a negative to families with littles who prefer bathtubs. Based on Expedia photos, it looked like the Cedar Tower rooms have bathtubs.

I loved the vanity lighting around the wall-sized mirror, though there is still direct lighting you can’t get around. I’m a huge proponent of indirect lighting, so I’m glad to see more and more hotels heading in this direction.

Both the shower and bathroom floor were made of white marble tiles with a black design pattern (probably faux, to be honest, but it still looks nice). The shower was amazing, as it had the best water pressure of any cheap hotel in Reno I’ve stayed in.

I’m one of those people who inspects my room no matter the hotel. I don’t care if it’s Motel 6 or a Westin. Initially, this room appeared impeccable. To be fair, the bathroom, bed, carpet, and most of the kitchenette were clean. No signs of bed bugs, nothing left over in the bathroom, and no food particles in the microwave.

On the flip side, there were black marks and dust all over the A/C unit, mystery stains on the walls, and not-so-mystery stains on the bed bench. The biggest offender, though, was the inside of the coffee maker’s water compartment. It looked like it’s never been cleaned.

These findings didn’t affect us enough to change rooms, nor did they damper our stay. However, they’re worth mentioning. The rooms may have been upgraded, but this is still an old property dating back to the 70’s. There’s no way they would catch everything, but there needs to be more attention to detail when cleaning.

Another negative was the severe lack of seating. The only options were the single office-style chair and the bed bench, which was out for us due to the visible stains discussed above. There was definitely room near the window to add a love seat or small couch, so I’m baffled as to why they omitted this.

On the flip side, there was an abundance of USB ports and standard plugs throughout the room, which is something a lot of hotels can’t say. There were two of each on each side of the bed, along with additional ports and plugs on the work desk, kitchenette and in the bathroom.

J Resort Reno Amenities

The changes at J Resort Reno are still ongoing, so a few of the typical amenities you’d find at hotels like this aren’t available at the moment. For example, they’re expected to open a new spa sometime in 2025 and they’re working on a new rooftop pool, among other amenities.

The current pool is seasonal as it’s unheated, so it was drained and unavailable to us during our stay. From what I’ve gathered from employees, it may not reopen at all as they’ll just wait to debut the upgraded one.

J Resort Reno Dining and Drink Options

The high end dining offering at J Resort Reno is J Paul’s Italian Steakhouse. During our stay, my wife and I opted to dine here, as we’ve been to a number of Reno steakhouses and have yet to try this newest one. In short, our experience was simply stellar all the way through.

Of course, you have a hearty selection of cuts of both beef and bison. In addition, J Paul’s offers hand crafted Italian fare and seafood classics for those who wish to avoid red meat. They also feature specialty cocktails, offered in both the steakhouse itself and the neighboring lounge.

Their secondary dining option is Hanna’s Table, which is akin to a diner experience. Here, you’ll find typical dishes found at many restaurants, including smash burgers, pan-seared chicken, grilled ribeye, salmon, and a variety of breakfast options in the morning.

If you’ve been to Cafe Milano at the Peppermill, you’ll find it similar to that. Unlike Cafe Milano, though, it isn’t open 24/7 (as of now, at least). Hanna’s is currently open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. After hours, you can get coffee and quick grabs at neighboring Hanna’s Express (though it was frustratingly never open during my stay).

My wife and I dined here for Linner (our term for a lunch + dinner combo) and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food. My wife ordered sliders while I ordered a barbecue bacon smash burger. Was it the greatest burger I’ve ever had? No. However, it was flavorful, cooked perfectly, and they didn’t charge me an arm and a leg.

The final dining option at J Resort Reno is The Buffet which is, you guessed it, a buffet. We didn’t partake, as I’m usually not a fan of buffets. However, the online reviews indicate it’s decent and it’s currently the only buffet option in the downtown area.

Afterglow Lounge

The main lounge at J Resort Reno is Afterglow Lounge. The lounge/bar area is lit with bright neon pinks, yellows, greens, and ambers. I can’t say for sure how popular it is, as we were the only ones here on a Saturday night. If it does get crowded, I can see it being problematic with the lack of seating options.

There’s a small stage near the main entrance of the lounge where musical acts perform. This typically occurs on Fridays and Saturdays at 9pm, though I was told those performance nights expand during the summer.

Additionally, there’s a small bar just off the casino near the elevators to the Cedar Tower. Beyond that, the only other option is the lounge at J Paul’s Italian Steakhouse. You do not need a reservation to sit at the bar and if desired, you can order food as well.

J Resort Reno Recreation

As stated earlier in this post, the spa at J Resort Reno won’t be opening until later in 2025 and they’re working on an upgraded rooftop pool. So as of now, recreational opportunities are limited. Thankfully, there are a couple of ways to get your steps in.

On the 16th floor of the Aspen Tower is where you’ll find the fitness center. It’s fairly small, especially considering they advertise is as “world class” on their website. It does the job, though. You’ll find cardio equipment, weight machines, dumbbells, flat screen TVs, and a water bottle refill station.

J Resort Reno Neon Line

Outside of J Resort Reno is the Neon Line, which features a vast and growing collection of art installations from Burning Man. You can view the pieces during the day, but at night is where they truly shine.

Each piece has its own story and some even have interactive elements. At night, they’re lit up and play music. During regular intervals, each piece stops playing the generic music and puts on a show, complete with lighting effects and movements.

There’s no real beginning and end but for context, we began at the Rearing Horse piece on the corner of Ralston and West 4th Streets. From there, we walked up West 4th to Vine Street, then crossed the street and worked our way back down West 4th to the corner of West Street.

Clearly, J Resort is leaning heavily into Reno’s sprawling arts culture and I’m here for it. It helps J Resort to stand out from the other downtown area hotels. Honestly, exploring the Neon Line was my favorite aspect of our weekend here.

If you’re looking for cheap hotels in Reno, I’d recommend J Resort. Rates are cheap right now due to the ongoing construction and currently unavailable amenities, but in my opinion there’s still enough to keep you busy.

In addition, J Resort is a short walk from THE ROW in downtown, Reno Arch, Riverwalk, National Automobile Museum, Bicentennial Park, City Plaza, Nevada Museum of Art and more. To see more recommendations for best resort hotels in Reno, read my post here.

CLICK OR TAP HERE FOR GREAT DEALS AT J RESORT ON EXPEDIA!

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Luke 1:37

Smoky Delights: Experience The Phoenix BBQ in Sparks (CLOSED)

Unfortunately, this restaurant has permanently closed. I wish the owners the best in their future endeavors.

When you’re thinking about great BBQ, Nevada typically doesn’t come up in conservation. States such as Texas and Tennessee are what you’ll usually think of.

While those states certainly deserve their status as BBQ GOATs, that doesn’t mean Nevada doesn’t have a few hidden gems of its own. Enter, The Phoenix BBQ Restaurant.

Located in, The Outlets at Legends, in Sparks and directly adjacent to Sheels, Phoenix provides its diners a wide variety of finely smoked meats, burgers, and classic sides.

My wife and I recently (finally) made our way to Phoenix and our experience with the food and service was nothing short of spectacular (albeit with one exception).

Let’s get into it.

Restaurant Info

• Location: Sparks, NV at Legends

• Address: 1310 Sheels Drive

• Cost: Moderate

• Food: Smoked BBQ, burgers, etc.

• Open: Weds - Sun (closed Mon & Tues)

• Seating: Indoor, outdoor and bar

• Alcohol: Full bar

• Website/Menu: ww.phoenixatlegends.com

• My Visit: July 2023

• Rating (out of three): 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Disclaimer: I am not a professional restaurant critic, nor has this restaurant offered me any incentive to write this post. My opinions are my own and are based on my personal experience only.

You can find The Phoenix sandwiched between Sheels and Freshberry Cafe. It’s fairly easy to miss as half of the restaurant’s exterior is obstructed by trees.

If you happen to walk by on a weekend evening, there’s no way you’ll miss it as they have live musical acts performing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.

The interior is warm and inviting, with the color of the walls resembling that of the Golden Gate Bridge (it looks more on the red side in the photos).

There are more booths than open-floor tables, with bar seating available. There’s also an abundance of outdoor seating on the patio, with plenty of shade and a mister.

The menu is heavy in smoked meats and burgers, but they offer a few seafood, salad, and soup options for anyone who doesn’t care for BBQ.

Shockingly, there were no desserts listed on the menu, as well as specialty cocktails. They have a full bar so I’m sure they’ll make your choice of drink, though.

They do have an extensive wine selection, though, thanks to their, “Village Vintner”, wine bar located in the same building (separated by a wall).

For our appetizer, we ordered the waffle fries topped with bacon, green onions and a gorgonzola cheese sauce. Honestly, it was, “meh”.

This was the one and only let down of the entire experience, as it just fell flat to me. The fries didn’t maintain their crisp and there wasn’t nearly enough bacon.

For my entree, I opted for the, “That’s 1 Hellova BBQ Sandwich”, with pulled pork as my meat of choice and sweet potato fries as my side.

Put simply, the pulled pork was delicious. A lot of places smoother their pork in sauce, masking the lack of flavor in the meat. Here, that isn’t the case. The meat, by itself, had excellent flavor and was smoked perfectly. The sauce did what its supposed to; it complemented it.

The sweet potato fries more than made it for the waffle fries earlier. They were precisely seasoned and had a great crisp to them.

My wife went with the BBQ sampler, which included:

• Two drumstick chicken

• Two pork ribs

• Two brisket sliders

• A side of their, “Million Dollar Mac”

The rib was tender and had excellent flavor. There was just enough of that “pull” off the bone. The brisket wasn’t the best i’ve ever had, but it was great regardless.

To us, the clear winners of the sampler were the chicken and the mac. Both were out-of-this-world and would be deserving as a stand-alone entree.

I hope you’ll consider giving The Phoenix a chance, as my wife and I had a great experience. The smoked meats are the hero here, so our less-than-steller waffle fries made little difference to our opinions. If you love BBQ, we’re confident you’ll enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional restaurant critic, nor has this restaurant offered me any incentive to write this post. My opinions are my own and are based on my personal experience only.

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Dragon Lights Festival Reno (2023): Ticket Prices, Themes, Parking and More

Experience the annual Dragon Light Festival in Reno, a spectacular event that will ignite your imagination and illuminate your senses.

Prepare to be mesmerized as you enter a world of enchantment, where intricate lanterns and larger-than-life creatures come to life with a symphony of lights.

Whether you're a local or a visitor, this extraordinary celebration offers an immersive experience for all.

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you’ll need to know to attend this unforgettable summer-time event. Let’s get into it.

Dragon Lights Reno 2023 Dates & New Additions

The Dragon Lights Festival is an annual summer time event in Reno and features hundreds of themed, illuminated lanterns along a trail just shy of a mile.

It’s held at Rancho San Rafael Park in the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and features a new theme with accommodating lanterns each year.

In 2023, the theme is, “Nature’s Glow”, with several creatures typically found in gardens and tropical settings. Such as:

• Honey Bees

• Wasps

• Ants

• Tucson Birds

• Lemurs

• Peacocks

• Parrots

• Dragonflies

• and more!

Also new in 2023 is the brand new presentation of the iconic Chinese Dragon and the expanded interactive playground featuring a swing set, drums, lighting effects and more.

The festival runs nightly from June 30th to August 13th, 6pm to 10:30pm.

Tickets & Parking

Parking at the event is included in the price of your admission ticket. There are several lots at the park you can utilize. They are:

• Lot A: This is the lot nearest the entrance and exit. This lot is reserved for disability parking.

• Lot B: This is the first lot you’ll come across and is smaller than Lot A. It typically fills quickly.

• Lot C: The largest lot, but furtherest from the entrance, it is located down San Rafael drive on the eastern edge of the park.

• Lot D (or '“green” lot): This lot is located at the UNR campus off Comstock Dr. and is utilized for overflow parking on the weekends.

If you park in A or B, you’ll be within walking distance of the festival entrance. If you end up in C, you can still walk or take advantage of the free shuttle service (runs Thursday - Sunday).

The D lot also offers free shuttle service to the entrance, but only on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tickets can be purchased either online (through this link) or in person at the gate. If you opt to purchase at the gate, be aware that you’ll pay a surcharge of $5 - $15, per ticket.

Purchasing online is easy and convenient. You’ll select your desired date, your ticket type, and once your purchase is complete, save the tickets to your phone to be scanned at the gate.

The 2023 festival ticket prices are as follows:

• $20 per adult (age 12+)

• $15 per child (age 3 -11)

• Free for children under 3

• $55 family pack (includes two adult and two child tickets)

• $55 season pass (unlimited entry all season for ONE person)

When purchasing your tickets, you’ll be asked to select an entry time. They are 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00. You’ll have one hour from your selected entry time to arrive and can stay as long as you wish.

We arrived 20-minutes early to our entry time and were still granted entry. No one batted an eye. If you arrive late, they’ll make every effort to accommodate you but there’s no guarantee.

There are no refunds, but they will allow you to change the date/time of your ticket up to one hour prior to your entry time. You can do so in the account you made while making your purchase.

The Lantern Trail & Amenities

After entering, you’ll come into an opening and see the iconic Chinese dragon ahead of you. To your right will be the interactive playground and to your left will be the food vendors.

To find the trail that winds through the lantern displays, follow the path through the dragon and go right (keeping the interactive playground to your right).

The trail is less than a mile and is on fairly even ground. There are some grade changes along the way but they’re barely noticeable. It’s mostly paved, but there are some dirt/gravel patches.

If you’re bringing little ones along, both strollers and wagons are permitted. They should have wheels appropriate for the terrain, though.

You’ll find dozens of illuminated lanterns along the trail. From beautiful floral themes to giant frogs and armadillos. Some are interactive and many have moving parts.

There are also a couple make-shift tunnels with special lighting affects you’ll get to walk through. Additionally, themed music plays throughout the length of the trail.

As you reach the end of the trail, it’ll split. If you’re done for the night, go left to exit. If you want to remain in the festival, go right to loop back in to where you entered earlier.

When Should You Enter & Tips

We arrived at around 7:45pm and there was still plenty of light left. When we did our first walk through the trail, we were impressed by how illuminated the lanterns still were, despite it not being dark.

However, once the night sky set in, that’s when the lanterns popped and were the most impressive and fun to look at. Consequently, that’s also when the crowds got thick.

Clearly, you’re going to want to be there when it’s dark. That’s the whole point. My suggestion, though, would be to select an entry time prior to sunset.

The reason for this is because it’ll allow you to get a feel for the festival and see the top attractions without having to worry about big crowds. The later it gets, the heavier the crowds get.

This way, you can do a second loop around the trail once it gets dark. You’ll already know what the best exhibits are, so you won’t waste time on the ones you don’t care about and can get through the crowd faster.

It’s also advantageous if you have small children tagging along. It’ll be a lot easier to keep track of them in the interactive playground while there’s still some light.

If you’re coming with a group consisting of two or more adults and two or more children, save money by purchasing the family ticket option. You’ll save at least $15.

If your group is 10 people or more, you’ll enjoy additional savings of 20% off each ticket. That discount will reflect in the cart when you’re checking out.

For more savings, take advantage of their policy of allowing outside food and beverages. There are plenty of areas in the festival to set up a picnic. The only exception is alcohol.

I hope you’ll consider attending the 2023 Dragon Lights Festival in Reno. It’s a fantastic event for the whole family. We had much more fun than we thought we would and can’t wait to attend in 2024.

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7 Things You Will Love About Reno: Family Friendly Things To Do

3 minute read | contains affiliate links

Reno was long known as a miniature version of Las Vegas, but it hasn’t always had the greatest reputation. The downtown area, specifically, was associated with seedy hotels, rampant crime and homelessness.

While some of those elements still exist, there’s been a solid effort in recent years to spruce up the area and make it more appealing (and safe) to visitors.

Additionally, city officials have been making moves to market the city as a place for families and adventurers, not just those who like to partake in the casino lifestyle.

That topic is what this post will focus on. Nothing listed here has anything to do with gambling or bars. They’re all 100% family friendly.

So if you’re contemplating a vacation to Reno but you’re not sure what activities there are to do with you’re family, read on.

*NOTE: This is the newest installment of our “7 Things” series. At the end of the post, we’ve listed the other ones currently live on the website. Be sure to check them out!

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1) Proximity to Lake Tahoe

One of Reno’s biggest claims to its, “outdoor recreation haven” banner, is its proximity to Big Blue herself; Lake Tahoe. In fact, the downtown area is just about an hour’s drive from South Lake.

It’s also the closest city with a major airport to Tahoe so if that’s where you’re ultimately ending up, Reno is likely where you’ll be flying into.

Getting to Tahoe’s most beautiful state park, Emerald Bay, is a simple 1.5-hour drive from your downtown hotel. If you’ve never been to Emerald Bay, you need to add it to your list, pronto.

READ: “Emerald Bay State Park Guide: Hiking, Camping, Vikingsholm, Kayaking and More”

2) Hunter Creek Waterfall Trail

You won’t need to travel to Tahoe in order to partake a blissful stroll through nature. There are many hiking trails in Reno with a wide variety of difficulties and features.

Of all the said trails in Reno, the Hunter Creek Falls trail is probably the best known to locals and visitors alike.

The trail is 6.5 miles, roundtrip, and is considered moderate. It terminates at the beautiful, 30-foot Hunter Creek Falls.

While it’s rocky, narrow and fairly lengthy, if you and your family have experience hiking, you shouldn’t have any trouble. It’s dog friendly as well.

READ: “Hunter Creek Falls: An Epic Hike Just Outside Of Reno”

3) Local Restaurants

Reno is filled to the brim with dozens of great, non-chain local eateries offering a wide range of cuisine for all kinds of palates.

A few examples of Reno’s fine dining options include; Bricks Restaurant & Wine Bar, Atlantis Steakhouse, Sierra Street Kitchen & Cocktails and Marolina’s Italia Restaurant.

A few examples of mid-range sit-down restaurants include, Arario Midtown, Wild River Grille, Washoe Public House, Great Full Gardens and Old Granite Street Eatery.

You’ll find great eateries all over the city but some of the best ones are found in either Midtown or Sierra Street (in downtown).

4) The Basement

The Basement is a literal hidden gem in the heart of downtown. It’s located in the - you guessed it - basement of the historic 1932 Post Office. The space has been repurposed into a marketplace of local businesses.

The Basement consists of several small businesses, each of which are 100% local. These include handcraft shops, a male-inspired nail salon, barbershop, coffee shop, restaurants, a shared space with seating and more.

The street level space (where the actual post office was) is now in the process of also being repurposed into a merchant space. Be sure to stop by and find out for yourself why it’s so beloved by locals.

5) The Truckee River Walk

Stretching from the western edge of Idewild Park into the lovely Wingfield Park in downtown, Reno’s River Walk celebrates Reno’s reputation of culture, arts and heritage.

The space between Virginia Street and Wingfield Park, in particular, is teething with picturesque scenery, local restaurants and shops.

Just up the street from the river walk is the infamous Reno Arch. In City Plaza, you’ll find numerous permanent and temporary art installations used at the Burning Man festival on display. Plus, just beyond the Virginia Street bridge, you’ll find the street level entrance to The Basement.

No visit to Reno would be complete without a stroll along the river walk. It’s easily in the top three of things to do and see in Reno. Best of all - there’s no admission fee.

6) Art Murals

Arts and culture have a big presence in Reno. One of the things that city officials have done right is give local artists a chance to showcase their skills via wall murals.

They’re literally all over the city, but the majority (and best) are in downtown and midtown. A notable one to mention is the giant women mural on the side of the parking garage next to the arch.

7) The National Automobile Museum

The National Automobile Museum opened in 1989 and features a massive collection of classic cars, most of which once owned by local gaming pioneer, Bill Harrah.

At the time of his death in 1978, Harrah’s collection reached a staggering 1,400 cars! Holiday Inns purchased Harrah’s Casino and car collection in 1980.

Before selling off the majority of the collection, Holiday Inns donated 175 of those cars to what is now the museum. They’ve been on display, with additional rotating exhibits, ever since.

The sheer volume of cars in this collection is enough to impress those who’re not “car people”. If nothing else, it’s a great way to spend a few hours inside if the weather isn’t ideal.

READ: “National Automobile Museum: A Huge Classic Car Collection In Reno”

Your Thoughts…

What’re your thoughts on Reno for a family vacation? Did you know it’s no longer just about the casinos and bars? Which topic on this list interests you most? Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from our readers.

*Tip: As stated at the top of this post, below are the links to our other “7 Things” posts that might interest you. Additionally, i’ve included a couple more Reno based posts.

• “7 Things You Will Love About Virginia City”

• “7 Things You Will Love About Burney: Things To Do, Waterfalls and More”

• “7 Things You Will Love About Lee Vining”

• “7 Things You Will Love About Bridgeport”

• “13 Awesome Nevada State Parks Near Reno”

• “5 Awesome Day Trips From Reno”

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Thank you for reading.

Hunter Creek Falls: An Epic Hike Just Outside Of Reno

5 minute read | Contains affiliate links

Until fairly recently, people would generally associate Reno solely with gambling, bars, and being the (much) smaller sibling to Las Vegas.

In recent years though, Reno has been earning a reputation for being more than that. You may not realize it, but Reno is an outdoor recreational haven.

Activities like skiing, hiking, white water rafting, and camping can all be done in Reno. This article, however, will focus on Reno’s most popular hiking trail; Hunter Creek Falls.

This trail is spectacular! It parallels Hunter Creek the entire way through rocky terrain, before taking you through crisp-smelling pine trees and terminating at the namesake thirty-foot waterfall.

Despite living near Reno, I’ve only just recently hiked this gem. If you haven't, there’s a few things you should know before hitting the trail. Let’s get into it!

Quick Stats

• Location: Reno, Nevada

• Fees/Permit: None

• Open: April through October

• For: Hikers, Mountain Bikers, & Equestrians

• Parking: Large, paved lot.

• Restroom: At the trailhead

• EV Stations: None

• Drone Use: No signage stating you can't

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Time: Three to four hours for most

• Mileage: 6.4 miles, RT

• Popularity: Heavily trafficked

• Elevation Gain: 1,023 ft

• Trail Condition: Maintained and easy to follow

• Main Feature(s): 30-foot waterfall

• Campground: None nearby

• Pets: Allowed on leash

• Special Notes/Hazards: 1) Sun exposed throughout the majority of the trail. Bring lots of water and sunscreen. 2) Several heavily rocky sections that pets and small children may have a hard time navigating without assistance. 3) A good portion of the trail is narrow along a steep ravine.

• Our Visit: June 2022

*Please practice leave no trace principles and keep to the trail*

Trailhead and Parking

Getting to the trailhead for this spectacular hike is easy and straight-forward. It’s just 20-minutes from the downtown area and midtown at the end of a beautiful housing development called, “Jupiter Ridge”.

*Tip: Simply punch “Hunter Creek Falls trailhead” into any GPS system for easy directions

You’ll arrive at a well maintained parking lot large enough to hold a few dozen vehicles. GPS directions will try to take you to a dirt pull-out but this isn’t it. Go a little further up the road and take the first right out of the roundabout. The lot will be right there.

In it, you’ll find trail/area information signage, a picnic table, trash cans, and a well-kept restroom. If you must, utilize before you head down the trail as there are no other restrooms beyond this point.

The Trail

Facing the restroom, you’ll find the start of the trail on your left (pictured above). On it, you’ll descend a short distance to Hunter Creek before coming up on a wooden bridge.

Note: If you’re an Equestrian, there’s signage asking you to cross through the creek (there’s an opening to the right) instead of crossing the bridge.

After crossing the bridge, you’ll see a split. To continue to Hunter Creek Falls, go left. You’ll be hiking parallel to the creek along this short stretch.

There are many spur trails leading you to the waterline. Throughout the entirety of the trail the creek is covered by trees, providing a plethora of shade.

Soon, you’ll begin to ascend above the creek and tree line. Here, the trail narrows, gets rockier, and is completely sun exposed. It maintains all three of these elements (for the most part) until you get closer to the waterfall.

At the top of your first ascent, look to your left for a rocky ledge and take in the view ahead. You’ll get a glimpse of Downtown Reno in the distance.

From this point, the trail gets VERY rocky. There’s more than a few sections of trail that are nothing but loose rock (pictured below). This is where pets and kids may have a hard time navigating.

On the plus side, here is where the scenery around the trail moves into a proper wilderness setting as you put the view of Reno behind you.

If you’re here at the right time in the season you’ll see lots of flora and fauna, along with pine trees and mountains that still have snow on them.

As stated at the beginning of this post, the trail is very narrow. If you’re hiking in a group, you’ll need to hike single file throughout the majority of it.

On the way up and back, there were a few instances where finding a safe spot to stand as another hiker passed was quite the challenge.

It’s not impossible or inherently dangerous by any means, but it’s something to be mindful of. How hikers get around Equestrians on this trail is beyond me.

Pictured above, you’ll see the beginning of the most intense part of the trail. Up until now, it has ascended fairly evenly. Here, it’s a semi-sharp ascent. This is about two miles into the hike.

Personally, I wouldn’t rate it as difficult. It will, however, take the breath out of most people (it did to me). Take your time, catch your breath when needed, and you’ll get up there just fine.

Hunter Creek Falls

You’ll know you’re getting closer to the waterfall when you enter a thick section of pine trees and re-align with Hunter Creek. There are two final spots on this trail I felt should be pointed out as it isn’t entirely clear which direction to go.

Every other blog post or review I read of this trail stated it was well-signed. This is emphatically false. Past the bridge at the beginning, I didn’t see a single sign. So I’ll do my best to help you avoid going in the wrong/least convenient direction.

The first one you’ll come to (pictured above) seemingly continues forward. When you come up on this, those two boulders in the picture will be on your right. Straight ahead, you’ll both see and hear the creek.

DO NOT continue straight. Instead, turn right, in between the boulders. The one going straight isn’t the official trail. After turning right, the trail becomes obvious again.

*Tip: Essentially, if you come right up on the creek, you went too far.

The second one (pictured above) presents itself about a quarter-mile after the right turn you made. Here, you have two options:

• Option #1: Continue straight and arrive at the waterfall shortly. However, on this side of the falls, there’s nowhere to sit, you won’t have a good view and you’ll need to cross a log to get to the other side.

• Option #2: Go left and cross the creek via the make-shift bridge made from sketchy tree branches people randomly found. Shortly after making it to the other side, you’ll arrive at the falls in an area with a plethora of seating, shade, and space.

I recommend taking the second option. Worst case, you could cut straight through the creek. I estimate this part of the creek was about half shin deep when I hiked it (early June).

*Note: There used to be a solid bridge here for people to cross but it was destroyed a few years ago by heavy water flow and debris.

Regardless of which direction you take, you’ll soon arrive at the beautiful Hunter Creek Falls. If you take my recommendation and go left, you’ll come to a large area with lots of seating and shade.

When I was here, there was a tree branch that collapsed and was partially blocking the view of the first section of the waterfall. Still an awesome view, regardless.

Stay as long as you like. Get all the pictures you can. When you’re ready, simply turn around and head back in the same direction you came.

Have you hiked Hunter Creek Falls before? If so, did you find the trail pretty easy or more towards the moderate/difficult side? If not, do you have plans to hike it now or have any further questions? Shoot us a note in the comment section below!

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13 Awesome Nevada State Parks Near Reno

While not as large or famous as its Las Vegas counterpart, Reno, the biggest little city in the world, is quickly re-gaining ground as a vacation destination.

Sure, you’ll find all the usuals like bars, casinos, and shows. However, what Reno is becoming most known for is family friendly attractions like the Truckee River Walk, National Automobile Museum, and more!

To make Reno even more worthy of your precious vacation time, there are a multitude of outdoor destinations you can easily access from Reno.

So we counted and found not one, not two, but THIRTEEN of Nevada’s awesome state parks just an easy day trip away. Most are within an hour or so.

So we’ve decided to put this list together and show which ones are near Reno, how long it takes to get to each, and what makes them great.

1) Berlin-Ichthyosaur Historic State Park

Distance from Reno: 158 miles (2.5 hours, one-way)

This is the furthest park on the list but trust us when we say, it’s worth the effort to get out to it. Especially if you’re into ghost towns.

Not only does park feature the remnants of one of Nevada’s best mining towns, but it also has the largest concentration of, wait for it, Ichthyosaur fossils!

Berlin is one of the state’s most unique state parks, making visiting a must-do. To read more details about this amazing place, check out our article here.

2) Buckland Station

Distance from Reno: 48 miles (50 minutes, one-way)

Just down the highway from Fort Churchill (coming up later) is Buckland Station. It was built in 1870 and served as a supplier to western emigrants along the Pony Express.

You can tour the interior of the building for just $1.00 per person. Hours for the tour are:

• 10am to 2pm (Saturdays & Sundays)

• 10am to 2pm (Thursdays & Fridays between Memorial Day and Labor Day, only).

Across the highway from Buckland is the Orchard Day Use area. Here, you’ll find old farm buildings and equipment along with picnic tables, grills, and a nature trail leading to the Carson River.

3) Cave Rock

Distance from Reno: 52 miles (55 minutes, one-way)

Cave Rock is located in Lake Tahoe, on the Nevada side, along the southeastern shore. It’s small, but the most popular activities here include swimming and boating.

Outside the park boundaries, you can hike a short trail that leads to the top of Cave Rock. Eventually, you’ll reach the base of the rock and then scramble up. The view from there is amazing!

4) Dayton State Park

Distance from Reno: 43 miles (46 minutes, one-way)

Located in the historic mining town of Dayton, this beautiful state park features multiple nature trails, access to the Carson River, and the remains of Rock Point Mill.

The mill was built in 1861 and was one of the first to process ore from the Comstock Lode. The stone walls and mine entrance make it a fun place to explore.

In our opinions, the best to visit this park is during fall when colors are at their peak. It’s simply breathtaking. To read more about Dayton, read our article here.

5) Fort Churchill State Historic Park

Distance from Reno: 48 miles (53 minutes, one-way)

Fort Churchill was an Army fort built in 1861. It provided protection to early settlers and helped guard Pony Express mail runs.

The park features many buildings preserved in a state of arrested decay, a small museum detailing the park’s history, and campground with access to the Carson River.

As with most of Nevada’s state parks, sunrise and sunset are when it really comes to life, especially where photography is concerned. Check out our article about Fort Churchill, here.

6) Lahontan State Recreation Area

Distance from Reno: 50 miles (1 hour, one-way)

The park is named after what was once a massive, ancient lake that covered a good portion of the state and some. These days, it’s much smaller, but serves a purpose.

In the summer, people flock to Lahontan for it’s fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities. During winter, however, the water levels are so low that boat access isn’t possible.

7) Mormon Station

Distance from Reno: 47 miles (50 minutes, one-way)

Originally built in 1851 as a trader post for the Carson Route of the California Trail, Mormon Station is the site of Nevada’s first permanent, non-native settlers.

The post is located in the charming town of Genoa and is surrounded by a beautiful landscape of mountains, mature trees, and lush-green grass.

The post you see today is reconstructed, as the original unfortunately burned down in 1910. It’s a beautiful area where you can gather with family and explore.

8) Rye Patch State Recreation Area

Distance from Reno: 119 miles (1.45 hours, one-way)

The second furthest on this list, Rye Patch Reservoir offers visitors 72-miles of shoreline and, when full, 11,000 acres of water surface.

Ardent Fishermen will revel in Rye Patch’s fishing offerings. Species such as Catfish, Black Bass, Walleye, and White Bass can be found here.

Other activities that are popular here include water skiing, camping, picnicking, and wildlife spotting.

9) Sand Harbor

Distance from Reno: 40 miles (55 minutes, one-way)

Much like Cave Rock, Sand Harbor is located in beautiful Lake Tahoe on the Nevada side of the lake. Popular actives here include water boarding, boating, swimming, and hiking.

This park experiences outstandingly high levels of visitation in the summer months. So much so, that the parking lot often fills within the first couple hours of opening.

Planning accordingly and arriving early is the key to success if you want to visit Sand Harbor.

10) Spooner Lake & Backcountry

Distance from Reno: 47 miles (50 minutes, one-way)

Located in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Spooner Lake backcountry is a hiking oasis surrounded by 12,000 acres of forest.

With more than 50-miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails, you’d be hard pressed to not have a good time here.

A few of the most popular trails include the Tahoe Rim Trail, Marlene Lake, and Red House. There is also a campground and cabins you can rent.

11) Van Sickle Bi-State Park

Distance from Reno: 59 miles (1 hour, 6 minutes, one-way)

Nevada shares Van Sickle with California, as it’s located just a short walk away from the casinos in Stateline and intertwines with the state.

The park offers trails with non-stop rock outcroppings offering endless views of Tahoe’s beautiful blue waters and surrounding mountain-scape.

12) Walker River State Recreation Area

Distance from Reno: 85 miles (1 hour, 38 minutes, one-way)

Located along the East Walker River and just outside the small town of Yerington, Nevada’s newest state park features over 12,000 acres of recreational bliss.

Camping, fishing, hiking, photography, and more can be enjoyed here. It’s truly a beautiful park and criminally underrated. To read our guide about Walker River, go here.

13) Washoe Lake State Park

Distance from Reno: 23 miles (30 minutes, one-way)

Washoe Lake is nestled in a valley surrounded by three gorgeous mountain ranges; Sierra Nevadas, Carson, and Virginia.

It isn’t uncommon to spot Bald Eagles over the lake, making it the perfect location for wildlife photographers to go. You’ll also spot White Pelicans, Canadian Geese, and Waterfowl.

Since the lake is located nearly directly between Reno and Carson City, it makes for the perfect lake to enjoy if you’re trying to avoid the crowds of Tahoe.

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*Side Note: We’re often asked about the equipment we use to capture the photos you see on this site. Below, we’ve included links to that equipment on Amazon. If you purchase, we receive a small commission from Amazon. This helps keep our site running and doesn’t cost you anything extra.

• Nikon D750 Body

• Tamron 24mm to 70mm 2.8 Lens

• Nikon 50mm 1.8 Lens

• GoPro Hero 10

• Manfrotto Compact Action Tripod

Conclusion

It is our hope that you’ve found this article helpful in planning your next adventure. If so, please support our site by sharing it with your friends and family on Pinterest and Facebook. You can also show support by reading one or more of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

National Automobile Museum: A Huge Classic Car Collection in Reno

Situated in Downtown Reno and just a stone’s throw from the Riverwalk, the National Automobile Museum showcases a massive collection of over 200 classic vehicles, most of which were once owned by Bill Harah (Founder of the former Harrah’s Casino).

We recently visited during a rainy, gloomy day in Reno. A lot of local businesses took a beating during the 2020 pandemic (and continue to) so we wanted to support them and showcase this awesome museum on our website.

You don’t have to be a car person to enjoy yourself here. On top of Harrah’s massive collection, the museum also showcases many cars that were used in movies and TV shows such as; Titanic, Batman & Robin, Back to the Future, and more!

Additionally, you’ll also see the vehicles that celebrities drove such as; Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and John F. Kennedy! Whether you’re a local with an appreciation for the classics or a family on a Reno vacation, the National Automobile Museum is the perfect activity for you.

Let’s get into it!

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Visitor Information

Directions

The National Automobile Museum is conveniently located near Downtown Reno. It’s just an 11-minute walk (or 4-minute drive) from the Reno Arch and is literally down the street from the Truckee River Walk. To get there from the Reno Arch (walking):

• Head south away from the arch.

• Go left on E. 2nd Street

• Go right on Lake Street

• Go left on the Tahoe - Pyramid Bikeway (you’ll see the old Reno Archway ahead of you and the Renaissance Hotel on your right).

• Go right on Museum Drive and look for the entrance on your right.

Driving from the Reno Arch has similar directions with just two minor differences:

• Instead of turning left at the old archway, you’ll go straight through it and turn left on Mill Street.

• Shortly thereafter, you’ll turn left on Museum Drive and pull into the parking lot.

For those of you who just want your GPS to do the work for you, the museum’s is as follows:

• 10 South Lake Street. Reno, NV 89501

There’s also the option of taking a Taxi or Uber from your hotel. Most drivers know exactly where this popular attraction is so you won’t have to worry about it.

Parking & Admission

The parking lot can accommodate quite a few vehicles and the best part? Parking is included in your admission! Just select any available space and head towards the entrance (pictured above).

Admission prices for the museum are as follows:

• Adult: $15

• Senior: $13

• Active Military: $10

• Youth (6 - 15): $10

• Children (5 or younger): Free

Admission tickets can be purchased upon arrival. Online tickets are not yet available. Your ticket comes with in and out privileges for the day of purchase. So if you get board later and want to go back, just show them your ticket and you’re good.

Tours

Guided Tour

Guided tours of the museum are offered daily (based on volunteer availability) at 1:30pm and are 90-minutes in length. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you unique stories about some of the amazing antiques you’ll be seeing and learn little-known facts along the way as well.

The guided tours are included in the price of admission, so no worries there. If you have your heart set on one of these, you can call the museum and ask if they have volunteer availability for that day.

Self-Guided Tour

If you’d rather go it yourself (like us) you can take part in the self-guided tour and go at your own pace. There are a total of four rooms to explore, each featuring unique vehicles in specific eras. To start the tour, simply head down the hallway to the left of the ticket counter.

The first exhibit at the end of the hall is where they put their temporary, special exhibits. On display through December 31st, 2021 is the, “America and the Motorcycle: 1900 - 1990”, exhibit. You get real-life examples, in order, how motorcycles have evolved throughout the century.

• Special Note - If you’re an AMCA member, show your membership at the ticket counter for a $3 discount on your admission.

Gallery #1 - Turn of the Century (1890’s - 1910’s)

This is where it can get a little hard to follow the correct path. My first time here, I was all over the place. I was going through doors I wasn’t supposed to and doing the tour out of order. This time around, I actually looked at the map, which made it much easier to navigate.

We highly recommend downloading the app to your phone. There’s a QR code you can scan with your phone at the ticket counter and on sporadic signs throughout the tour. Once you reach the end of the hallway, you’ll see the Blacksmith Building (pictured above). This is the first gallery and features cars from the years 1900 to around 1912 or so.

You’re in for quite a treat in this room. A few examples of classics you’ll find here are a 1908 Franklin, 1912 Rambler, and a 1910 Rolls-Royce. Each vehicle has an informative display in front of it describing its history, its original price, and interesting facts.

Our favorite was seeing the 1907 Thomas Flyer. It’s registered as a National Historic Vehicle for being the winner of the 1908 New York - Paris Race. The Rolls-Royce, our other favorite, was originally sold for $7500 in 1910. That would be north of $250,000 today.

You’ll also see the very vehicle that was used in one of the first scenes of the blockbuster movie, Titanic. It’s truly an awesome mix of classic vehicles….and you still have three more rooms to go! Once you’re ready for the next room, exit out onto 1930’s Street.

1930’s Street

1930’s street serves as a buffer between rooms one and two and has a 1932 Lincoln and a 1938 Packard on display, among other vehicles. They’re parked outside a recreated movie theatre facade with Gone with the Wind as the feature film.

The theming of this exhibit was awesome to me. For me, it was the most photogenic of any exhibit in the museum and the cars were beautiful.

Once you feel ready to move onto room two, walk down the street and hang a left on Main Street. Here, you will see the one and only vehicle you’re allowed to get into for a photo opportunity (I was asked to take pictures for a couple and by the time I was done, I completely forgot to get one for myself. You can’t miss it, though).

Gallery #2 - The Roaring Twenties (1920’s - 1930’s)

To find the entrance to the second gallery, look out for the Hardware Store. Immediately to the right of it (pictured above) is the entrance. By the way, you can and should go inside the store. The theming and detail inside is very reminiscent of old time Mom & Pop shops.

After checking out the hardware store, head through the short hallway into the next gallery which showcases cars made during the 1920’s (that said, we did see quite a few cars on display that were made prior to the 20’s).

A few examples of vehicles you’ll see here are a:

• 1920 Ford converted to an RV (considered to be the first iteration of the RV)

• 1921 Sheridan

• 1921 Rolls-Royce

• 1924 Wills St. Claire

You’ll also see an exhibit of an early day used-car dealership towards the back of the room cheekily titled, “Honest John’s”. Pictured below is the (very expensive) 1921 Rolls-Royce fully decked out in copper.

As you head away from the dealership you’ll see the first interactive displays. There’s two display cases with working motors inside. If you press the button, the motor runs. Showing you up close how motors worked back then (and largely still do today).

Once you’ve finished looking around, head out the exit ahead of you (you’ll know you’ve gone the right way if you’ve made a horseshoe lap around the room). Exit back onto Main Street by the Hardware Store and head left towards the next gallery.

Gallery #3 - The Classic Collection (1930’s - 1950’s)

As you exit Gallery #2, turn left and you’ll see the entrance to Gallery #3. The facade is made to look like you’re walking into a mechanic’s garage. You’ll see a light blue 1954 Buick with white wall tires on your right. As you enter the gallery proper, you’ll notice a miniature NASA Mission Control exhibit on your left (NASA was founded in 1958).

This gallery is the final one featuring a permanent collection and is named after Ranson & Norma Webster (the former sits as the Chairmen on the Board of Trustees for the museum). A few examples of cars you’ll see in this room are a:

• 1933 Auburn

• 1938 Phantom Corsair

• 1939 Ford

The 1938 Phantom Corsair is the only one of its kind and is the creation of Rust Heinz (Heinz Ketchup). The car was praised for being ahead of its time due to its futuristic design aesthetics but due to Rust’s death in 1939, it never entered mass-production. Making this prototype the only one in existence.

Much like the other rooms, you’ll do a half circle around the room at your leisure. At the end of the loop, you’ll end up near where you entered at the NASA exhibit. Here, there are multiple interactive elements for kids (or you) to enjoy. Due to the ongoing pandemic, many of these are closed right now.

When you’re done, simply walk through the NASA exhibit and out through the same way you came in (through the garage). To find the fourth and final gallery, take a right turn out of the exit and walk past the Speedway exhibit. You’ll see a facade of a home garage with a Basketball hoop above it (pictured below). Just walk on through.

Gallery #4 - Cars of the Stars (1950’s & Beyond)

Gallery four is the room that doesn’t have a full, permanent collection inside. It’s essentially a revolving door of themed exhibits (much like the Motorcycle exhibit at the beginning). It does feature cars that were driven by a variety of celebrities that are always there, but the other part of the room displays special exhibits.

The first car you’ll see as you walk through the garage is the infamous 1981 Delorean from the Back to the Future move franchise. If you’re a fan of the films, you’ll certainly appreciate this. Immediately afterwards on your right is a 1973 Cadillac driven by Elvis Presley.

To your left, there’s more examples of celebrity classic cars. You’ll see a 1953 Chevrolet driven by John Wayne, a 1961 Ghia driven by Frank Sinatra, and a 1949 Mercury driven by James Dean, among others.

This room is also an event space. Meaning you could rent it out for a variety of reasons. Due to this, the gallery may not be open during your visit but in all the times we’ve been here, it has never been an issue. You could always call ahead to confirm.

Unlike the prior three galleries, there’s no clear-cut path. It’s all open floor. So feel free to bounce back and forth between vehicles before making your exit. During our most recent visit, there was a first model Tesla on loan to the museum. It is right next to the exit. If you’re done, simply turn right out of the exit and head down “Speed Ally”. On display is a variety of race cars and their evolution throughout the years.

Conclusion

From here, you’re welcome to go back to any one of the galleries or streets to check out the cars again or you can call it a day. To find the exit, head back towards to gallery #3 (the one with the mechanic’s garage). Facing the entrance, the door to the museum lobby is on your right (look for the bathroom sign).

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5 Awesome Day Trips from Reno by Car

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With Reno tourism on the incline year over year, the Biggest Little City is relevant once again re-claiming its reputation as a prime tourism hot spot. A plethora of hip and trendy restaurants, hiking trails, a river walk, bustling arts culture and evolving downtown, it’s never been a better time to visit Reno.

Despite there being many things to do and see in Reno, part of its appeal is its proximity to other cities and attractions. Many of which are an easy one hour or less drive from downtown. The list below is my pick of five day trips from Reno you can easily reach by car. Let’s get into it!

1) Lake Tahoe

Distance from Reno: About 61 miles (or just over an hour drive away).

Lake Tahoe is a year round destination with plenty to do. There’s hiking, boating and kayaking in the summer months, with skiing taking over as the main activity in the winter. There’s the California side and Nevada side, both of which offer their own batch of activities and destinations.

Tahoe and Reno have always had a connection to one another and often share tourists. Frank Sinatra, back in the day, would often travel between them to perform, which helped bridge the gap between the two (it’s also worth mentioning that the mob had a hand in both as well).

Using Reno as your base to visiting Tahoe has its advantages as the hotels tend to be more affordable and when the weather gets bad in the winter in Tahoe, it usually isn’t as bad (or non-existent) in Reno.

A handful of my favorite destinations in Tahoe include Emerald Bay State Park, the Tahoe East Shore Trail and Round Hill Pines Beach, as well as the many beautiful waterfalls in the area.

2) Historic Downtown Truckee

Distance from Reno: About 35 miles (or about a 40-minute drive away).

Also not far away is the historic gold-mining town of Truckee, California. Many are aloof to Truckee’s existence, often passing it by for its exceedingly more popular neighbor, Lake Tahoe. Despite that, Truckee has plenty to offer visitors all its own.

Nearby is Donner Memorial State Park and Donner Lake. The lake does get busy on certain days, but it doesn’t get nearly as bad as Tahoe. The state park proper has a visitor’s center detailing the history of the Donner Party, numerous hiking trails, Pioneer Monument and more.

The historic downtown area is the main feature, though. The area was transformed to accommodate tourists with local shops, restaurants, and the like. The historic jail is open for docent-led tours, there’s the free and historic (and still operating) train depot, and there’s a popular trail nearby where you hike through historic train tunnels!

3) Genoa, Nevada

Distance from Reno: About 47 miles (or around a 50 minute drive).

Genoa is a quaint little town in Nevada is located in the beautiful Carson Valley and just a stones throw away from Tahoe. It was founded in 1851 and has the unique designation of being Nevada’s first pioneer settlement.

A man by the name of John Reese was the first to settle here. He built a trading post for the manny emigrants and trappers who were making their way through the area. It went on to become an important stop for those on their way to California.

The main attractions of the town include Mormon Station State Historic Park, the Genoa Courthouse Museum, Genoa Cemetery, and Genoa Bar, which is the oldest operating saloon in Nevada.

4) Fort Churchill State Park

Distance from Reno: About 48 miles (or 50 minutes to one hour drive).

If you or a member of your family are history buffs, specifically military history, or you enjoy exploring abandoned places, you’ll want to add a trip to Fort Churchill to your plans. The park is located near the small town of Silver Springs and contains the remnants of an Army Post originally built in the mid 1800’s.

Another attraction nearby is Lake Lahontan State Recreation Area. Lahontan is an ancient lake that used to encompass nearly the entire state of Nevada and parts of California and Oregon. While it isn’t the gargantuan it used to be, it’s still worth checking out.

READ ALSO: Exploring Fort Churchill: An Abandoned Army Post in Nevada

5) Virginia City

Distance from Reno: About 36 miles (or 35-40 minute drive).

Virginia City is bursting at the seams with history and is one of my favorite places to visit. One visit and I know you’ll love it too. There’s quirky shops, old town-style saloons, abandoned mine tours, a beautifully historic cemetery, historic hotels, gold panning and ghosts. Wait…what?

That’s right. Virginia City is renowned as the most haunted place in Nevada. While I’ve personally never seen one, I have had a couple of “weird” experiences that made me a believer. I’ve also been shown photographs from locals that were pretty convincing. You never know, you may end up having a spooky experience yourself.

This post was originally published in 2020 and was recently updated for accuracy.