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.
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