Though people associate Reno, Nevada with a Las Vegas-style nightlife, it’s actually quite a family-friendly city. At the edge of the Tahoe National Forest, Reno is the gateway to such pursuits as hiking, mountain-biking, kayaking, fishing, and bird-watching. Greater Nevada Field is home to the Nevada Aces baseball team and is famous for being hospitable to kids of all ages. Vintage car lovers will love the National Automobile Museum, while everyone can appreciate the tranquility of Idlewild Park, which has enough shady trees to lessen the heat of summer. Make sure to try out the food trucks that appear in the park on Friday nights during spring and summer. Accordingly, don’t forget to take a stroll by the Truckee River in the evening to keep cool. Come during the winter to enjoy skiing and snowboarding at Mount Rose Ski Resort.
Reno and the surrounding area offer a variety of accommodations ranging from apartment suites and ranch houses with manicured lawns, to mountain cabins and cottages with their own hot tubs. Book a stay at a Reno vacation rental today. Check out the most unforgettable places in and around Reno.
1. Sparks, Nevada
This town is still considered a suburb of Reno and beckons with its Wild Island Family Adventure Park, and the Par Rah Park with its futuristic playground. The Rock Park is right on the Truckee River and has walkable paths and places to have a picnic. It’s also dog-friendly in case you brought Fido along on your vacation. Places to eat include Super Burrito, The Steakhouse Grill, and Sinbad’s Hot Dogs.
2. Hidden Valley, Nevada
Not quite so hidden, this suburb offers a 6.4-mile gravel loop trail that’s considered moderately hard but is dog-friendly. The area also offers birding and mountain biking. If you and the family visit in the Spring, you will get the best of the wildflowers that blossom along the trail.
3. South Meadows, Nevada
This town is a draw for people who like to road and mountain bike and is also accessible to Mount Rose in the winter for skiing. Nearby Diamond Peak also offers skiing in the winters. Vacation rentals include cozy houses, and when you wake up one morning and look out the window, you may find feral horses grazing on the lawn. Places to eat include CaiE’s Oriental Cafe and the Southcreek Pizza Company. Take the kids to the EZ Air Indoor Trampoline for plenty of fun.
4. Spanish Springs, Nevada
The vacation rental you’ll probably get in this town would probably be a ranch house on what was the Rocketdyne Nevada Field Laboratory. It will probably be a newer house with lots of up-to-date conveniences on a quiet street. For recreation, head north of the town to Palomino Valley and Pyramid Lake where you can fish for cutthroat trout.
5. Verdi, Nevada
Found at the razor edge of the border between Nevada and California, Verdi is home to the Von Schmidt Monument Historic Park, a tiny place with exactly one picnic table. You and your family can also take horseback riding tours sponsored by Verdi Trails West or pop into Cabela’s for their outdoor and sporting gear. For vittles, check out the Sasquatch Tavern & Grill on Highway 40.
6. Virginia City, Nevada
This is the city that was the site of the Comstock Lode, and many of its attractions still revolve around the fact. Mark Twain also lived here for a while, and indeed, the whole city is one big historical district. Take the kids to the Fourth Ward School Museum, which has interactive exhibits about the silver mines that made the city famous back in the day. C Street is full of old saloons, a courthouse, and jail that are very much like they were when they were first built. Walking tours and tours by horse-drawn conveyance are plentiful in this town.
7. Somersett, Nevada
This town is known for its recreational enjoyments, especially its golf and country clubs. These include the Somersett Club at Town Center, the Somersett Country Club, and the Canyon Nine Golf Course. If you prefer being up close with nature, hike the Somersett Cityside Trail or the Silver Willow Trailhead. Make sure to visit Somersett Park – East in the spring to see the cherry trees. For meal time, visit the Sakana Japanese Restaurant or the Icebox Kitchens.
8. Sun Valley, Nevada
Sun Valley prides itself on its six parks, including the Sun Valley Community Park. This park has playing fields, a skateboard park, a jogging/walking track, and an outdoor swimming pool. Restaurants include Hobey’s, which also has a casino, and the Sun Valley Spot.
9. Truckee, California
About 35 miles west of Reno, Truckee is a smallish city with many things to do. Visit Donner Memorial State Park and Emigrant Trail Museum and historic downtown Truckee. Enjoy winter sports at the Northstar California, Soda Springs Mountain Ski Resort, the Boreal Mountain Resort, or the Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area. Ride a tube or raft down the Truckee River. Bring the kids to the Old Truckee Jail Museum and learn the histories of the slam and its inmates. Then, have lunch at Pizza on the Hill.
10. Carson City, Nevada
This is the capital of Nevada, and like Reno offers a variety of vacation rentals from apartments and houses to bungalows in the woods with outdoor Jacuzzis. For fun, head to the Nevada State Museum, which has a cool silver mine in its basement. The Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada has lots of hands on stuff for the little ones. Restaurants to patronize include The Basil, which specializes in Thai and other Asian cuisines, and the Ole Ole Restaurant & Cantina, which serves Mexican and Southwestern grub.