Reno offers plenty beyond casinos and pawn shops; load up the kids and check out the Biggest Little City's unique offerings.
Truckee River Whitewater Park
In the summer, sunbathers, tubers and kayakers share space at the Truckee River Whitewater Park in the heart of downtown Reno. The half-mile long stretch includes 11 drop-pools in two different channels; flat-topped boulders line the banks, and the nearby Wingfield Park often offers free concerts and events in the summer. Splash in the river, soak in the sun, take a tubing ride or practice battling rapids; don’t miss the Reno River Festival, May 8 to 10, 2009, which includes food, music, whitewater freestyle competitions and a fun run.
Reno Aces
The Arizona Diamondback’s Triple-A team recently relocated to downtown Reno, playing its first home game in a brand-new stadium this past April. Nestled beside the Truckee River, the stadium seats 9,000. Both berm seating (bring your own blanket or chair) and stadium seats are available. Keep timid children away from the mascot, a furry, red thing named Archie that has an unsettling habit of unrolling its giant tongue and waving it at the crowd. Tickets range from $7 to $29.
Sierra Safari Zoo
Nevada’s largest zoo—and Northern Nevada’s only zoo—is located just north of Reno’s downtown. About 150 animals, including cats, primates, marsupials and even sloths share space here: Check out the African lions, Siberian tigers (the largest of the cat family with males weighing up to 675 pounds), lynxes and bobcats, as well as monkeys, yaks, camels and wallabies. Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for children ages 3 to 12.
National Automobile Museum
For the young and old, car connoisseurs and mere fans, the collection at Reno’s National Automobile Museum is sure to impress. Most of the museum’s 200 or so cars come from the collection of casino magnate Bill Harrah. Having learned to drive at age 8, Harrah was fascinated with cars, storing 1,400 in three warehouses in Sparks, Nevada, at the time of his death in 1978. The downtown Reno space is divided by time periods, with four “streets” representing the quarters of the twentieth century: cars range from horseless carriages to practically futuristic. Famous cars—those belonging to the likes of Lana Turner and Elvis Presley—are on display, while an art collection includes plenty of vintage artifacts like old gas pumps and advertising signs, oil paintings by official museum artist Robert Cinkel and turn-of-the-century clothing, including wedding gowns belonging to Bill Harrah’s two grandmothers. Also find an automotive shop, theater and motorsports hall of fame. Tickets are $10 for adults, $4 for juniors ages 6 to 18.
