I’ll Take Reno

Sure, everybody wants to go to Las Vegas right? Either that, or just about everyone you know has at some point. But there is more to Nevada than the big town in the southeast corner. I might be breaking some unspoken rule here, but I’ll take Reno over Vegas any day. It has just about everything Vegas has to offer, only on a smaller scale. It’s not quite as loud, brash, and in-your-face, but that’s the beauty of it. Plus (and this is a big one), Lake Tahoe is about two hours away. It’s absolutely beautiful, and could quite possibly be the highlight of your trip.

The city immediately came-off to me as very clean and safe. During my two brief visits I never came across a “rough” part of town. It might be there, but I didn’t see it. Getting from the airport into the heart of downtown is a piece of cake, and traffic never seemed to be that bad. From just about any vantage point in the city, you can see mountains off in the distance. To me at least, they seemed to beckon any viewer to just venture out and explore. So within an hour, you can go from downtown in a decent metropolis to exploring some great desert scenery. As far as cities go, Reno has many places for great entertainment and good eats. Get out and wander around the center city area. If you enjoy a good ol’ meander, be sure and check out the Truckee River Walk. If being out west and surrounded by desert doesn’t give you enough of a good cowboy-vibe, head south just a little bit to Virginia City. Trust me, you’ll get some good western flavor there.

So, you want to gamble? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Roulette, poker, craps, and my personal favorite, blackjack! Did I leave out slots? Never fear, you’ll find them here. Just like any casino, here in Reno that magical slot machine hum will greet you within seconds of walking through the door. Everything offered in Vegas you’ll find here. As far as blackjack goes, Reno is actually a better bet. The majority of blackjack games offered here are of the double deck variety. If you’re a hardcore gamer, then you’ll know (or should) that the lower amount of decks, the better for you. But keep in mind that most casinos here are, ahem, “sweaty.” You’ll find out what I mean. But if you’re just gambling for fun, Reno’s 24 casinos will give you plenty of action to choose from.

To me lately, I’m more into the great outdoor sights, sounds, and experiences than the city. A lot of tourism in Reno is coupled with activities around Lake Tahoe. Trust me, you’ve got to get out there. When my friend Steve and I first saw the lake from a distance, we uttered our own expressions of amazement. It is absolutely gorgeous. The water is a beautiful shade of blue. Get out there and do some hiking, or rent a bike and ride around a good section of the shoreline. If you’re really daring, just work your way down to the shore and dive in! How you want to approach that as far as clothing goes is up to you. Just use caution… Don’t forget, theSierra Mountains aren’t too far away either. When you catch a glimpse of them from a distance you’re definitely going to feel the pull to get out there. Do it.

Both times I went to Reno (and the surrounding area) I had an absolute blast. It’s a great place to spend some time. I might be biased due to my amazing go-kart victory there over Steve…but no, it’s just makes for a good time all around. Yeah, you heard it here. You’ll find me in Reno over Vegas any day!

Next up…on the road to Salt Lake City!

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