If You Avoid Nevada Because Vegas, Try Reno Tahoe
Unless you’re into the glitzy Vegas scene or you have family out west, Nevada is not likely at the top of your list for your next getaway with your crew or your boo. I mean, same. Or at least, that was true until the city of Reno Tahoe invited me to climb, cruise, and wander around the burgeoning, arty city for three whole days.
Since I knew I’d be fluttering among nature hikes, lake swims, dockside lunches, late-night drinks, and art walks—don’t miss the art!—I wanted my wardrobe to fit my itinerary. So first...
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Check out the scenic views.
When I arrived, we kicked it off with a hike in the woods on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Those of us ready to scramble took the climb up to Monkey Rock, a gorgeous lookout point with views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding tree-covered mountains.
FWIW, this is a great opportunity to jump back into that meditation app you downloaded months ago and never opened. And be sure to snap a few pics of the breathtaking scenery.
Now that you’ve seen it, do you also think it should be rebranded as Gorilla Rock...? Call me, NV.
After your hike, give your legs a break and your stomach some love at the Lone Eagle Grill. You’re almost sure to get a table with a stellar view of Lake Tahoe during lunch. Come dinnertime, it’ll be packed. So if sunset is your jam, get on that reservation.
And please, if you take any of my suggestions, save room for the Baked Tahoe dessert, their version of a Baked Alaska. The cute pine-cone shape is perfect for your Stories and you won’t soon forget that fluffy, chocolaty, mallow-y, ice-cream-y goodness.
Parasail over crystal-clear waters.
Next, strap into a parasail harness with the reassuring and knowledgable crew at Action Water Sports. You guys, I was terrified of this idea. I’m a wimp when it comes to “adventure.” But then I found out that parasailing is literally just sitting—and I was sold.
I promise you’ll score the best views of this magical place. If you just can’t (I see you), they also have paddleboards and kayaks to play with. Regardless of your sport of choice, be sure to take a dip in the snow-melt water of Lake Tahoe.
Pro tip: Take off your rings before swimming in the cool water—apparently, many people have lost jewelry this way.
Embrace chill time.
Because you’ll be exhausted by this point, you should most definitely head back to your hotel (we stayed at the Atlantis) and take a nap or visit Spa Atlantis to enjoy its serene facilities or treat yourself to a massage or facial.
If you can’t make it to the spa, just dab on some lavender oil and wade in the indoor or outdoor pool and hot tub. It’s as chill as it sounds.
Watch the air show.
If you’ve ever been to an air show (did you also grow up in the Midwest?), you’ll be familiar with the Thunderbirds and the vintage planes and other specialty aircraft.
But Reno Tahoe is the only place in the world where they still race jets, like race cars but in the air and so much faster! Do. Not. Blink.
If that’s intriguing to you, schedule your visit in early September so you don’t miss the STIHL National Championship Air Races.
Enjoy the nightlife.
Midtown has a swell of bars filled with all the cool kids in Reno Tahoe. My favorite, and the most Instagrammable, is Rum Sugar Lime. It has a beautifully illustrated menu of specialty cocktails (art nerd alert), bearded bartenders covered in prints of leafy plants and tropical birds, and the best tunes to bop to.
Before you leave, don’t forget to take a bathroom selfie with the flamingos! Questionable lighting. Perfect mirror/wallpaper vibe.
Reno Tahoe street art = Instagram gold.
On our final day, we surrounded ourselves with all the art that Reno Tahoe has to offer, including street murals, museum exhibits, and Burning Man art.
My favorite part: Art Spot Reno mural walking tour with Geralda Miller. We met at Bibo, an adorable coffee and house-made gelato shop (no judgment on that 10 a.m. scoop!), and strolled through the city while learning about the street art, murals, and the artists who made them. And there was a little bit about the city’s history thrown in there too.
Visit the Nevada Museum of Art for some #culture.
If you’re familiar with the Nevada Museum of Art, it might be because of the enchanting photos of the Seven Magic Mountains located outside of Vegas filling your news feed over the past few years. And this is not the last you’ll see of this installation. The museum will also be exhibiting photographs of the piece in October 2020.
The museum is both vast and intimate. The curators include art from well-known favorites like Georgia O’Keeffe and Nevada natives like Jack Malotte, whose work focuses on the contemporary political struggles of Native people working to protect their land.
The Nevada Museum of Art has implemented a number of programs in order to recognize and celebrate the indigenous people in their community, according to Amanda Horn, the museum’s SVP of communications. The institution partnered with the communities of people who were often silenced as gentrification pushed its way into Reno Tahoe. Together, they’ve found ways to bring the work of Native artists back to the forefront of the art space in their city and beyond. If you think I didn’t cry during our visit, you’re wrong.
Get the Burning Man experience.
To round out our art adventure, we toured The Generator. This giant warehouse is home to a thoughtful, creative community of artists who collaborate on projects and share their knowledge and skills with each other to make their ideas become realities. So much Burning Man art moves through these doors! You can find them with #MadeInTheGenerator.
More! Climbing
A novelty in Reno Tahoe is the world’s tallest outdoor climbing wall at BaseCamp in the Whitney Peak hotel. I imagine it to be exactly how Tom Holland felt as Spider-Man crawling so very many feet above the streets of downtown.
If scaling a building is not your thing, there are rooms that feel like giant caves with the cushiest mats for you to boulder on inside.
Pet all the pups.
You’ll be in doggy heaven at The Eddy, a pet- and kid-friendly outdoor space filled with lawn games, food trucks, and more murals. The bars themselves are repurposed open-air shipping containers, which gives the place a casual vibe.
Drop by for a drink before dinner or after your climb at Basecamp. Play some life-size Jenga or Connect Four. Try your swing at boccie on the sand courts.
Or chill in the hammock swings and soak up the afternoon sun while sipping your White Claw or snacking on food-truck nibbles.
Okay, off you go!
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