Situated in the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains, the breathtaking Reno/Lake Tahoe area is not your average vacation destination. Minutes from world-famous Lake Tahoe, the Reno community abounds with natural beauty and unlimited recreational opportunities. Our region is one of the few in the country where during most of the year you can ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon. The area boasts 60 gaming locations, National Bowling Stadium, National Automobile Museum, Rancho San Rafael Park’s Arboretum and Wilbur D. May Great Basin Adventure, the historic boomtown of Virginia City, and world-class fishing, hiking, biking and numerous other outdoor activities. Festivals and special events pepper a year-round calendar, including Hot August Nights, The Great Reno Balloon Race, Street Vibrations, The Best in the West Rib Cook-Off, The Championship Reno Air Races, Reno Rodeo, and ARTown, the largest arts festival in the country.
Rand McNally rated the Reno area the number-one destination in America for outdoor recreation. Why? Because this area has it all: Lake Tahoe, the forests of Sierra Nevada, gaming resorts, an ancient sea turned into a desert lake, historic silver mining towns, world-class ski resorts, Indian pow wows and an abundance of golf courses. A plethora of recreational opportunities, excellent school and university systems, diversity in housing opportunities, rapidly-growing retail sector, extensive arts and culture, and more! These reasons, plus many more, are why we love this place!
History
Settled first by the Washoe Indian tribe, this was a gathering area used for festivals and ceremonies. Known then as a town called the “End of the Track”, it was incorporated as a city in 1903. The city was then renamed after General Jesse Lee Reno, a Union officer of the Civil War.
Climate
At 4500 feet altitude, this area offers four distinct seasons with few extremes. Average temperatures range from winter lows in the 20’s to summer highs in the 90’s. Low humidity characterizes the area, making the cool days seem not so cold, and the warm days not so hot. Rain is scarce (fewer than eight inches on average annually), as are cloudy days. Snow, however is certain (23.5 inches on average per year), though it tends to melt by late afternoon in the valleys. Here, the sun shines more than 300 days a year, providing warm days, cool nights and blue skies.