Reno Travel Guide

Today's post is going to be the first guest post I've shared. My friend Eric spent the summer in Reno for an internship so I asked him to share some of his favorite places to visit in a guest post.

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Hi everyone!

My name is Eric, and I’m a hometown friend of Mal’s. After spending my summer in Reno for an internship she has asked me to write on my experiences, my favorite places, and any recommendations that I may have. So here goes nothing.

Kings Beach

Reno was an ideal location for an internship for many reasons. It is conveniently located to other cities and it is home to University of Nevada Reno (about 25,000 students), so it was very easy to make friends and gives Reno a very ‘young-adult vibe’.

First off, TAHOE. Lake Tahoe is an easy 45-minute drive from Reno and where I spent most weekends. There are several cities around the lake, so it’s important to either enter from the north or the south. The north route takes you over Mt. Rose, which is beautiful in itself, into Incline Village, and the south route will take you through Carson City into Stateline/South Lake Tahoe.

Emerald Bay on the south shore

Because Tahoe is a popular winter destination, a lot of the towns around the lake are aimed at the skiing/snowboarding tourist populations. For that reason, the focus of the summer season is obviously the lake.

One beach that I would recommend is Zephyr Cove. It is a popular destination on holidays and weekends, especially for college students. Although alcohol and glass containers are prohibited, the scene is similar to a Florida party beach (especially during the 4^th of July). Another great beach is Chimney Beach. It’s on the east side of the lake and it is both family friendly and pet friendly. It is notorious for a standing chimney that remains from an old house. My favorite beach on Tahoe is certainly Kiva Beach. It is a popular dog beach and has the most beautiful view of Tahoe.

Sand Harbor

Kiva Beach 

Sand Harbor

Regardless of what beach you choose to visit I would definitely recommend researching parking options. Parking fills up very fast at beaches with lots, so having alternatives is necessary.

Within Reno there are several hiking trails, including my favorite, Hunter Creek Trail. It is a six mile (roundtrip) hike that ends at a beautiful waterfall! In the city I would also recommend visiting University Ridge Park, which overlooks the entire city. Every building downtown is illuminated with bright, colorful lights, making it a spectacular view.

Hunter Creek Trail 

One of the most appealing aspects of Reno is the nightlife. It is the main draw for tourists, considering the large amount of casinos and clubs. I’m glad to say that throughout my nightlife experiences in Reno I always felt safe and never had a reason to feel uneasy, although I can’t speak for everyone. I am not interested in gambling, so I cannot give advice on casinos, but the Peppermill Casino has a nightclub called EDGE, which is a higher-end club. Overall, I preferred to stay downtown. My favorite bars downtown are The Rack, Faces, Lincoln Lounge, Imperial, Five Star Saloon, and Our Bar. If you decide to go out, I’d certainly recommend taking Uber everywhere you go. Some streets are poorly lit, especially when you get further from downtown.

I didn’t broaden my palette too much this summer, but I definitely have a few food recommendations. First, I highly recommend brunch at chez louie. It is a small French bistro located in the first floor foyer in the Nevada Museum of Art. You can enjoy a nice breakfast, a few mimosas or Bloody Mary’s, and finish your afternoon exploring the museum. My favorite lunch locations were various Vietnamese restaurants. I’m a huge fan of pho, so Pho Cali and Golden Flower were two of my favorite lunch locations. An amazing dinner/evening location is The Eddy. It is an outdoor space with three bars and rotating food trucks. It’s an amazing location for socializing, and you can play jumbo Jenga, cornhole, or bocce with your friends. For late night options, I’d suggest either In-n-Out (duh) or Roberto’s, which is a 24-hour taco shop (perfect for late nights).

As I stated earlier, Reno is very conveniently located to other cities. This summer I was able to visit San Francisco a few times, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. I first went to San Francisco for SF Pride, and it is an easy 3-hour trip from Reno on I-80, which takes you through Sacramento. Not only is the drive to San Fran beautiful, but San Fran itself is spectacular. If you find yourself in Reno, make the drive to SF, even if it’s only for the day.

In addition, flights out of Reno to California cities are very affordable. I visited a friend in Los Angeles for five days, and my last minute plane ticket was about $200 on American Airlines. The flights from Reno to both Las Vegas and Los Angeles are only about an hour each, so it’s a very easy commute and well worth it.

At Griffith Observatory 

At the Getty 

Thanks for reading and comment down below if you have any Reno or Tahoe suggestions or recommendations. I'll be sharing another guest post with tips on obtaining internships and scholarships soon!

Eric