While you are thinking of moving to the beautiful desert and mountainous state that is Nevada, take a look at what the city of Reno is all about. With Lake Tahoe just at its side, a colorful and glowing skyline, all four seasons, and a strong sense of community, Reno may just be the place to move to next.
1. Closest Metro City to Lake Tahoe
One of the most attractive aspects of Reno, Nevada is Lake Tahoe. This spectacle of nature is a close 40 minutes away from the metro area of Reno. It is also what makes this city stand out against others in the country. Lake Tahoe is immensely deep, even deeper than the Empire State Building is tall! The lake is 1,645 feet deep, compared to the height of the Empire State at 1,454 feet.
Lake Tahoe’s water has been tested to be 99.994% pure. This is cleaner than most commercial distilled water and gives the city of Reno access to clean water. It is as blue as it is purified, and the shallow edges of the water sparkle an inviting sea green. Lake Tahoe has a deep history to it, tied back to the Washoe Native Americans, the Pony Express, the Transcontinental Railroad, and even the deadly Donner Pass.
Lake Tahoe also comes with some clever nicknames throughout history. In 1844, it was first named Bonpland. These names changed from Mountian Lake, Maheon, Big Truckee Lake, and even Bigler in 1853. There was also an unsuccessful effort to rename the lake Tua Tulia. Finally, in 1862, Ta-hoe was the of the suggested names which is the anglicization of a Washoe term “da ow a ga”. This means big water or water in a high place. It was not until nearly 100 years later when the name was officially changed from Bigler to Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe is a major part of Reno’s recreation scene. It is the perfect place for boating, camping, family reunions, or even a luxurious weekend out with a loved one. There are multiple state parks within Lake Tahoe’s area and areas to hike in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
2. A Car Enthusiast’s Mecca
The car scene is quite strong in Reno. The people love their cars! Every August, Reno has their annual classic car show known as Hot August Nights. While the activities differ slightly every year, typical events include live music, Motorsport Auction Group (MAG) auctions, controlled drag races and burnouts, Big Boy’s toy store, Dazzling Diva boutique, diners, and drive-ins. This event is truly fun for the whole family.
But that’s not all. In fact, there is The National Automobile Museum which is considered one of the best of its kind in the entire world. This museum opened its doors in 1989 and has set the standard for automobile museums since. It is proudly on the list of the 10 Best Automobile Museums in the United States.
This museum was originally a car collection from Bill Harrah who passed away in 1979. This vast collection was then purchased by Holiday Inn in 1980. In their attempts to sell the vehicles soon after, the public was outraged. These plans quickly turned into a nonprofit museum and were the largest corporate philanthropic gift at the time. With a generous donation from the City of Reno Redevelopment Agency, the State of Nevada, and other car enthusiasts, the museum was fully opened on November 5, 1989, and still stands today.
3. Wá∙šiw Tribe Culture
Casino culture aside, Native American history plays a big part in Reno’s land. The Wá∙šiw people were here long before the pioneers tracked through Reno. Their reservation is set just outside of the city of Reno and in the Lake Tahoe area. However, their culture plays a part in living in Reno, Nevada through outdoor recreation and protection.
The Wá∙šiw people, otherwise known as the Washoe tribe, have a strong sense of family. In the past, each member of the tribe had a different occupation depending on which part of their territory they came from. This tribe was split into 4 different bands, with subtle cultural differences and language patterns in each one. The Washoe’s summers were spent fishing for cutthroat trout and hunting game. Plant medicine was and still is actively practiced.
The fall was meant for hunting for winter, specifically tracking for rabbits. In the winter, the Washoe tribe would travel to the lowland valleys of the Sierra Mountains to bear through the harsh blizzards. As spring made its way back to the tribe, the people would travel upwards once more for hunting.
During the California gold and Nevada silver rush, immigrants and minors flooded into the area. They took over the Wá∙šiw lands, hurting their economy, culture, and living patterns. The logging industry snuffed forests, and a once bountiful area had become bleak. Today, the Washoe tribe stands strong as they rebuild their culture and infrastructure. It is now illegal to excavate, remove, deface, damage, alter or desecrate resources on Washoe Tribal lands. Again, the Washoe tribe sits just outside of Reno and has a highly developed culture. This is something you will see and appreciate as Reno locals.
4. The 2nd City With The Most Casinos
Reno has over 20 casinos to choose from and has the 2nd most casinos in the country, right behind Las Vegas which has 31 casinos. Reno is known as the best destination for those who love the sport of gambling but want a simpler environment to be in. Because of this, Reno is seen as the smaller and more relaxed version of Las Vegas.
As other states began to allow casinos, gambling was not Reno’s best source of income. Instead, Reno began to rebrand itself as an outdoor adventure destination, giving the nature surrounding Reno its due credit. This has given Reno the financial stability for new hotels and better restaurants. This goes to show that Reno is much more than a gambling gimmick, but a beautiful and well-thought-out city.
5. The Biggest Little City in the World’s History
One reason to make the move to Reno, Nevada is the rich history behind the city itself, as well as the opportunities it offers.
Every city has its own nickname, usually based on gilded age sayings or cultural affiliations. At the turn of the 20th century, smaller towns wanted similar action and financial gain as the bigger cities were getting. Many cities affectionately claimed the term “The Biggest Little City in the World“, such as Wichita, Memphis, Sioux Falls-South Dakota, and most notably, Reno, to gain tourists. This phrase reflected the city’s attitude, that while their population or structures are small, the people’s vision, opportunities, and pride are big. The nickname stuck, and Reno kept the nickname over the other before-mentioned cities.
In 1901 when this nickname was popular, the city had a population of 10,000 people. As of 2020, Reno has a population of close to 251,000 residents! This city may not be so little anymore, but culturally, the name stays as well as the town’s pride and opportunities.
6. Reno Has Lower Taxes
The state of Nevada has no individual income tax as well as a corporate income tax. There is a gross receipts tax and the state has a 6.85 percent state sales tax and together there is a local sales tax of 1.53 percent. In Reno, the sales tax rate is 0% and the county has a sales tax rate of 3.67%. Nevada is the 7th best state for tax systems in the country in the year 2022.
While this may not be the sole reason, it is a great benefit for those who make the move to Reno, Nevada!
7. There Is A Strong Nightlife
There is a strong nightlife in Reno, but it differs from Las Vegas. While Las Vegas is about escaping the world into a night of shows, gambling, and fantasy, Reno is about enjoying the world we are in by meeting others, spending time outdoors, and enjoying great food and music. As mentioned before, gambling is a good part of Reno’s economy and casinos correlate to a strong nightlife, especially here in Nevada. Outside of casinos, there are places such as the Mountian Music Parlor, Bluebird Nightclub, The Eddy Bar, and of course, Bundox Bocce, an outdoor recreation area.
8. Reno Has All Four Seasons
Just because Reno is in a desert state, its location has the ability for all four seasons! Its trees show the change of color in the fall, its mountains hold the snow in the winter, flowers bloom in the spring, and the sun beats down in the summer. Over the course of the year, temperatures vary from 23 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Cloud concentration varies throughout the seasons, with the clearest months in June to October. The rain varies as well, with a wet season from October to April. Snow season goes from November to March, with snowfall f at least 1 inch.
9. University of Nevada – Reno
The Unversity of Nevada – Reno is the number 1 college in Nevada, with popular majors such as nutrition, psychology, business, nursing, and mechanical engineering. Most students are located on campus and have a graduation rate of 60%. It is rated as a top National University by the U.S. News & World Report. There is a strong sense of pride coming from the University of Nevada – Reno and a strong athletics team.
10. Local Sports games
Speaking of athletics, games are an important part of life here in Reno, Nevada. Whether it be high school football, the Reno Aces baseball games, or the Nevada Wolf Pack’s basketball, sports are a major part of the local culture. There are other sports in town as well, such as ballet or arts such as the opera and museums. All these activities are a way for families to spend some quality time together and most importantly, connect.
11. Known For Hunting
Reno, Nevada is a beautiful place to go hunting, specifically for the Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, or mountain lions. In the state of Nevada, there are 48 million acres of public land, and a whopping 86% of the state’s land is federally owned, and most of it is for hunting. In Nevada, a hunting license is required for elk, mule deer, black bear,s pronghorn antelope, rocky mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.
12. Strong Sense of Community
Nevada is mostly uninhabited land. Because Las Vegas is completely across the state, Reno really is the only other major city in Nevada, save it some other cities near Vegas and Reno. Because there is so much empty space, the large cities that are there have such a strong community, Reno included.
14. Near The Border of California
For those who are from or have family in California, you’re in luck! Sacramento is the closest large city near Reno and it is only a 2 hour and 10 minute drive away. In between this drive, you will see a plethora of national wonders, such as the Tahoe National Forest.
15. Not Too Far to Oregon
While others love that California feeling, others resonate more or are even from Oregon. Reno is also a good driving distance from Oregon, with the closest Orgonean city being Lakeview, Oregon. This city is pretty quiet with a population of nearly 3,000 residents. Medford is a little over 5 hours away, and the metropolis of Portland is 8 hours away.
16. World Renowned Ski Resorts
Because of the nearby Lake Tahoe, Reno is close to some pretty spectacular skiing destinations. These destinations include Soda Springs, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Donner Ski Ranch, Sierra-At-Tahoe, M.t Rose Ski Tahoe, and Boreal.
17. The Nevada Museum of Art
Reno, Nevada has a thriving art scene with art murals in the city. The most popular of these is the Nevada Museum of Art, which has a thriving Youtube Channel, workshops for adults and children, visiting speakers, and most excitingly, A new Education and Research Center addition to the museum opening in 2025.
Isabelle Justice 