Looking for a quickie trip to the Reno Tahoe area? Well, you came to the right place! I have to be honest with you though, there is so much to do there. Seriously, so much. The best way to explore the area, especially if you're in a rush, is to spend one day in Reno & one in Tahoe. From art galleries to local restaurants, there are plenty of fun attractions and things to do in Reno, Nevada. It's the perfect weekend trip. And of course, your list of Reno things to do isn't complete without a visit to the casino.

reno nevada points of interest Fun Things to Do in Reno, Nevada

What is there to do in Downtown Reno? 

The Reno Tahoe area is incredibly versatile. Reno, Nevada calls itself "The Biggest Little City in the World.” After visiting the city, I understand why. There's such a range of fun things to do in Reno, Nevada depending on your preference, so I broke it down into some essentials.

Fun Things to Do in Reno, Nevada

Pick & choose what you're into. You can get a lot done if you figure out what you're interested in. 

This 48-hour guide to Reno Tahoe is meant to help you figure out how to get the most out of a limited amount of time. 

If you want to explore in a jiffy, here are a bunch of attractions and fun things to do in Reno, Nevada.


Let's begin with the essentials: food, drink, & nature. These are my favorite parts of Reno Tahoe, the things that you can't live without.  Let's get to it!


The Essentials


Food

Whether you're craving pan-friend dumplings, homemade soup, or an all-you-can-eat buffet, there's a huge selection of restaurants in the Reno Tahoe area. My tip: Figure out what you're in the mood for because the options are vast. If you need some help, Visit Reno Tahoe has an extensive list of eateries by category.


Reno

Midtown Eats has a fantastic beer-battered cauliflower appetizer. My friend swears that Jox Sports Bar & Grill has the best wings in town; Fred loved the honey-glazed barbecue wings. If you're into pasta & pizza (who isn't?!), Campo came highly recommended. The city has a lot of tasty grub to offer.


Tahoe

Do a search for Lake Tahoe lakefront restaurants to see what comes up. Lone Eagle Grille has lakefront Tahoe views & an entire vegetarian menu (if you ask for it). I recommend the Vegetable Linguini, Roasted Cauliflower Pizza, & the Baked Tahoe for dessert. Drool. The jackfruit “carnitas” tostada bites from Bite American Tapas sound absolutely heavenly too.

Fun Things to Do in Reno, Nevada

Drinks

From bar crawls to wine walks, there's no shortage of coffee shops, breweries, bars, pubs, sports bars in Reno & Tahoe. It all depends, do you want a cocktail, a beer, a coffee? Well, they have it all. Visit Reno Tahoe has a cool interactive map of breweries & distilleries in the area.


Reno 

IMBĪB Custom Brews has delicious sour beers. Death & Taxes has photo-friendly cocktails. Seriously, just look at this drink. My favorite: the Arlington Tea made with Earl Grey. A local recommended 1864 Tavern. French-inspired Chez Louie sits inside the Nevada Museum of Art & has an incredible maple latte.


Tahoe

From porters to pale ales, Alibi Ale Works has core beers, rotating seasonals, & some fancy limited release brews too. Get fresh orange, grapefruit, & even carrot juice at Fire Sign Cafe. There's also  Tahoe Mountain Brewery, Jake’s on the Lake, & West Shore Café.


Nature

Are you a fan of the great outdoors? Me too! Reno, Nevada & the Tahoe area offer a range of natural beauty, vista points, & exciting activities. Whether you want to brush up on your ice skating, camp for a couple nights, picnic by the beach, or simply take a walk along the river, Reno Tahoe genuinely has whatever you're looking for. Stroll the scenic Truckee River and savor some of the free things to do in the heart of the city. Your outdoor adventure includes parks, trails, river views, and more. Enjoy Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Washoe County. At 580 acres, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park is Washoe County's largest and most dynamic park with a range of amenities and facilities. Hit the trail!


Reno

You can get a stunning view of Reno from the Nevada Museum of Art penthouse. Enjoy a scenic stroll with bridges, walking paths, & art installations as you promenade along Reno's Truckee River Walk, the RiverWalk is a popular spot. Take a walk at Wingfield Park, Mount Rose, or San Rafael Regional Park. Take off your shoes & get your feet wet. Better yet, hop in & go tubing or swimming. We took an evening saunter through Idlewild Park & it was quiet, relaxing, & peaceful. The list of Reno things to do just keeps growing.


Tahoe

Take in as much nature as you can & stay at one of the many Reno Tahoe campgrounds. My tip: book in advance because campsites often get fully booked during peak season. Lake Tahoe has endless possibilities that range each season. In winter, you can go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, snowboarding, or maybe you want a sleigh ride instead. Once it warms up, try biking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or just lounging around at the beach. Go skiing at Mount Rose Ski Tahoe if you want to savor the snow.

Now for the fun stuff: go shopping, check out the casinos, explore the events, & then browse through my favorites!


The Fun Stuff



Shopping

Get in, we're going shopping! Like seriously, there's everything. The Reno Tahoe shopping options are extensive. From The Legends Outlet at Sparks to The Summit in Reno to The Shops at Heavenly Village in Tahoe, you could spend your 48 hours just shopping if you wanted to. Definitely stop by Junkee for clothes & antiques.


Casinos

Your visit wouldn't be complete without a trip to the casino(s). There are casino options nearby in Reno, Tahoe, & also the Sparks area, such as Atlantis Casino Resort. Whether you gamble or not, it makes for great people-watching. Fred & I did a couple dollar slots then left to explore the area more. You could opt for a spa day at the casino resort spa. Read more about my experience Playing & Staying at the Atlantis in Reno, Nevada. Visit here.

Museums

If you like museums and exhibits there's the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center, Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, National Automobile Museum, Nevada Museum of Art. There are local art galleries as well. Take the family and take in the interesting culture and exhibits.


Events

Local events and entertainment change daily & range for every single season. My tip: check the events calendar & do a little bit of online research to see what's happening while you're in town. Or maybe the whole reason you're visiting is because of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, The Great Reno Balloon Race, or Northern Nevada Pride. So much to do, so little time. 

Hotels

In Reno, you will find hotels near the center of town such as Whitney Peak Hotel, Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Plaza Resort Club, Sands Regency Casino Hotel, and more.


My Favourites

♥ Arlington Tea cocktail from Death & Taxes ♥ Blue waters of Lake Tahoe ♥ Strolling the Truckee RiverWalk District ♥ Midtown Reno's murals ♥ Nevada Museum of Art ♥ Browsing Junkee for hidden treasures ♥ Evening walk through Idlewild Park ♥ Stillwater Spritzer at Stillwater Spa & Salon ♥ Driving through the mountains in Tahoe ♥ Dipping your toes in Truckee River or Lake Tahoe ♥ Beautiful nature ♥ Hanging out with an old friend in Reno ♥ Baked Tahoe at Lone Eagle Grille ♥

Have you visited Tahoe or Reno? I'd love to hear your top recommendations. :]