From Neon to Nature: Discover Reno Tahoe

Summer in Reno Tahoe From Downtown to the Beach

05.30.2019

Bike the Arts Scene & Craft Brew Pubs

Reno’s known for its artistic edge and creativity (hello, Burning Man), so hop on two wheels and pedal around downtown. Roll past vibrant murals and impressive Burning Man art installations and sculpture parks, as well as the Truckee River. Gather your friends and check out the Brew Bike for a truly unique way to explore Reno’s bar scene. Pop into one of the craft brew pubs, including 10 Torr, Ole Bridge Pub, and Mellow Fellow.

H2-Outdoors

Water you waiting for? It’s time to get flowing! The beloved Truckee River runs right through downtown Reno, so go on a guided float, and relish the rapids, the smooth sections, and the scenery. Choose a laid-back journey down the Truckee or opt for an adrenaline-fueled whitewater experience. Either way, follow it up with a bite and beers along Reno’s Riverwalk District.

Lake Expectations

Tahoe is one of the best places on the planet for sunset viewing, and some of the best beaches, including Sand Harbor, Chimney Beach, and Hidden Beach, are just a short drive from downtown Reno. Dip your toes in the crystalline waters of Lake Tahoe, then watch the sun sink behind the mountains, painting the water in fiery hues. Magic hour indeed!

River of Epicurean Dreams

Who doesn’t love a good river walk? Especially when it’s lined with really good restaurants, pubs, and artisan shops. Reno’s Riverwalk District makes for a lovely—and lively!—stretch of urban strolling. Wander the locally curated boutique shops, pop into art galleries, and dine on everything from fresh Mexican cuisine and wood-fired pizza to internationally inspired dishes paired with beautiful wines.

Coming Up Roses

The 10-mile out-and-back hike to the summit of Mount Rose offers some of the grandest views of Lake Tahoe. If the peak is still snow covered, you can always hike to the trail’s waterfall, only 2.5 miles from the trailhead. If conditions are good, continue to the 10,778-foot summit. It’s a real huff and puff, but worth it, with views like Mount Tallac and Pyramid Peak, plus Reno, Washoe Valley, and Big Blue!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View

  2. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View

  3. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

    View
  4. Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco

    San Francisco's Middle Earth

    No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

    View

  2. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

    View

  3. Volcanic Activity

    Northern California is home to one of the most unique ecosystems in the country: Lassen Volcanic National Park. The region features geothermal areas, including the largest dome volcano in the world, Lassen Peak. Hike to the top of this active volcano on a 5-mile out-and-back.  

    View

  4. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

    View