Rancho San Rafael Regional Park
The most popular green space in Reno is San Rancho Rafael Park, which was formerly a flourishing cattle ranch. With 600 acres (240 hectares) of grassland and sage, maintained fields, ponds, and walking and biking pathways, this is the ultimate escape from the neon lights of Sparks. There are botanical gardens, an arboretum, and a museum on the more refined side.
As you enter the park, keep an eye out for the former ranch manager’s house, which is now the Rangers’ residence and visitor center. If you bring a picnic, there are several tables and grassy corners where you may spread out and have a leisurely lunch. Little ones love the playgrounds, while dog owners may take use of a huge off-leash area.
For those who prefer to be a little more active, there are several options. The arboretum provides wetland trekking experiences that let you see the Great Basin firsthand. There are several loops and one-way paths throughout the park to satisfy all fitness levels. The northern nature paths in the park on the Peavine Peak side provide some breathtaking views. Pick up a park map on your way in and plan your trip using it.
Rancho San Rafael Park is stunning both in the summer and following a snowfall. Every September in the park, one of Reno’s biggest events, the Great Reno Balloon Race, takes place.
Wild Island Family Adventure Park - Waterpark
This paradise in Nevada is the craziest place to cool yourself in the summer and offers lots of thrills throughout the year.
Despite having the exclusive permission to run water parks in Nevada, Wild Island Family Adventure Park isn’t satisfied to rest on its laurels. Along with seasonal water slides, the park provides a wide range of year-round indoor and outdoor activities.
In order to avoid lines during the popular summer months, it is best to arrive early. To start your wet and exciting day, go to the opposite side of the park and board the Black Widow. This is a straightforward introduction slide before moving on to the larger and more dangerous Red Viper, a six-story free-fall.
The four-story halfpipe at the Scorpion is open to thrill seekers. Invite your friends to a race in ice and fire tubes. The four-lane mat race Zulu, which drops riders over a challenging, uneven 270-foot (80-meter) slope, is best for bigger parties.
There are various mild solutions available for younger children. They may splash around in the wave pools and meandering rivers, as well as the shallow waters of the sizable Hurricane Cove. It’s important to be aware that certain rides have height requirements and that you might need an adult to ride with younger children on some of them.
Miniature golf and bowling alleys are great places to unwind after a long day of sliding down slides. You may keep the tension up by driving a go-kart a few circuits around the course. Smaller children can enjoy exploring a big ball pit and challenging laser mazes.
Wild Island Family Adventure Park is open all year round, although the water park is only open from the middle of May until the beginning of September. Depending on the weather, certain rides are closed during the other months. There are quick food alternatives, despite the fact that you cannot bring your own food. The park is located around 15 minutes from Reno in Sparks, Nevada, near I-80.
Peppermill
With 10 restaurants, more than a dozen bars and lounges, a spa, 1,500 slot machines, and 48 gaming tables, this resort with a Tuscan theme is a gaming lover’s heaven.
There aren’t many reasons to ever leave the Peppermill resort with its facilities and Tuscan-themed decor. Daytime activities include working out in the state-of-the-art gym, swimming in one of the two pools, or receiving pampering in the spa, which is 33,000 square feet (3,000 square meters) in size. After that, gamble, dine, drink, and take in some live music in the evening.
The Peppermill opened as a coffee shop and bar in Reno in 1971. It entered the gambling sector and built its own casino in 1980. Visit one of the business’s several sites right away, including a restaurant and nightclub in Las Vegas and the Western Village Inn and Casino in Sparks.
The resort is renowned for offering a wide variety of gambling options. A total of 1,500 slot machines are available, ranging from classic single-player games to the most recent modern releases. If you want to bet more money, go visit the High Limit Slot Lounge.
Take a seat at one of the casino’s 48 gaming tables, where attentive dealers keep an eye on the action. Along with the standard casino table games like blackjack, craps, and roulette, you may also choose from less well-liked games like fortune pai gow poker, let it ride, and pai gow tiles.
Get lunch at one of the casino’s on-site restaurants if you start to feel hungry. Dining options include upscale Asian, Italian, or steakhouse restaurants, buffets with a rainforest theme, or all-day cafés where you may enjoy coffee and pastries.
Let the fun linger late into the night at one of the casino’s many bars or lounges. Watch baseball, racing, football, and other sports on high-definition screens, sip on exotic beverages at the Banyan Bar, or listen to live music in the Terrace Lounge. If you want to dance, dress to impress and go to Edge Nightclub.
From Downtown Reno, a 10-minute drive will get you to the Peppermill. Local buses are also available for transportation between the casino and Downtown Reno. Use the free on-site parking for visitors and guests.
Wilbur D. May Museum
Wilbur D. May’s antiquities and antiques are on display in the museum. The third child of David May, who founded The May Department Stores Company, is Wilbur May. Wilbur was a Reno resident who worked as a pilot, rancher, artist, philanthropist, and traveler. T’ang Dynasty ceramics, African masks, sculptures, and artwork are among the museum’s holdings. There are also Inuit scrimshaw pieces, Egyptian scarab figurines, Greek icons, animal dioramas, and a shrunken head from South America. Wilbur’s more than 40 international journeys are also referenced.
Along with its permanent collection, the museum hosts traveling exhibitions on a variety of subjects throughout the year. There have previously been screenings of “Predators,” “Sherlock Holmes,” and “Toytopia.” The museum also features a shop with a large range of fair-trade products from across the globe and a gallery with recurrent shows by regional and local artists. The museum’s operator, Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space, charges a fee for admission.
Visitors may get a taste of the diverse history and flora of the area at the Wilbur D. May Center. A broad collection of artifacts from Nevada and other nations may be found in the site’s museum. The neighboring Arboretum and Botanical Garden provides insight into how the local plant species cope with the harsh environment.
Sparks Marina Park
This stunning lake is bordered by sandy beaches, shaded trees, and walking paths just outside of downtown Reno.
This little old gravel mine has grown into a well-liked summer vacation destination in the Reno-Sparks area from humble beginnings. Just as preparations were being made to turn the 100-foot (30-meter) deep crater into a recreational lake and fill it overnight, the Great Truckee River Flood of 1997 hit. An underground spring that feeds the 77-acre (31-hectare) lake ensures that the water is always pristine.
Sparks Marina Park is a popular summertime destination for both locals and tourists. Two beaches that are continually patrolled, one of which is a designated swimming area, make it exceptionally safe. There are two beach volleyball courts that may be used without paying. Nearby, there is a huge playground suitable for children of all ages. In the summer, either bring your own picnic or purchase drinks and light fare from a concession stand.
Leisurely boat or kayak around the lake while admiring the spectacular mountain surroundings Only electric or non-motorized watercraft are allowed on the lake, and life jackets must always be worn. If you want to see marine life, you may scuba dive in the lake, but you have to check in with rangers before and after your dive and you can’t dive alone.