By Ken Mink
RENO, Nv. – Remember the old Avis car rental ad slogan about being second but trying harder?
That is essentially Reno’s position in the Nevada golf/casino/hotel world.
Reno is trying harder in many areas, and the city is certainly succeeding in several respects.
Long self-billed as the “Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno lags behind its brightly shining southern neighbor, Las Vegas.
When it comes to glitz and glamor no city can top the neon jungle called Vegas.
But Reno has many assets that Vegas nor any other American city has.
There is beautiful Lake Tahoe practically butting up against the city. And the state capital at Carson City and the quirky Old West town of Virginia City are both only minutes away (see separate story on Carson City/Virginia City in this edition). And the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada mountains is a treat unto itself.
Lake Tahoe reeks with gambling, golf and postcard vistas. There is plenty of upscale casino hotels affording great views of the lake and if your pocketbook can’t handle the posh joints there is an ample assortment of medium price smaller hotels available.
Reno has many of the bigtime casino hotels, and has one unique arrangement involving the Silver Legacy, Circus Circus and El Dorado. All are located within a block of each other and are connected via broad enclosed skywalks, letting customers stroll from one to another in enclosed air-conditioned comfort.
The Silver Legacy, located near all the downtown action at 407 North Virginia St., is particularly great, with its 1,700 nicely appointed rooms, trio of great restaurants, tons of slots and other gambling games and golf packages and great views from many levels. A giant replic of working mine equipment highlights the hotel atria area.The hotel is first class in many respects, including hospitality. A large attached parking garage offers instant convenient access, with an elevator to the hotel/casino. This hotel is greatly underappreciated and offers some of the best hotel/casino rates in the city. Its many amenities include a business center, rooftop pool, cable/satellite TV, car rental, concierge, fitness center, boutique and guest shop. For online info http://www.silverlegacyreno.com/ or call 1-800-291-9434. And the airport is only about 15 minutes away.
Lots of big events happen in Reno every year, including major balloon races, national bowling events, airplane races and festivals. For more info: http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/
Reno itself has plenty of entertainment opportunities. Here is a listing of several upcoming shows and events:
Atlantis Society of Seven
$42 Adv, $47 ATD Oct 11
Atlantis Thunder From Down Under
$35 Adv, $50 ATD Oct 24-25
Boomtown Spin Doctors
$TBA Dec 27
Grand Sierra Mastodon
$30.50 Oct 16
Grand Sierra Chris Cagle
$21, $28, $38 Sep 26
Grand Sierra Merle Haggard
$52.50, $63.60, $74.50 Dec 05
Grand Sierra Gov’t Mule
$30.30 Sep 25
Grand Sierra Sara Evans
$27.50, $49.50, $66.00 Oct 24
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Super Diamond $33 Oct 11
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam
$52.70 Oct 04
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe The Psychedelic Furs
$47.85 Oct 25
Montbleu Bassnectar
$42 Nov 06
Montbleu Styx
$55.50, $65.50, $75.50 Oct 18
Nugget Cheech & Chong w/War
$65+, $69+ Oct 11
Nugget John Mueller’s Official
Tribute to Buddy Holly $35+ Sep 26
Nugget A Night to Remember $36+ Sep 27
Reno Events Center Toby Keith
$25.65 to $116.45 Oct 19
Silver Legacy Huey Lewis & the News
$69.50, $89.50 Sep 26
Silver Legacy Scotty McCreery
$49.50, $65.50 Oct 03
Silver Legacy Jim Jefferies
$39.25, $52.75 Nov 14
Silver Legacy Olivia Newton-John
$75.75, $91.50 Oct 28
Silver Legacy Rodney Carrington
$63.75, $77.75 Nov 21
Silver Legacy Wanda Sykes
$52.25, $67.75 Dec 05
Silver Legacy Nick Swardson $46.50, $56.75 Nov 07
Silver Legacy So You Think You Can Dance $TBA Jan 30
