Reno Attractions, Nevada

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Located in northern Nevada’s Washoe County, Reno is the second of Nevada’s two largest cities, Las Vegas in the southern portion of the state being the largest. In the early 1930s and prior to the explosive development of Las Vegas, Nevada’s liberal laws allowed Reno to claim itself as the nation’s gambling and divorce capital. Of course, that is now all in the past. Although nearly eclipsed in recognition by the flash and glitter of Las Vegas, Reno remains a vital city with a relatively healthy economy. This high desert city is still an interesting place to visit with many attractions and recreational opportunities for tourists and residents alike. Among them are:

• The Atlantis Casino Resort: A first-class hotel-casino offering luxurious accommodations, action-packed gambling (slots and table games), an exciting nightclub open from 10 pm to dawn, varied dining options to choose from in several outstanding restaurants, a European-style spa and salon, and more. Location: 3800 Virginia Street – Tel: 800-723-6500 or 775-825-4700.
• Wilbur D. May Museum and Arboretum: Having traveled around the world literally dozens of times, Reno philanthropist Wilbur May collected artifacts from everywhere in his travels and brought them to his rambling home where they can be seen by the public today. In addition to valuable T’ang Dynasty pottery there is a trophy room featuring big game from around the world, a tack room literally filled with interesting western memorabilia, fascinating Egyptian artifacts, African art and sculpture, and even an authentic shrunken head. The large arboretum contains hundreds of plant species native to the high desert. Location: 1500 Washington Street ( Rancho San Rafael Park ) – Tel: 775-785-5961 Admission: Adults - $2.50

• Fleischmann Planetarium: Outer space enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy visiting the Fleischmann Planetarium. Here you can see a meteorite weighing over 2,000 pounds that actually landed in Nevada. Find out what you would weigh on different planets. Visit the Public Observatory that houses a 12 inch telescope for close up celestial viewing. The Star Theatre unveils the heavens above on the huge Skydome screen. Definitely worth a visit. Location: 1650 North Virginia Street – Tel: 775-784-4811 – Admission: Adults $7.00 – children and seniors $5.00
• Fun Quest: Fun Quest is a 40,000 square foot facility featuring a wide variety of games and activities suitable for the entire family. Among them are the always fun and popular magnetic bumper car rides, a mentally and physically challenging interactive laser tag arena featuring high tech games of hide-and-seek in a 5,000 square foot futuristic setting with music and special effects to add further enhancement to the experience. Toddlers and children up to the age of eight will enjoy the facility’s Galaxian Theatre and Tumble Town. A baseball batting cage and power pitcher and countless video games are among the other amusements that will guarantee an enjoyable day of fun for everyone. Location: 2500 East Second Street – Tel: 866-607-9330 – Admission: $2.00 per person Friday, Saturday and Holidays. Value of admission returned in tokens for the arcade. Charges vary for individual games and attractions. All day passes available for purchase.