Smoky Delights: Experience The Phoenix BBQ in Sparks

2 minute read | may contain affiliate links

When you’re thinking about great BBQ, Nevada typically doesn’t come up in conservation. States such as Texas and Tennessee are what you’ll usually think of.

While those states certainly deserve their status as BBQ GOATs, that doesn’t mean Nevada doesn’t have a few hidden gems of its own. Enter, The Phoenix BBQ Restaurant.

Located in, The Outlets at Legends, in Sparks and directly adjacent to Sheels, Phoenix provides its diners a wide variety of finely smoked meats, burgers, and classic sides.

My wife and I recently (finally) made our way to Phoenix and our experience with the food and service was nothing short of spectacular (albeit with one exception).

Let’s get into it.

Restaurant Info

• Location: Sparks, NV at Legends

• Address: 1310 Sheels Drive

• Cost: Moderate

• Food: Smoked BBQ, burgers, etc.

• Open: Weds - Sun (closed Mon & Tues)

• Seating: Indoor, outdoor and bar

• Alcohol: Full bar

• Website/Menu: ww.phoenixatlegends.com

• My Visit: July 2023

• Rating (out of three): 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Disclaimer: I am not a professional restaurant critic, nor has this restaurant offered me any incentive to write this post. My opinions are my own and are based on my personal experience only.

You can find The Phoenix sandwiched between Sheels and Freshberry Cafe. It’s fairly easy to miss as half of the restaurant’s exterior is obstructed by trees.

If you happen to walk by on a weekend evening, there’s no way you’ll miss it as they have live musical acts performing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.

The interior is warm and inviting, with the color of the walls resembling that of the Golden Gate Bridge (it looks more on the red side in the photos).

There are more booths than open-floor tables, with bar seating available. There’s also an abundance of outdoor seating on the patio, with plenty of shade and a mister.

The menu is heavy in smoked meats and burgers, but they offer a few seafood, salad, and soup options for anyone who doesn’t care for BBQ.

Shockingly, there were no desserts listed on the menu, as well as specialty cocktails. They have a full bar so I’m sure they’ll make your choice of drink, though.

They do have an extensive wine selection, though, thanks to their, “Village Vintner”, wine bar located in the same building (separated by a wall).

For our appetizer, we ordered the waffle fries topped with bacon, green onions and a gorgonzola cheese sauce. Honestly, it was, “meh”.

This was the one and only let down of the entire experience, as it just fell flat to me. The fries didn’t maintain their crisp and there wasn’t nearly enough bacon.

For my entree, I opted for the, “That’s 1 Hellova BBQ Sandwich”, with pulled pork as my meat of choice and sweet potato fries as my side.

Put simply, the pulled pork was delicious. A lot of places smoother their pork in sauce, masking the lack of flavor in the meat. Here, that isn’t the case. The meat, by itself, had excellent flavor and was smoked perfectly. The sauce did what its supposed to; it complemented it.

The sweet potato fries more than made it for the waffle fries earlier. They were precisely seasoned and had a great crisp to them.

My wife went with the BBQ sampler, which included:

• Two drumstick chicken

• Two pork ribs

• Two brisket sliders

• A side of their, “Million Dollar Mac”

The rib was tender and had excellent flavor. There was just enough of that “pull” off the bone. The brisket wasn’t the best i’ve ever had, but it was great regardless.

To us, the clear winners of the sampler were the chicken and the mac. Both were out-of-this-world and would be deserving as a stand-alone entree.

I hope you’ll consider giving The Phoenix a chance, as my wife and I had a great experience. The smoked meats are the hero here, so our less-than-steller waffle fries made little difference to our opinions. If you love BBQ, we’re confident you’ll enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional restaurant critic, nor has this restaurant offered me any incentive to write this post. My opinions are my own and are based on my personal experience only.

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Thank you for reading.

Dragon Lights Festival Reno (2023): Ticket Prices, Themes, Parking and More

Experience the annual Dragon Light Festival in Reno, a spectacular event that will ignite your imagination and illuminate your senses.

Prepare to be mesmerized as you enter a world of enchantment, where intricate lanterns and larger-than-life creatures come to life with a symphony of lights.

Whether you're a local or a visitor, this extraordinary celebration offers an immersive experience for all.

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you’ll need to know to attend this unforgettable summer-time event. Let’s get into it.

Dragon Lights Reno 2023 Dates & New Additions

The Dragon Lights Festival is an annual summer time event in Reno and features hundreds of themed, illuminated lanterns along a trail just shy of a mile.

It’s held at Rancho San Rafael Park in the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and features a new theme with accommodating lanterns each year.

In 2023, the theme is, “Nature’s Glow”, with several creatures typically found in gardens and tropical settings. Such as:

• Honey Bees

• Wasps

• Ants

• Tucson Birds

• Lemurs

• Peacocks

• Parrots

• Dragonflies

• and more!

Also new in 2023 is the brand new presentation of the iconic Chinese Dragon and the expanded interactive playground featuring a swing set, drums, lighting effects and more.

The festival runs nightly from June 30th to August 13th, 6pm to 10:30pm.

Tickets & Parking

Parking at the event is included in the price of your admission ticket. There are several lots at the park you can utilize. They are:

• Lot A: This is the lot nearest the entrance and exit. This lot is reserved for disability parking.

• Lot B: This is the first lot you’ll come across and is smaller than Lot A. It typically fills quickly.

• Lot C: The largest lot, but furtherest from the entrance, it is located down San Rafael drive on the eastern edge of the park.

• Lot D (or '“green” lot): This lot is located at the UNR campus off Comstock Dr. and is utilized for overflow parking on the weekends.

If you park in A or B, you’ll be within walking distance of the festival entrance. If you end up in C, you can still walk or take advantage of the free shuttle service (runs Thursday - Sunday).

The D lot also offers free shuttle service to the entrance, but only on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tickets can be purchased either online (through this link) or in person at the gate. If you opt to purchase at the gate, be aware that you’ll pay a surcharge of $5 - $15, per ticket.

Purchasing online is easy and convenient. You’ll select your desired date, your ticket type, and once your purchase is complete, save the tickets to your phone to be scanned at the gate.

The 2023 festival ticket prices are as follows:

• $20 per adult (age 12+)

• $15 per child (age 3 -11)

• Free for children under 3

• $55 family pack (includes two adult and two child tickets)

• $55 season pass (unlimited entry all season for ONE person)

When purchasing your tickets, you’ll be asked to select an entry time. They are 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00. You’ll have one hour from your selected entry time to arrive and can stay as long as you wish.

We arrived 20-minutes early to our entry time and were still granted entry. No one batted an eye. If you arrive late, they’ll make every effort to accommodate you but there’s no guarantee.

There are no refunds, but they will allow you to change the date/time of your ticket up to one hour prior to your entry time. You can do so in the account you made while making your purchase.

The Lantern Trail & Amenities

After entering, you’ll come into an opening and see the iconic Chinese dragon ahead of you. To your right will be the interactive playground and to your left will be the food vendors.

To find the trail that winds through the lantern displays, follow the path through the dragon and go right (keeping the interactive playground to your right).

The trail is less than a mile and is on fairly even ground. There are some grade changes along the way but they’re barely noticeable. It’s mostly paved, but there are some dirt/gravel patches.

If you’re bringing little ones along, both strollers and wagons are permitted. They should have wheels appropriate for the terrain, though.

You’ll find dozens of illuminated lanterns along the trail. From beautiful floral themes to giant frogs and armadillos. Some are interactive and many have moving parts.

There are also a couple make-shift tunnels with special lighting affects you’ll get to walk through. Additionally, themed music plays throughout the length of the trail.

As you reach the end of the trail, it’ll split. If you’re done for the night, go left to exit. If you want to remain in the festival, go right to loop back in to where you entered earlier.

When Should You Enter & Tips

We arrived at around 7:45pm and there was still plenty of light left. When we did our first walk through the trail, we were impressed by how illuminated the lanterns still were, despite it not being dark.

However, once the night sky set in, that’s when the lanterns popped and were the most impressive and fun to look at. Consequently, that’s also when the crowds got thick.

Clearly, you’re going to want to be there when it’s dark. That’s the whole point. My suggestion, though, would be to select an entry time prior to sunset.

The reason for this is because it’ll allow you to get a feel for the festival and see the top attractions without having to worry about big crowds. The later it gets, the heavier the crowds get.

This way, you can do a second loop around the trail once it gets dark. You’ll already know what the best exhibits are, so you won’t waste time on the ones you don’t care about and can get through the crowd faster.

It’s also advantageous if you have small children tagging along. It’ll be a lot easier to keep track of them in the interactive playground while there’s still some light.

If you’re coming with a group consisting of two or more adults and two or more children, save money by purchasing the family ticket option. You’ll save at least $15.

If your group is 10 people or more, you’ll enjoy additional savings of 20% off each ticket. That discount will reflect in the cart when you’re checking out.

For more savings, take advantage of their policy of allowing outside food and beverages. There are plenty of areas in the festival to set up a picnic. The only exception is alcohol.

I hope you’ll consider attending the 2023 Dragon Lights Festival in Reno. It’s a fantastic event for the whole family. We had much more fun than we thought we would and can’t wait to attend in 2024.

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Hunter Creek Falls: An Epic Hike Just Outside Of Reno

5 minute read | Contains affiliate links

Until fairly recently, people would generally associate Reno solely with gambling, bars, and being the (much) smaller sibling to Las Vegas.

In recent years though, Reno has been earning a reputation for being more than that. You may not realize it, but Reno is an outdoor recreational haven.

Activities like skiing, hiking, white water rafting, and camping can all be done in Reno. This article, however, will focus on Reno’s most popular hiking trail; Hunter Creek Falls.

This trail is spectacular! It parallels Hunter Creek the entire way through rocky terrain, before taking you through crisp-smelling pine trees and terminating at the namesake thirty-foot waterfall.

Despite living near Reno, I’ve only just recently hiked this gem. If you haven't, there’s a few things you should know before hitting the trail. Let’s get into it!

Quick Stats

• Location: Reno, Nevada

• Fees/Permit: None

• Open: April through October

• For: Hikers, Mountain Bikers, & Equestrians

• Parking: Large, paved lot.

• Restroom: At the trailhead

• EV Stations: None

• Drone Use: No signage stating you can't

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Time: Three to four hours for most

• Mileage: 6.4 miles, RT

• Popularity: Heavily trafficked

• Elevation Gain: 1,023 ft

• Trail Condition: Maintained and easy to follow

• Main Feature(s): 30-foot waterfall

• Campground: None nearby

• Pets: Allowed on leash

• Special Notes/Hazards: 1) Sun exposed throughout the majority of the trail. Bring lots of water and sunscreen. 2) Several heavily rocky sections that pets and small children may have a hard time navigating without assistance. 3) A good portion of the trail is narrow along a steep ravine.

• Our Visit: June 2022

*Please practice leave no trace principles and keep to the trail*

Trailhead and Parking

Getting to the trailhead for this spectacular hike is easy and straight-forward. It’s just 20-minutes from the downtown area and midtown at the end of a beautiful housing development called, “Jupiter Ridge”.

*Tip: Simply punch “Hunter Creek Falls trailhead” into any GPS system for easy directions

You’ll arrive at a well maintained parking lot large enough to hold a few dozen vehicles. GPS directions will try to take you to a dirt pull-out but this isn’t it. Go a little further up the road and take the first right out of the roundabout. The lot will be right there.

In it, you’ll find trail/area information signage, a picnic table, trash cans, and a well-kept restroom. If you must, utilize before you head down the trail as there are no other restrooms beyond this point.

The Trail

Facing the restroom, you’ll find the start of the trail on your left (pictured above). On it, you’ll descend a short distance to Hunter Creek before coming up on a wooden bridge.

Note: If you’re an Equestrian, there’s signage asking you to cross through the creek (there’s an opening to the right) instead of crossing the bridge.

After crossing the bridge, you’ll see a split. To continue to Hunter Creek Falls, go left. You’ll be hiking parallel to the creek along this short stretch.

There are many spur trails leading you to the waterline. Throughout the entirety of the trail the creek is covered by trees, providing a plethora of shade.

Soon, you’ll begin to ascend above the creek and tree line. Here, the trail narrows, gets rockier, and is completely sun exposed. It maintains all three of these elements (for the most part) until you get closer to the waterfall.

At the top of your first ascent, look to your left for a rocky ledge and take in the view ahead. You’ll get a glimpse of Downtown Reno in the distance.

From this point, the trail gets VERY rocky. There’s more than a few sections of trail that are nothing but loose rock (pictured below). This is where pets and kids may have a hard time navigating.

On the plus side, here is where the scenery around the trail moves into a proper wilderness setting as you put the view of Reno behind you.

If you’re here at the right time in the season you’ll see lots of flora and fauna, along with pine trees and mountains that still have snow on them.

As stated at the beginning of this post, the trail is very narrow. If you’re hiking in a group, you’ll need to hike single file throughout the majority of it.

On the way up and back, there were a few instances where finding a safe spot to stand as another hiker passed was quite the challenge.

It’s not impossible or inherently dangerous by any means, but it’s something to be mindful of. How hikers get around Equestrians on this trail is beyond me.

Pictured above, you’ll see the beginning of the most intense part of the trail. Up until now, it has ascended fairly evenly. Here, it’s a semi-sharp ascent. This is about two miles into the hike.

Personally, I wouldn’t rate it as difficult. It will, however, take the breath out of most people (it did to me). Take your time, catch your breath when needed, and you’ll get up there just fine.

Hunter Creek Falls

You’ll know you’re getting closer to the waterfall when you enter a thick section of pine trees and re-align with Hunter Creek. There are two final spots on this trail I felt should be pointed out as it isn’t entirely clear which direction to go.

Every other blog post or review I read of this trail stated it was well-signed. This is emphatically false. Past the bridge at the beginning, I didn’t see a single sign. So I’ll do my best to help you avoid going in the wrong/least convenient direction.

The first one you’ll come to (pictured above) seemingly continues forward. When you come up on this, those two boulders in the picture will be on your right. Straight ahead, you’ll both see and hear the creek.

DO NOT continue straight. Instead, turn right, in between the boulders. The one going straight isn’t the official trail. After turning right, the trail becomes obvious again.

*Tip: Essentially, if you come right up on the creek, you went too far.

The second one (pictured above) presents itself about a quarter-mile after the right turn you made. Here, you have two options:

• Option #1: Continue straight and arrive at the waterfall shortly. However, on this side of the falls, there’s nowhere to sit, you won’t have a good view and you’ll need to cross a log to get to the other side.

• Option #2: Go left and cross the creek via the make-shift bridge made from sketchy tree branches people randomly found. Shortly after making it to the other side, you’ll arrive at the falls in an area with a plethora of seating, shade, and space.

I recommend taking the second option. Worst case, you could cut straight through the creek. I estimate this part of the creek was about half shin deep when I hiked it (early June).

*Note: There used to be a solid bridge here for people to cross but it was destroyed a few years ago by heavy water flow and debris.

Regardless of which direction you take, you’ll soon arrive at the beautiful Hunter Creek Falls. If you take my recommendation and go left, you’ll come to a large area with lots of seating and shade.

When I was here, there was a tree branch that collapsed and was partially blocking the view of the first section of the waterfall. Still an awesome view, regardless.

Stay as long as you like. Get all the pictures you can. When you’re ready, simply turn around and head back in the same direction you came.

Have you hiked Hunter Creek Falls before? If so, did you find the trail pretty easy or more towards the moderate/difficult side? If not, do you have plans to hike it now or have any further questions? Shoot us a note in the comment section below!

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National Automobile Museum: A Huge Classic Car Collection in Reno

Situated in Downtown Reno and just a stone’s throw from the Riverwalk, the National Automobile Museum showcases a massive collection of over 200 classic vehicles, most of which were once owned by Bill Harah (Founder of the former Harrah’s Casino).

We recently visited during a rainy, gloomy day in Reno. A lot of local businesses took a beating during the 2020 pandemic (and continue to) so we wanted to support them and showcase this awesome museum on our website.

You don’t have to be a car person to enjoy yourself here. On top of Harrah’s massive collection, the museum also showcases many cars that were used in movies and TV shows such as; Titanic, Batman & Robin, Back to the Future, and more!

Additionally, you’ll also see the vehicles that celebrities drove such as; Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and John F. Kennedy! Whether you’re a local with an appreciation for the classics or a family on a Reno vacation, the National Automobile Museum is the perfect activity for you.

Let’s get into it!

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Visitor Information

Directions

The National Automobile Museum is conveniently located near Downtown Reno. It’s just an 11-minute walk (or 4-minute drive) from the Reno Arch and is literally down the street from the Truckee River Walk. To get there from the Reno Arch (walking):

• Head south away from the arch.

• Go left on E. 2nd Street

• Go right on Lake Street

• Go left on the Tahoe - Pyramid Bikeway (you’ll see the old Reno Archway ahead of you and the Renaissance Hotel on your right).

• Go right on Museum Drive and look for the entrance on your right.

Driving from the Reno Arch has similar directions with just two minor differences:

• Instead of turning left at the old archway, you’ll go straight through it and turn left on Mill Street.

• Shortly thereafter, you’ll turn left on Museum Drive and pull into the parking lot.

For those of you who just want your GPS to do the work for you, the museum’s is as follows:

• 10 South Lake Street. Reno, NV 89501

There’s also the option of taking a Taxi or Uber from your hotel. Most drivers know exactly where this popular attraction is so you won’t have to worry about it.

Parking & Admission

The parking lot can accommodate quite a few vehicles and the best part? Parking is included in your admission! Just select any available space and head towards the entrance (pictured above).

Admission prices for the museum are as follows:

• Adult: $15

• Senior: $13

• Active Military: $10

• Youth (6 - 15): $10

• Children (5 or younger): Free

Admission tickets can be purchased upon arrival. Online tickets are not yet available. Your ticket comes with in and out privileges for the day of purchase. So if you get board later and want to go back, just show them your ticket and you’re good.

Tours

Guided Tour

Guided tours of the museum are offered daily (based on volunteer availability) at 1:30pm and are 90-minutes in length. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you unique stories about some of the amazing antiques you’ll be seeing and learn little-known facts along the way as well.

The guided tours are included in the price of admission, so no worries there. If you have your heart set on one of these, you can call the museum and ask if they have volunteer availability for that day.

Self-Guided Tour

If you’d rather go it yourself (like us) you can take part in the self-guided tour and go at your own pace. There are a total of four rooms to explore, each featuring unique vehicles in specific eras. To start the tour, simply head down the hallway to the left of the ticket counter.

The first exhibit at the end of the hall is where they put their temporary, special exhibits. On display through December 31st, 2021 is the, “America and the Motorcycle: 1900 - 1990”, exhibit. You get real-life examples, in order, how motorcycles have evolved throughout the century.

• Special Note - If you’re an AMCA member, show your membership at the ticket counter for a $3 discount on your admission.

Gallery #1 - Turn of the Century (1890’s - 1910’s)

This is where it can get a little hard to follow the correct path. My first time here, I was all over the place. I was going through doors I wasn’t supposed to and doing the tour out of order. This time around, I actually looked at the map, which made it much easier to navigate.

We highly recommend downloading the app to your phone. There’s a QR code you can scan with your phone at the ticket counter and on sporadic signs throughout the tour. Once you reach the end of the hallway, you’ll see the Blacksmith Building (pictured above). This is the first gallery and features cars from the years 1900 to around 1912 or so.

You’re in for quite a treat in this room. A few examples of classics you’ll find here are a 1908 Franklin, 1912 Rambler, and a 1910 Rolls-Royce. Each vehicle has an informative display in front of it describing its history, its original price, and interesting facts.

Our favorite was seeing the 1907 Thomas Flyer. It’s registered as a National Historic Vehicle for being the winner of the 1908 New York - Paris Race. The Rolls-Royce, our other favorite, was originally sold for $7500 in 1910. That would be north of $250,000 today.

You’ll also see the very vehicle that was used in one of the first scenes of the blockbuster movie, Titanic. It’s truly an awesome mix of classic vehicles….and you still have three more rooms to go! Once you’re ready for the next room, exit out onto 1930’s Street.

1930’s Street

1930’s street serves as a buffer between rooms one and two and has a 1932 Lincoln and a 1938 Packard on display, among other vehicles. They’re parked outside a recreated movie theatre facade with Gone with the Wind as the feature film.

The theming of this exhibit was awesome to me. For me, it was the most photogenic of any exhibit in the museum and the cars were beautiful.

Once you feel ready to move onto room two, walk down the street and hang a left on Main Street. Here, you will see the one and only vehicle you’re allowed to get into for a photo opportunity (I was asked to take pictures for a couple and by the time I was done, I completely forgot to get one for myself. You can’t miss it, though).

Gallery #2 - The Roaring Twenties (1920’s - 1930’s)

To find the entrance to the second gallery, look out for the Hardware Store. Immediately to the right of it (pictured above) is the entrance. By the way, you can and should go inside the store. The theming and detail inside is very reminiscent of old time Mom & Pop shops.

After checking out the hardware store, head through the short hallway into the next gallery which showcases cars made during the 1920’s (that said, we did see quite a few cars on display that were made prior to the 20’s).

A few examples of vehicles you’ll see here are a:

• 1920 Ford converted to an RV (considered to be the first iteration of the RV)

• 1921 Sheridan

• 1921 Rolls-Royce

• 1924 Wills St. Claire

You’ll also see an exhibit of an early day used-car dealership towards the back of the room cheekily titled, “Honest John’s”. Pictured below is the (very expensive) 1921 Rolls-Royce fully decked out in copper.

As you head away from the dealership you’ll see the first interactive displays. There’s two display cases with working motors inside. If you press the button, the motor runs. Showing you up close how motors worked back then (and largely still do today).

Once you’ve finished looking around, head out the exit ahead of you (you’ll know you’ve gone the right way if you’ve made a horseshoe lap around the room). Exit back onto Main Street by the Hardware Store and head left towards the next gallery.

Gallery #3 - The Classic Collection (1930’s - 1950’s)

As you exit Gallery #2, turn left and you’ll see the entrance to Gallery #3. The facade is made to look like you’re walking into a mechanic’s garage. You’ll see a light blue 1954 Buick with white wall tires on your right. As you enter the gallery proper, you’ll notice a miniature NASA Mission Control exhibit on your left (NASA was founded in 1958).

This gallery is the final one featuring a permanent collection and is named after Ranson & Norma Webster (the former sits as the Chairmen on the Board of Trustees for the museum). A few examples of cars you’ll see in this room are a:

• 1933 Auburn

• 1938 Phantom Corsair

• 1939 Ford

The 1938 Phantom Corsair is the only one of its kind and is the creation of Rust Heinz (Heinz Ketchup). The car was praised for being ahead of its time due to its futuristic design aesthetics but due to Rust’s death in 1939, it never entered mass-production. Making this prototype the only one in existence.

Much like the other rooms, you’ll do a half circle around the room at your leisure. At the end of the loop, you’ll end up near where you entered at the NASA exhibit. Here, there are multiple interactive elements for kids (or you) to enjoy. Due to the ongoing pandemic, many of these are closed right now.

When you’re done, simply walk through the NASA exhibit and out through the same way you came in (through the garage). To find the fourth and final gallery, take a right turn out of the exit and walk past the Speedway exhibit. You’ll see a facade of a home garage with a Basketball hoop above it (pictured below). Just walk on through.

Gallery #4 - Cars of the Stars (1950’s & Beyond)

Gallery four is the room that doesn’t have a full, permanent collection inside. It’s essentially a revolving door of themed exhibits (much like the Motorcycle exhibit at the beginning). It does feature cars that were driven by a variety of celebrities that are always there, but the other part of the room displays special exhibits.

The first car you’ll see as you walk through the garage is the infamous 1981 Delorean from the Back to the Future move franchise. If you’re a fan of the films, you’ll certainly appreciate this. Immediately afterwards on your right is a 1973 Cadillac driven by Elvis Presley.

To your left, there’s more examples of celebrity classic cars. You’ll see a 1953 Chevrolet driven by John Wayne, a 1961 Ghia driven by Frank Sinatra, and a 1949 Mercury driven by James Dean, among others.

This room is also an event space. Meaning you could rent it out for a variety of reasons. Due to this, the gallery may not be open during your visit but in all the times we’ve been here, it has never been an issue. You could always call ahead to confirm.

Unlike the prior three galleries, there’s no clear-cut path. It’s all open floor. So feel free to bounce back and forth between vehicles before making your exit. During our most recent visit, there was a first model Tesla on loan to the museum. It is right next to the exit. If you’re done, simply turn right out of the exit and head down “Speed Ally”. On display is a variety of race cars and their evolution throughout the years.

Conclusion

From here, you’re welcome to go back to any one of the galleries or streets to check out the cars again or you can call it a day. To find the exit, head back towards to gallery #3 (the one with the mechanic’s garage). Facing the entrance, the door to the museum lobby is on your right (look for the bathroom sign).

We hope you enjoyed this article and it inspired you to visit this awesome place for yourself. If so, please support our website by sharing it with your friends and family on Facebook, Pinterest, or your favorite social media site. You can further show support by staying on and reading one or more of the related articles above.

Thanks for reading and safe travels!

5 Awesome Day Trips from Reno

With 4.8 million visitors in 2019 and topping 5 million for the first time in 10 years in 2018, the Biggest Little City is relevant once again and is starting to re-claim its spot as a prime tourism hot spot.

Despite there being many things to do and see in Reno, part of its appeal is its proximity to other cities and attractions. Many of which are an easy one hour or less drive from downtown. The list below is of 5 cites or attractions you could easily visit during your Reno vacation.

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1) Lake Tahoe

Emerald Bay. Lake Tahoe.

*As of August 30th, 2021, the entirety of Lake Tahoe has been evacuated due to the Caldor Fire. Please avoid the area. We will provide updates on our Facebook page as they come in.

Distance from Reno: About 61 miles (or just over an hour drive away).

Lake Tahoe is a year round destination with plenty to do. There’s hiking and boating during the summer months and skiing being the main activity in the winter. You can enjoy the California side of the lake or stay on the Nevada side and partake in some gambling at one of the hotels in Stateline.

Tahoe and Reno have always had a connection to one another and often share tourists. Frank Sinatra, back in the day, would often travel between them to perform which helped bridge the gap between the two (it’s also worth mentioning that the mob had a hand in both as well).

Using Reno as your base to visiting Tahoe has its advantages as the hotels tend to be more affordable and when the weather gets bad in the winter in Tahoe, it usually isn’t as bad (or non-existent) in Reno.

2) Historic Downtown Truckee

Historic Downtown Truckee California.

Distance from Reno: About 35 miles (or about a 40-minute drive away).

Also not far away is the historic gold-mining town of Truckee, California. A lot of people are unaware of Truckee’s existence, often passing it by for neighboring Lake Tahoe. However, Truckee has plenty to offer visitors all its own.

Nearby is Donner Memorial State Park and Donner Lake. There’s many recreational activities to be had in the lake and while it does get crowded, it doesn’t get nearly as bad as Tahoe. The state park proper has a visitor’s center detailing the history of the Donner Party, a campground, and a couple hiking trails to enjoy.

The historic downtown area is the main feature, though. The area was transformed to accommodate tourists with local shops, restaurants, and the like. The historic jail is open for decent led tours (recommended), your free to check out the historic (and still operating) train depot, and enjoy the Truckee River during the warmer months.

3) Genoa, Nevada

Genoa Nevada.

Distance from Reno: About 47 miles (or around a 50 minute drive).

This quaint little town in Nevada is located in the beautiful Carson Valley and just a stones throw away from Tahoe. It was founded in 1851 and has the unique designation of being Nevada’s oldest town. A man by the name of John Reese was the first to settle here and built a trading post for the many explorers and trappers who made their way through the area.

The main attractions of the town include Mormon Station State Historic Park, The Genoa Courthouse Museum, Genoa Cemetery, and Genoa Town Park. Every year in September (sans 2020), the town hosts, “Candy Dance”, an uber popular arts and crafts faire that began in 1919. The event draws visitors and artists from around the country, making it one of the most popular events in the state.

4) Fort Churchill State Park

Fort Churchill State Historic Park Nevada.

Distance from Reno: About 48 miles (or 50 minutes to one hour drive).

If you or a member of your family are history buffs, specifically military history, or you enjoy exploring abandoned places, you’ll want to add a trip to Fort Churchill to your plans. The park is located near the small town of Silver Springs and contains the remnants of an Army Post originally built in the mid 1800’s.

Another attraction nearby is Lake Lahontan State Recreation Area. Lahontan is an ancient lake that used to encompass nearly the entire state of Nevada and parts of California and Oregon. While it isn’t the gargantuan it used to be, it’s still worth checking out.

READ ALSO: Exploring Fort Churchill: An Abandoned Army Post in Nevada

5) Virginia City

Virginia City Nevada.

Distance from Reno: About 36 miles (or 35-40 minute drive).

Virginia City is literally teething with history and is my personal favorite place on this list and if you decide to visit, I know you’ll love it too. There’s quirky shops, old town saloons, abandoned mine tours, a beautifully old cemetery, historic hotels, gold panning, and ghosts. Wait…what?

That’s right. Virginia City is renowned as one of the most haunted places in not just the state, but the country. While I’ve personally never seen one, I have had a couple of “weird” experiences that made me a believer. I’ve also been shown photographs from locals that were pretty convincing. You never know, you may end up having a spooky experience yourself.

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Conclusion

As you can see, there’s many places that are within an easy drive from Reno. You have everything from scenic lakes to abandoned places to haunted cities to check out during your visit. Nevada has it all. You just have to know where to look.

Safe travels.

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