Once upon a time, movies such as The Women and The Misfits put Reno on the map as the divorce capitol of the world. In fact, in those days, the words "Reno Nevada vacation" were simply a euphemism for "getting a divorce." The famous Reno divorce ranches provided a perfect setting for sensationalized divorce stories. Since most of the guests of these ranches were young women, there was never a shortage of ambitious men hanging around trying to help the poor gals pick up the pieces, so to speak. Nowadays, since liberalized divorce laws have destroyed Nevada's divorce monopoly, the divorce ranches are long gone. However, Reno has been reinventing itself as a cultural center and host to some of the most exciting special events in North America. Today, the words "Reno Nevada vacation" imply all sorts of fun and excitement. When you decide to tour Reno Nevada, you will discover countless things to see and do.

There are many exciting guided Reno tours you can take on your Reno Nevada vacation. Adventurous drivers may want to try their luck on a backcountry ATV tour of the Rubicon Trail. This can be an exhilarating way to tour Reno Nevada. However, if you prefer to tour Reno Nevada by foot, contact the Reno Ski and Recreation Club and ask about their "For the Love of Hiking" group. The group sponsors a number of active Reno tours.

There are also a number of Reno tours you can devise for yourself. Begin in Downtown Reno. Virginia Street is the center for gambling and special events. Check out the famous Reno Arch, which was erected in 1926 in celebration of the completion of the Transcontinental Highway through Reno. The sign declares Reno as "The Biggest Little City in the World."

Nevada Map

If you wish to explore cultural activities on your Reno, Nevada vacation, plan to visit in July. This is when downtown Reno has its "Reno Is Art Town" event. If you want to attend a Reno concert, ballet, art show, ballet performance or poetry reading, this is the place to go. The Pioneer Center for the Performing arts is another excellent venue for a Reno concert. The theatre is home to the Reno Philharmonic, the Nevada Festival Ballet and the Nevada Opera.

Before or after any performance, you can take a walk along the Truckee River Walk and watch the river as it flows from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. If you walk east towards downtown Reno, you pass the place where divorcees have thrown their wedding bands into the water.

When you tire of the Reno party animals, you may want to visit the horses at the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Center. This is the place to get up close and personal with a wild mustang. The Nevada Bureau of Land Management rounds up these wild horses and brings them to the center where they receive food, water and medical treatment. You can adopt a horse for $125. While this may seem like an impulsive decision, it may be a wiser choice than a having a quickie marriage ceremony with someone you just met at a Reno Nevada casino!

Speaking of casinos in Reno, there are a few that you will want to visit on your Reno Nevada vacation. The casinos in Reno have some of the newest multi-coin, multi-game videos. The slot machines have exciting play themes and games which include poker, blackjack and keno. You can test your luck at nickel payback or multi-million dollar progressive jackpots. If you get your kicks from table games, Reno Nevada casinos have blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, baccarat and pai gow.