Myron Lake is the man often credited with founding Reno, Nevada. Back in the 1860s, he ran a toll bridge for supply wagons and envisioned a town along the Truckee River. Much has changed since then, of course. There are glistening lights everywhere. The sound of commerce cha-chings loudly.
Growth can be seen in all directions. You see it at Reno-Tahoe International Airport, where 2024 was the busiest summer for travelers in nearly two decades. You notice it around town, where upscale hotels, top restaurants and world-class museums are now ordinary, not outliers.
Somewhere, Lake must be smiling. As Forbes Travel Guide discovered over a few days in Reno, the destination dubbed “The Biggest Little City in the World” has grown up to be much more than Las Vegas’ baby brother.
The Hotel
Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is a vast property that can hold its own alongside some of the finest hotels on the Vegas Strip. The Forbes Travel Guide Recommended address has 800-plus rooms across two towers, most of which were recently renovated with new carpet, Sealy mattresses, updated electronics and contemporary artwork. Those same captivating views of the city or the Sierra Nevada mountains off in the distance remain, though.
Some public spaces have also been spruced up. The first-floor Shoppes Atlantis opened in 2023, pleasing high-end bag and jewelry lovers everywhere. The Four-Star Atlantis Steakhouse got a tasteful makeover, too. The dining room’s leather seating, custom bauble ceiling and a 1,100-gallon aquarium pair perfectly with a menu of salmon and strip loin. Spa Atlantis and the Grand Ballroom weren’t major parts of the renovation, but the Four-Star massage sanctuary and event venue didn’t need much tending to begin with.
The Dining
One of Atlantis Casino Resort Spa’s most impressive features is its dining variety. From lavish buffets (Toucan Charlie’s) and addictive birria tacos (Purple Parrot) to Chilean sea bass and butter-poached lobster tails (Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Bistro Napa), Atlantis’ options are fun and filling.
Still, the property’s feast de résistance is the aforementioned Atlantis Steakhouse. While stunning to the eye, the restaurant does its greatest work on the taste buds with tableside-prepared Caesar salads and exquisite cuts of imported wagyu steaks. And though the closest ocean is more than 200 miles west of Reno, the eatery still manages to have fresh diver scallops and crab legs on its menu every day.
But great gastronomy isn’t limited to the resort. With influences as close by as northern Nevada farms and as distant as the Basque region between France and Spain — European immigrants first came to the area back in Myron Lake’s day for the gold rush — Reno restaurants have flavors from everywhere sprinkled into their recipes.
Arnie’s Café is a simple breakfast and lunch spot that would rather wow you with the fluffiest pancakes this side of the mountain range than woo you with elaborate décor. Head about five miles north into town and you’ll hit the Riverwalk District, a bustling area along the Truckee River blanketed with shops and food stops. Liberty Food & Wine Exchange pairs the local bounty with lovely wines, and Roxy’s Restaurant & Bar brings a taste of European flair to the dinner table.
If you’re in the mood for quaint and cute, swing by Sierra St. Kitchen and Cocktails to try a delightful assortment of international dishes in a warm space that resembles a reconfigured wine cellar. Bruschetta, Thai shrimp wraps and creamy mac and cheese aren’t supposed to flow together, but somehow, they do here. The braised short rib entrée is seasoned wonderfully, and its tenderness still brings a grin to our face.
The Attractions
One thing Reno has over Las Vegas is a river — and no, the gondola-filled waterway at The Venetian doesn’t count. Truckee is an actual river jutting through downtown Reno that attracts locals and visitors. No matter if you’re in the mood for taking an easy walk or suiting up for a heart-pounding whitewater rafting adventure, the 120-mile stretch has you covered. Even if you only have a few moments for a photo, the picturesque river is worth a stop.
The city also has impressive museums. The Discovery is a hands-on STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts and math) center for inquisitive children. Exhibits like Da Vinci’s Corner and Truckee Connects are permanent examples of how everyday objects can present teaching moments. A calendar of rotating programming — “Super Human: Power of Technology” runs through October 12 and “Brick Master Studio: Build with Lego Bricks Like a Pro” goes January through May 2026 — ensures young scholars (and their equally curious parents) keep coming back for more.
Only a short ride from there is the Nevada Museum of Art. This fabulous facility, inspired by geological formations in northern Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, centers its pieces around the idea of art and its relationship with the environment. The conversation is explored in permanent showings like the photo-driven “Altered Landscape” or the thoughtful takes in traveling exhibits like the vibrant “Art of Judith Lowry.”
And the future is bright at the museum because, once the 50,000-square-foot Charles and Stacie Mathewson Education + Research Center is completed, there will be expanded exhibit space, more classrooms and additional parking.
The Events
With art shows, waterfront concerts and other activities on the annual calendar, whenever you decide to visit Reno, it’ll be a good time. One of fall’s marquee events is The Great Reno Balloon Race (September 5 to 7). This year, the skies above Rancho San Rafael Regional Park will be filled with more than 100 colorful hot-air balloons. Back on land, you’ll find 150,000 attendees finding watch points and buying plenty of souvenirs, crafts and concessions.
Another top autumn activity, Dragon Lights Reno, happens in the same park. The vibrant celebration of the imagination and engineering this year centers around an “Odyssey of Waves & Woods” (September 26 to November 30), where animatronic marine life, flying unicorns and illuminating spiders tell an unforgettably whimsical story.
Come winter (Lake Tahoe’s slopes are just 40 minutes away), spring (BBQ, Brews and Blues Festival) and summer (Reno Rodeo and Burning Man), you’ll have so many opportunities for a great time that you’ll forget that you didn’t walk onto a casino floor once.
