Reno, nicknamed as Biggest Little City in the World, is famous for its casinos and lively downtown. In 1931, Nevada legalized gambling, and Reno’s Harold’s Club was the first establishment to receive a gaming license. We visited the city in May 2023 and spent a day walking around the city center. It is just a half hour drive from Carson city, the capitol of Nevada.
- Reno Arch
- Riverwalk
- National Bowling Stadium
- Powning Veterans Memorial Park
- Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts
Reno Arch – Lighting up the night sky in the entertainment district, the Reno Arch has moved about the city since its creation in 1926. Now in its third location, it was originally built to honor the Nevada Transcontinental Highway Exposition. After the exposition, the city held a contest for a town slogan and the phrase Biggest Little City in the World was coined.
Reno Riverwalk – Centered along the Truckee River in downtown Reno, the Riverwalk offers a variety of activities, from dining and shopping to scenic views. Visitors can stroll or bike along the riverside paths and take in the lively, picturesque atmosphere.
National Bowling Stadium – This stadium is the world’s largest facility dedicated to 10-pin bowling. The huge stadium covers an impressive 363,000 square feet in the heart of Reno – with a massive 80-foot aluminum bowling ball affixed to its roof.
Powning Veterans Memorial Park is a small memorial park in downtown Reno dedicated to the soldiers who fell in the War on Terror. Named after C. C. Powning, an influential Washoe County resident, the park features several notable displays, including a statue of General Jesse Lee Reno, the ship’s bell from the USS Reno, flags representing all military branches, a Freedom Flame, and a monument honoring Nevada’s fallen service members. General Jesse Reno – also the namesake of the city, was known for fighting alongside the men he commanded.
Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts – This eye-catching theater, completed in 1967, is known for its distinctive hemispheric golden dome, unofficially nicknamed the Golden Turtle. The dome is made of a 500-panel aluminum shell supported by an inner steel frame and reinforced concrete arches. With the orchestra level set below ground, the roof nearly touches the ground at the corners, enhancing its unique design. The theater seats 1,500 people—987 on the main level and 513 in the balcony—and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
This center is within walking distance of Powning Veterans Memorial Park.