This post was written pre-panny so make sure locations are still open and be aware of all travel guidelines.
Omied and I made a super quick trip up to Reno, The Biggest Little City, to experience the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa and all of its amenities.
I hadn’t been to Reno since back in my early high school days when we would have basketball tournaments there, so it was fun to go back with more of an adult perspective (i.e. being able to gamble and drink!).
We decided to make a weekend out of it and to check out some attractions outside of the hotel too, so if you’re looking for things to do in Reno Nevada, here’s my weekend travel guide with all the deets on things to do in Reno, Nevada!
Where to Stay in Reno, Nevada:
The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is definitely the place to stay in Reno.
Their spa is incredible and they have a beautiful indoor/outdoor pool, and of course, lots of gambling options.
Our room had a great view of the mountains and we were able to watch the clouds roll in.
We were also staying in the Concierge Tower, which meant that we were able to enjoy their complimentary breakfast and hors d’oeuvres—such a great amenity to have right across from our room!
Things to Do in Reno Nevada: Day 1
Hike Hunter Creek
We wanted to get out and explore the outdoors a bit, especially since the air was so crisp and refreshing and the trees were starting to turn beautiful fall colors (definitely miss that living in a city!).
We hiked Hunter Creek Trail, which ends at a beautiful waterfall.
Another fun, outdoorsy option would be to go rafting down the Truckee River or going on the Truckee river walk.
Gambling
After our hike, we went back to the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa and did some gambling.
I’m not a huge gambler myself, but I can’t deny there’s a rush of excitement when you hit Black Jack. 😉
Some other hotels that are popular for their casinos include Silver Legacy Resort and Grand Sierra Resort.
Pool time
After all that excitement from gambling (we won $20! woohoo!), we hung out at the beautiful indoor pool, and also hopped in the hot tub outside.
Dinner at Bistro Napa
To round things out for the night we dined at the hotel’s restaurant Bistro Napa, which served up yummy California cuisine.
If you go, be sure to get their crab cakes, five cheese lobster mac, and wagyu burger—so delicious!
Oh, and don’t forget dessert. Who doesn’t love cotton candy or classic strawberry shortcake.
Things to Do in Reno Nevada: Day 2
Breakfast at Coffeebar
We found a cute coffee shop to get a morning pick-me-up (they had cold brew, yay!) and light breakfast.
Spa Day
On our second day we really just wanted to relax and indulge in a spa day.
The spa at the Atlantis is absolutely beautiful! It was sooo relaxing and I pretty much never wanted to leave.
I had a traditional hour-long massage which was perfect in every way, and my masseuse was amazing.
Afterward, we relaxed in the sauna, hot tubs, and cold plunge pool. It was legit the best.
Happy Hour at the Riverwalk
After our relaxing spa day, we went over to the Riverwalk in downtown Reno for happy hour snacks and drinks.
Be sure to snap a pic under the Reno arch!
Go-kart racing
This is kinda random, but at happy hour Omied and I decided we were in the mood for go-kart racing.
I hadn’t been go-kart racing since probably middle school, but it just sounded like a fun thing to do together on a Friday night in Reno!
We ended up going to a place that had blacklight racing and we had a blast.
Dinner at the Atlantis Steakhouse
To finish off our weekend in Reno, we ended with a delicious meal at the Atlantis Steakhouse.
While everything on the menu looked amazing and it was hard to narrow things down, we ended up enjoying the burrata salad (I’m a sucker for burrata anything!), foie gras (again, one of my favorite treats), truffle mac and cheese (am I in heaven?) and their NY Strip Steak (gotta have steak at a steakhouse).
It was a decadent and amazing meal, the service was impeccable, and the ambiance inside the Atlantis Steakhouse was beautiful. Def one of Reno’s must-try restaurants.
Day trips from Reno
If you have more than just a couple of days to spend in Reno, there are several fun day trips you can take and different places you can visit, including Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Pyramid Lake, and Mount Rose Ski Resort.
Museums
If you’re looking for museums to check out, Reno has the National Automobile Museum and the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum.
If art interests you more, you can check the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts to see what shows they have while you’re in town or the Nevada Museum of Art.
Rancho San Rafael Regional Park
San Rafael Park is the place to catch the infamous Great Reno Balloon Race. This event is one of the free things Reno offers for spectators.
If you like that also check out the Air Racing Association to watch the fastest motorsport races in the United States and the World. Tickets are about $5 to $20 per show depending on the day.
Thank you to Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand for the fun stay in Reno and for sponsoring this post!
That wraps up my Reno travel guide covering all fun things to do while you’re vacationing.
If you’re ever in the area or decide to go on a trip to Reno be sure to tag me (@wtfab) in your pics!
FAQs
– Hiking
– River rafting
– National Automobile Museum
– Discovery Museum
– Spa day at one of the resorts
Popular resorts in Reno include:
– Atlantis
– Silver Legacy
– Grand Sierra
– Hiking
– Riverwalk
– Cycling
– Swimming in the river
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
