Welcome to Reno-Sparks, Nevada!
The Reno Arch greets tourists when they visit the city. Its neon sign advertises that Reno is “The Biggest Little City in the World.” The arch is the city’s most famous landmark, and it has been plastered over the silver screen. The Reno-Sparks region may have a world-famous landmark and gambling industry, but the area has kept its small-town charm, which is in step with its humble beginnings. Three American Indian tribes lived in this area until enterprising individuals realized that Reno was a gateway to California. As more people moved west to seek their fortunes in California and Nevada’s gold and silver mines, more people began to move to the region. Reno, which is about 25 minutes away from Lake Tahoe, remained a mining and railroad territory until 1931. California officials made gambling illegal in that state during the 1930s, and Nevada picked up the slack. Gambling was Reno’s main industry when Las Vegas was nothing more than a small desert town, but gaming and tourism aren’t the only industries that attract people to the area. Tourists visiting Reno-Sparks hotels and resorts will find a quaint community that has scenic surroundings, a budding ecotourism industry, and an auspicious art scene.

Visiting the Reno-Sparks Region
The Reno-Sparks area is a year-round tourist destination. Many people visit the region to gamble at the casinos and eye the turn-of-the-century storefronts and landmarks on Sparks’ popular Victorian Avenue, but those who want to participate in outdoor pursuits should know about the area’s climate. Nevada means “snowy” in Spanish and the Reno and Sparks areas receive plenty of snow during the winter. The cities can be just as hot in the summer as they are cold in the winter. July temperatures can reach 90 degrees.