For a town of this size there are a fair number of attractions that are worth seeing.
The UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO is located just north of town on N. Virginia Street. This is a lovely campus especially in mid summer when all the vegetation is green or in autumn when the foliage begins to change colors. I have found that the campus is always a little cooler in the summer months then the outlying areas or the main part of town. This is because there are many trees and the grounds remain well watered. This campus is a beautiful place to take a quiet walk. There are some excellent views of downtown Reno from several places on the campus grounds. Pay attention to the old buildings and interesting architecture. Some of the older buildings on campus make ideal photo opps. There is a pond near the central plaza on campus. Whenever I visit the school I always make it a point to bring some reading material which I read on the grassy slopes overlooking the pond. This is a peaceful and bucolic setting, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the activity at the slot machines.
One attraction on campus that is worth a visit if you have time is the Fleischmann Planetarium. This planetarium is located on the northern edge of campus. Many different shows about the night sky are held in here. I would recomend at least an hour and a half to see this place, which includes a show. The planetarium is open Monday through Friday from 8am until 5pm. They are also open on the weekend from 7am until 9pm. The admission to the main planetarium is FREE but admission to the Star Show and Skydome is $6 for adults. Those over the age of 59 and those under the age of 13 get in for $4. Kids under 6 are admitted to only the daytime shows. For more information you can call PHONE NUMBER (775) 784-4811.
Another attraction on campus is the Church Fine Arts Building. This art display features mostly contemporary art works in the Sheppard Fine Arts Gallery. Also visit the Church Fine Arts Theatre, and the Nightingale Music Hall. The theatre is home to theatrical productions while the music hall is home to musical performances and concerts. These attractions are open Monday through Friday from 11am until 5pm. Admission to the building is FREE. The prices for the events in the theatre or music hall vary. Call PHONE NUMBER (775) 784-6658 or (775) 784-6145 for prices or for more information.
The WILBUR D. MAY CENTER is well worth a visit especially if you have youngsters in tow. There are things to do here for children as well as adults or both. The center is located in Rancho San Rafael Park at 1502 Washington Street. There are three main sites here; the Wilbur May Museum, the Arboretum and Botanical Garden, and the Great Basin Adventure (a children's amusement park).
The Museum was the highlight of this center for me. It is a replica of Wilburs large ranch called the Double Diamond. The museum contains many artifacts and cultural treasures from the travels of Wilbur D. May. Wilbur was quite wealthy and an adventurer. He accumulated many neat treasures during his lifetime of travels. Today they have been accumulated in this museum for the general public to view. Some of the more intriguing objects displayed are his souvenirs from his African hunting trips, rare Tang Dynasty horse sculptures, 18th century sterling silver, and a real treat for the kiddies is a shrunken head from his South American travels.
Not only was Wilbur a great traveler, but he was also a painter, and a composer. There are several of his compositions displayed in the museum, and several are handily displayed next to a fine piano. Among one of his more famous pieces of work is the song entitled 'Pizza, Pizza'.
The arboretum contains 12 different gardens, each representing different elevational habitats found in Nevada. There are several paths winding there way through the gardens. These gardens are a nice place to relax.
The Great Basin Adventure children's amusement park is located near the gardens and the museum. In front is a concession stand selling much needed Popsicle's and cold drinks on a hot summer day. There are several benches under an arbor which are good places to eat. Inside the amusement park you will find a log flume ride, a petting zoo, mining exhibits and pony rides. I spent about 45 minutes in the museum and about 20 minutes wandering among the gardens. Expect to spend more time if you or your children enter the amusement park. The price for the museum is $2.50 for adults and those over the age of 54 and those between the ages of 3 and 12 that admission is $1.50. The price of the amusement park is $3 and those between the ages of 3 and 12 the admission is $2. The pony and flume rides are $1. To find out more information about the museum call PHONE NUMBER (775) 785-5961. For the arboretum call PHONE NUMBER (775) 785-4153. Lastly for the amusement park call PHONE NUMBER (775) 785-4319.
The NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM is located at 10 Lake Street, right next to the Truckee River. The museum is at the corners of Lake and Mill Street. Over 200 antique classic cars are displayed. Some are quite rare and valuable. In the spirit of a Cussler novel, many of these old classics would be ideal automobiles for a gentleman by the name of Dirk Pitt. If you visit this museum take a few minutes and look through their automotive museum. Food is sold at the museum throughout the summer months. Allow at least 2 hours. They are open Monday through Saturday from 9:30am until 5:30pm. On Sunday they are open from 10am until 4pm. Adult admission is $7.50. Those between the ages of 6 to 18 can get in the museum for $2.50. Lastly, those over the age of 62 are admitted for a price of $6.50. For more information call PHONE NUMBER (775) 333-9300.
The NEVADA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM is located at 1650 North Virginia Street. It was founded in 1904 and is Nevada's oldest museum. Some of the displays exhibit Native American artifacts, pioneer trinkets, and other assorted cultural memorabilia. One item of interest is their research library which contains records dating from 1859. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10am until 5pm. Adult admission is $2. Those under the ages of 18 get in FREE of charge. For more information call PHONE NUMBER (775) 688-1190.