Do you like Reno?
 

How is it as a place to travel to, or for work, or to live?

Personally, I think the only thing Reno has going for it is that Nevada has no state income tax and it's proximity to Tahoe. There are, however, some nice communities in Nevada commute distance from Reno.

I frequently see Reno on those Best-Urban-Places-to-Live-in-the-US lists. They tend to cite its low cost of living, crime rate at about the national average and low unemployment. It's one of the fastest growing cities in the country.

Reno is really retro. Nearly nil new anything in years and years. Sorry, itsa back water town compared to Las Vegas.

MisterNice

I thought this thread was about Janet for a second...

I would not go out of my way to visit Reno, as there is nothing special about it in any respect aside from cheap hotel rates. If you do find yourself staying in Reno, take a scenic drive around Lake Tahoe. The temperature could be above 70° in Reno but yet snowing up in the mountains by Lake Tahoe. Better yet, stay in Lake Tahoe and take a day trip to Reno. There is more to do in Lake Tahoe. Even if you do not feel like doing anything, the scenery is usually much better.

You may want to visit Carson City, the capital of Nevada. I only stayed in Reno because I had to do business in Carson City. There is nothing special about it either, but parts of it do look like an old western town.

Welcome to FlyerTalk, Skywest Fan. If you need any more information, please let me know.

I'm not a big fan of Reno. We go to Tahoe about once a year, and my experience with it is limited: an afternoon or evening here or there. To visit, I would definitely skip it. A lot of low-rent casinos full of gambling degenerates slinging dice at 2 in the afternoon. No way, that's me...never mind.

Like any city in Nevada, the people who live/work there 365 days a year will have a much different opinion. There are obviously "normal" jobs in Reno and "normal" people living there who don't work in the gambling industry. Therefore, it stands to reason that there are nice neighborhoods to choose from if you were to move there. (I have 1 friend who lives in Vegas hardly ever sets foot in a casino. The only time he is on the Strip is when his gambling degenerate friends...not sure who that would be http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif - ask him to meet up at a craps table.)

While I certainly wouldn't want to live/work there, I'm a strong supporter of Reno. Reno reminds me of downtown Vegas, only classier. The old west theme is pretty neat, even if a bit tacky. In short, Reno's a great place to go for an evening or two if you find yourself in Sac with some time to kill.

Funny - I was actually talking with someone about this the other day. Generally, tell people you're going to Reno and the general reaction is shock, like you said you were going to Terre Haute or Toledo. Maybe that's why everyone goes to Tahoe - even if they actually stay in Reno.

So long as you don't have too high expectations, it can be a good time - it's sort of like taking a long-distance train trip here: it's not for everyone, but I'd recommend it so long as you go in with the right attitude.

Besides being cheap, I like Reno because it's got a good mix of elements - the natural/outdoors, the historical and moderately interesting cultural sites within driving distance, and the fact that it's a regional center and has an obvious economy outside of gambling (I also like the fact that the Patagonia distribution center and outlet store is in town). In short, it just seems like a real place - although admitedly a bit down-market and retro (or rough, depending on your perspective) in places.

The only person I knew who grew up in Reno couldn't wait to get out and couldn't believe that people actually spent their money to go there if they didn't have family or other local connections. She's now working outside of Chicago.

I do not like Reno. I do, however, like the Peppermill - it's funny.

I like the airport...

Thanks for the replies so far. Does this mean that Reno is a terrible place to live?

Thank you for the warm welcome, Canarsie!

I actually like Reno http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Wow, a thread about living in Reno, and I'm the first person who actually lives here who will give a response. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

I've lived here most of my life (I just turned 30), so I've seen what Reno was and what Reno is now. And to be 100% honest - there are parts I like, and parts that I despise. I guess I'll go through all of my observations (especially those in this thread):

From a taxation standpoint, Nevada is one of the most favorable states to live in - though this is beginning to change as the state must look for alternative sources of revenue other than gaming.

Nonetheless, it is one of the major reasons why Californians are leaving in droves and coming here. That has its drawbacks - the real estate market here, for example, is becoming just as ridiculous as in northern CA - which is why outlying communities - Fernley, Carson City, and so on - are becoming more and more popular.

1) Reno doesn't want to be Las Vegas. While that negatively impacts the tourism possibilities here, it makes it (IMO) a better place to live.

2) If nothing here has changed in "years and years," I've got a feeling that you haven't been here enough. Reno's growth is in the top ten in the nation year after year, and it is reflective in the city as a whole. Perhaps this is a statement about the casino industry, but Reno's casinos have nowhere to go from here other than down.

As for my opinion? Well, I liked Reno more ten or fifteen years ago. It was a lot less crowded than it is now, and largely more affordable. The population of Reno/Sparks has nearly doubled in that time - but a lot of the infrastructure hasn't grown with it. I left for several years, and was aghast to hear traffic reports on the radio every day when I came back. Ten years ago, that would have been only something you heard on your day trip to Sacramento or San Francisco.

As the market grows less and less dependent upon casinos, more and more industries are moving their jobs here. It's still a relatively depressed market, though - but that's not unique to Reno.

Reno's proximity to Tahoe and northern California is a plus. It's distanced enough from it, but not too far to be a huge journey or ordeal to get to.

The weather is also a plus - not too much snow in the winter, not too hot in the summer (at least, considerably cooler than Las Vegas or Phoenix). And it's a dry heat - something that you can say when it's only 90 degrees, and it really matters.

For kids, the schools are (by and large here) pretty good. The university here is also one of the lowest-cost in the nation, and it is where I (by the time I'm done) will have at least three degrees from. In terms of activities for them, though, it's fairly limited - much of the entertainment is geared towards adults. And the lack of a well-developed transit system here makes it hard to get around (the bus system has pretty poor coverage in some areas of town, and no coverage in other spots).

I don't begrudge anyone who wants to live here - compared to a lot of other mid-major cities in the nation, I find it to be better (sorry, Toledo). But if Reno were the place that it was before California discovered it and moved en masse, I might feel differently.

My future in Reno is probably over in the next five years or so, to be honest. Based upon my career paths, I'm going to be better off in a lot of places than here. And while I'm not that person who couldn't wait to get out (after all, I did leave and I did come back) - I just don't see myself here the rest of my life.

Mike

I have been going through Reno for more than 35 years, and know it well. I like the town and think it is fair to compare it to Las Vegas. They're totally different towns. While Reno is much larger than it used to be, I still think of it as a town. When I first started staying there, I used to stay in Sparks (which was not connected to Reno like it is today) at John Ascuaga's Nugget [see http://www.janugget.com/ ]. At the time I sarted staying there, it was just a casino and motor lodge (now their "Courtyard" hote). It had a pool and you could even park underneath the hotel. Now, it is much different, with 2 towers.

Reno has indeed grown tremendously, but no where near the speed or size of Las Vegas. When I visit Reno now, it is much quieter than when I was younger. I remember going to Reno and having a difficult time of getting a hotel room. Casino's used to be packed. I think that California gaming and Las Vegas have changed a lot of that.

Now the thread I'm looking for is:

Do You like Winnemucca? (The answer is yes).

I have family in Reno so I get to get to travel there every once in a while. The slower pace is a somewhat refreshing break from Las Vegas. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous, the air is clean, the cost of living is cheap, and it's quite safe even though it may look "scary" due to the old looking buildings. I have a great aunt there who's 95, so there must be something good about their climate! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by FlyerAl (edited Feb 01, 2004).]

Reno is Reno. I can't see why people compare it with Vegas. Its not, and it doesn't try to be. I don't care for Vegas much, and I don't care for Reno much, but for different reasons. I do find the mix of tourists interesting to watch in Reno. One night every year or two in Reno is usually enough for me (its a 3 hour drive from home) - usually its one of those "its a really nice day for a nice drive" kind of things.

One observation I seem to have made a lot is that it seems like old cocktail waitresses from Vegas must go up to Reno in their older years - there just seem to be so many for whom time has not been kind to their faces, but their legs look like they are still 20.

It is impossible to say if I'd like Reno in any non-hotel-casino kind of way. I'd imagine that it has a lot of midwestern feel about it, with a good share of west coast influence.