What to do in Reno while house and pet sitting

Nicknamed ‘the biggest little city in the world’, Reno has a lot offers, but perhaps its greatest asset is the fabulous landscape. The Sierra Nevada mountains sparkle in the distance, and the city is only around 35 kilometres from the stunning Lake Tahoe, an enormous and beautifully clear alpine lake.

We’ve put together a few ideas for what to do in Reno if you’re there for house and pet sitting, ranging from beautiful river walks to amazing art adventures.

Reno attractions

1. National Automobile Museum: This amazing museum has around 200 fascinating and historic cars, including many owned by celebrities. There’s Elvis Presley’s Cadillac, a Ford Model A owned by Mary Pickford and a Mercury Coupe driven by James Dean to name just a few. Plus the museum owns the Thomas Flyer that won the 1908 New York to Paris race – a gruelling competition that took 169 days to complete at a time when much of the world didn’t have paved roads.

2. Truckee River Walk: This 5.6-kilometre trail winds through downtown Reno along the Truckee River, and it’s a great spot for bird watching and biking, not to mention people watching! You might even see folks swimming or kayaking in the summer months. Dogs are also welcome, and the path is paved for the most part, making for a gentle walk. 

3. Nevada Museum of Art: Housed in a distinctive black building that was inspired by the geological structures in the Black Rock Desert, the Nevada Museum of Art focuses on human interaction with nature and the environment. Its collection includes more than 2,000 artworks from the 19th century right through to the present day, and the museum’s exhibitions are constantly changing, but often there is a focus on landscapes and human effects on them.

Free things to do in Reno

1. Lake Tahoe: Around half an hour to the south of Reno, on the border between Nevada and California, lies the 490-square-kilometre Lake Tahoe. This huge alpine lake is more than 500 metres deep at some points, and its crystal clear waters look stunning against the backdrop of the snow-covered Sierra Nevada mountains. In summer the lake and its surrounds support all sorts of outdoor activities, including whitewater rafting, paddleboarding and hiking, while in the winter it becomes a popular skiing and snowboarding destination. 

2. Midtown District: Reno’s Midtown District has transformed itself into a hub for shopping, eating, art and music. This part of town is full of colourful murals (you can use this map to spot them all), and as well as the Nevada Museum of Art, you’ll find the Savage Mystic Gallery, which puts the spotlight on local up-and-coming artists. Head to the Mountain Music Parlor for an evening of folk music, search out new sounds at Recycled Records, or stop by the ‘counterculture global emporium’ Art Dog and Grace for some inspiring and unusual gifts.

3. Great Reno Balloon Race: Billing itself as the ‘world’s largest free hot-air ballooning event’, the Great Reno Balloon Race has been running for nearly 40 years, and draws in crowds of around 140,000 people on average. Upwards of 100 giant balloons take part, rising into the air in a coordinated display, and in addition students launch thousands of homemade tissue-paper balloons. The event takes place every September in Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, right next to the University of Nevada. 

Fun things to do in Reno

1. Mount Rose Ski Resort: This is the closest ski resort to Reno, and it has a great mix of beginner slopes and more demanding descents, as well as providing classes for novice skiers and snowboarders. The resort has the highest base elevation in the Lake Tahoe area at around 2,500 metres, with drops of around 500 vertical metres, along with a dramatic area called The Chutes that offers some challengingly steep terrain.

2. Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum: This private, non-profit science centre and museum aims to excite both children and adults with the potential of science, technology and engineering. The Inside Out exhibit takes visitors on a trip through the human body, while Under the Stars explores the reaches of the Solar System and the universe beyond. Kids can enjoy clambering through the Cloud Climber, a climbing frame that helps to explain the water cycle, and Da Vinci’s Corner encourages visitors to combine art and science in a series of hand-on experiments.

3. Greater Nevada Field: Head to Greater Nevada Field to watch the Reno Aces baseball team battle it out with their Triple-A rivals. The stadium is a new 9,100-capacity Minor League Baseball venue that was completed in 2009, and it has an excellently intimate feel along with fantastic views of the mountains beyond. 

What to do in Reno with pets

1. Wild River Grille: The huge patio of the Wild River Grille is a great place to grab dinner with your dog – as long as they remain on a lead throughout the meal. Located right next to the Truckee River, this bar and restaurant serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, serving delights such as beer-steamed mussels, filet mignon or crab and shrimp truffle risotto. 

2. Sculpture Garden in Bicentennial Park: The Bicentennial Park Sculpture Garden was created with the help of the local Rotary Club, and it features a variety of artistic creations, including an iron horse and a daring trapeze artist frozen in mid-flight. Dogs are welcome on a lead, and another green space - Wingfield Park - is just a short walk away on an island in the middle of the Truckee River.

3. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park: Out in the north-west of Reno you’ll find this huge 580-acre park, where the Great Reno Balloon Race is held each year. Dogs are permitted on a lead throughout, but there’s also a large dog park on the west side where our furry friends are allowed to run around off-lead. Elsewhere you can find an arboretum and botanical garden, as well as a visitor centre, historic ranch house and plenty of picnic areas.

Best restaurants in Reno

1. Atlantis Steakhouse: The Atlantis Steakhouse offers fine dining in an opulent setting, which even features a giant circular aquarium. The mouth-watering menu features classics such as prime rib, sea bass, filet mignon and lobster tail, and the award-winning steaks are simply out of this world. There’s also a wine list running to over 300 entries, as well as an extensive range of classic cocktails to choose from.

2. Wet Hen Café: The oddly named Wet Hen Café offers breakfast and lunch with a French twist. It’s strange name comes from the phrase ‘madder than a wet hen’, but you’ll find little to get angry about in this friendly café with its excellent range of fresh and healthy food. Visitors rave about the excellent quiche, and the biscuits and gravy is top notch, too.

3. Squeeze In: Squeeze In boldly claims to have the ‘best omelettes on the planet’, and the Racy Tracy is excellent evidence for that assertion – a formidable omelette piled with sauteed mushrooms, smoked bacon and cheese, and finished with fresh avocado. Squeeze In started in 1974 in Truckee near Reno, but since then has expanded to nearly a dozen locations across Nevada, California and Idaho.

House and pet sitting in Reno

Hopefully our list has given you some inspiration for your trip to Reno, but no matter where you decide to explore in the biggest little city in the world, we hope you have a fantastic time!

If you’re new to house and pet sitting and want to find out more about how Trustedhousesitters works, head over this way for a helpful explanation. And if you’d like to read more travel guides or find out some useful pet advice, take a look at the insightful articles over on our blog.