Reno Area

Reno

The biggest little city in the world! The place where you want to sin but only just a little bit. Reno has always been the little cousin of fabulous Las Vegas. I really enjoyed Reno when I was there. It’s a beautiful area with just a little taste of Vegas for those who need that fix. The area has been exploding as of late since Tesla has moved into the town. There’s a great downtown scene all along the Truckee River with plenty of bars and outdoor hang spots. The weather is usually sunny and nice for a good part of the year. One thing Reno has going for that Vegas does not is its location. It’s right next to some beautiful countryside. You have Lake Tahoe only an hour away, usually less than that, and some beautiful forests and mountains all within a short drive. You combine that with a very up and coming town, you’ll get quite a great place to live.

South Lake Tahoe

At a little over an hour drive you will find yourself in amazing South Lake Tahoe. We all know the beauty of Lake Tahoe all around but most people venture down to South Lake Tahoe. You also have the state line down there where casinos can be since it’s still in Nevada. It’s pretty obvious where the state line is, it’s where all the tall Las Vegas style casino hotels start. In South Lake Tahoe you have gambling, skiing, boating, climbing, and much more to feed your vices. During the wintertime, snow can be inconsistent. From my experiences, it’s either you don’t get anything for a while or like 8 feet over the span of like 5 days. The main resorts around this area are Heavenly, Sierra at Tahoe, and Kirkwood.

Northstar

If you want to avoid South Lake Tahoe, you head up to the north part of the lake. Still just as beautiful and incredible. I’ve never been up to the mountains in the north part of the lake but I believe the biggest resorts up there are Northstar California Resort and Squaw Valley. The other resorts are Palisades Tahoe at Alpine Meadows, Diamond Peak Ski Resort, and Winters Creek Lodge. One of those resorts is famous in the winter sports world and why the word “gnar” is used throughout the extreme sport world. Squaw Valley's nickname is “Squallywood”, which is from a book by Rob Gaffney called “Squallywood, a Guide to Squaw Valley's Most Exposed Lines”. Rob Gaffney was friends with the godfather Sean McConkey and they would play the game of G.N.A.R., which is short for 'Gaffney’s Numerical Assessment of Radness' at Squaw. To really understand the game of G.N.A.R., do yourself a favor and watch the movie G.N.A.R. It’s a staple every season for my buddies and I. Just remember when you’re out and about hitting the mountains, “If you're getting rad and there's no one there to see it are you really getting rad?" - G.N.A.R.

Mt. Rose Summit

One of the passes that takes into north Lake Tahoe. It’ll take you right past Winters Creek Lodge and drop you off in Incline Village.