9 Things To Know Before Moving to Reno

By Stephanie Hyland, Storage.com

Reno, Nev., is known as the “Biggest Little City in the World,” and it certainly lives up to its name! Between the bright lights, gambling industry, and college scene, this city of approximately 233,000 residents has a lot going on. If you’re thinking about moving to Reno, here are things you’ll want to know about your new home!

1. ROLL THE DICE.

A Casino in Reno, Nevada
Photo by Nick Ares

“The Biggest Little City in the World” is most famous for its casinos. In October 1937, a small bingo parlor was founded in Reno by William F. Harrah, officially starting Harrah’s Entertainment. Not only was it the first casino company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but the Caesars Entertainment Corporation (to which it was renamed) is now one of the largest gaming corporations in the U.S. and world with more than 50 casinos and hotels under its operation and $8.56 billion in revenue (2013). Of course, today, Reno is also home to other major casinos, such as Silver Legacy, The Nugget, and Sierra Gold. Fun fact: There were 16,067 slots in Nevada in 1960. By 1999, Nevada had 205,726 slot machines, one for every ten residents. While Las Vegas holds a majority of those machines, Reno claims quite a few as well!

2. THE ENTERTAINMENT SCENE.

RAW in Reno, NV
Photo by rawartistsmedia

If gambling isn’t your thing, Reno has several performing arts venues in town, including Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Good Luck Macbeth Theatre Co., The Bruka Theatre, and the Reno Little Theater. Each of these venues showcases fine arts performances from Broadway musicals and contemporary dramas to the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and various youth theatre troupes. Another local arts program you may want to check out is RAW, an independent organization that features creatives in fashion, music, hair and makeup, film, and more. Each RAW event showcases multiple visual arts, so you can expect to view a combination of films, music performances, art showings, fashion shows, and performance arts.

3. THE SUN SHINES ON RENO.

Reno, Nevada
Photo by Andrew

With approximately 250 days of sunshine a year, Reno is a great place for residents and visitors to spend time outdoors. Despite having a short spring and fall, Reno’s summers usually get up into the 90s with low humidity, which is perfect for anyone who loves to golf, hike, swim, or bike. It can get chilly during the winter, however. Temperatures can get as low as 20°F, and snow is a possibility (though it usually stays toward the mountains). Nevertheless, whether you’re looking for a city where you can be more active, or you want to retire somewhere that’s warm consistently throughout the year, Reno is beautiful.

4. UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-RENO.

University of Nevada in Reno
Photo by Ed Bierman

You may not have ever thought of Reno as a college town, but the University of Nevada-Reno is the second largest four-year school in the state. The school enrolls around 18,000 students each year and specializes in civil engineering, journalism, and social sciences. Also, University of Nevada-Reno has noteworthy graduates that include Ron Toomer, a mechanical engineer who built 93 roller coasters around the world and worked on the design of the Apollo spacecraft, as well as six Pulitzer Prize winners, all of whom attended the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism.

5. CALLING ALL CAR LOVERS.

National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada
Photo by brewbooks

Reno has one of the most unique car museums in the world! The National Automobile Museum in Reno is home to more than 200 vehicles, ranging from horseless carriages and classics to one-of-a-kind models. Visitors can check out these vehicles and go back in time to particular eras of automobile history. This museums prides itself on being entertaining and educational for its many visitors.

Need a safe place to store your automobile? Self storage is often used to store cars of all kinds including classics. Learn more by visiting our car storage page. 

6. RENO TAKES BOWLING SERIOUSLY.

National Bowling Stadium in Reno
Photo by Ken Lund

Besides all of the outdoor activities and museums that Reno offers, it also has its own National Bowling Stadium. Yes, you read that correctly. A stadium! Also known as the “Taj Mahal of Tenpins,” the stadium is 350,000 square feet and home to 78 lanes. This state-of-the-art stadium has everything a pro and spectator could ask for. Also, Kingpin (starring Woody Harrelson and Randy Quaid) was filmed there in 1996.

7. A FESTIVAL FOR EVERYTHING.

Kayakers at the Reno River Festival
Photo by Alisha Vargas

Reno is home to a number of festivals year-round, so residents are never at a loss for something to do. Some of the most well-known festivals in the Reno area are the Artown Festival and Reno River Festival. Every July, the Artown Festival celebrates art, music, movies, and more with workshops, programs, and events featuring local and regional artists. For the more outdoorsy types, the Reno River Festival held every May draws the best kayakers from all over the world to take on the Truckee River.

8. FOODIES, BE WARNED.

Cheesecake from Sweet Creams Cheesecakery
Photo provided by Sweet Creams Cheesecakery

Local food is huge in Reno. In fact, Peg’s Glorified Ham N Eggs is a well-known stop for breakfast—and lucky for you, there are three different locations in Reno! You have to try the Monte Cristo, a triple-decker French toast meal stuffed with ham, swiss, turkey, and cheddar and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Not to mention, there are approximately 25 food trucks, trailers, and stands that have made it big on the streets of Reno. Check out the cheesecake from Sweet Creams Cheesecakery, Vietnamese street food from Pho Real, hot dogs at BoDawgs, vegan meals at Nom Eats, or Cajun cuisine at Mount Mogrit Gourmet!

9. PROFESSIONAL SPORTS? YOU BET.

Reno Aces
Photo by Erik

Baseball fans will love living in Reno! The Reno Aces, a minor league baseball team, is a staple in the area, and residents and visitors can enjoy a game at Aces Ballpark in Downtown Reno. The city is also home to the Reno Bighorns, an NBA development basketball team that’s affiliated with the Sacramento Kings, as well as the Reno Barons, a professional indoor football team that started in 2011. Of course, there are other major events sports lovers will want to witness, such as the Barracuda Championship (the PGA’s Reno-Tahoe Open) and several mixed martial arts and boxing events that come to town.

What do you think about our list of things that make Reno a great city? Did we miss anything?

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If you’re relocating to Reno and need storage space to help with the transition, view Storage.com’s directory of storage units in Reno, Nevada.

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