A Love Letter to Reno

What makes Reno a great place to be? I mean, it’s not like we’re a particularly large community … Biggest Little City in the World sounds good, but there’s not really a lot of meat on that bone. There was a time when we were the divorce capital of the world, but that seems like a dubious distinction at best. Johnny Cash claims to have shot a man here, just to watch him die, but that’s not really something that the Chamber of Commerce can really hang a marketing campaign on either. On the other hand, here are a few of the cool things we really can brag about. Photo at left: Pixabay.

Reno is a 24-hour town. And it’s not just the casinos that keep their doors open around the clock. The gaming and entertainment industry is such an anchor to our economy that a lot of the support services are available at any time of the day or night as well. It’s not like every business is open all the time, but groceries, gas, home goods, drug store sundries and all that good stuff can be found anytime you need them, and not just from some sketchy hole-in-the-wall shop on the wrong side of the tracks. Photo at right: Wikimedia Commons, Ken Lund.

We may not be at the crossroads of the world, but we can get there from here. One of the country’s main driving arteries passes through Reno, just a stone’s throw from the glitz and glamour of downtown. Jump onto Interstate 80 and you can be across the state line into California in a matter of minutes and within reach of the coast with just a few hours of driving. Head the other way into the nation’s interior and it’ll take you to Salt Lake City, Des Moines, Chicago and eventually clear to New York City. It’s transcontinental, baby. And if you prefer to fly, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport is hands-down one of the most convenient and user-friendly airports in the world. No joke. 

More fun than you can shake a stick at. (Or, for those copy editors out there, "More fun than at which you can shake a stick.") World-class gaming and entertainment made us what we are today. Yeah, our big sister to the south might get more attention than we do, but come on, Las Vegas is just exhausting, and everyone knows it. Plus, we’ve got a level of outdoor recreation here that Sin City can’t even dream of offering. While we’re out hiking and biking and skiing and boating, the folk in Las Vegas are trapped inside their hotel rooms, wondering why in the world they paid $10 for a fruit smoothie down on the Strip. Photo at right: Pixabay, Sir Traffic.

And finally, in case you missed the news, the Reno DMV is now the only place in the nation to offer a Drive-Up Express Kiosk. Following the groundbreaking in September, the office at Galletti Way is permanently closed and has moved to the new facility in South Reno at the corner of Sandhill Road and Double Diamond Parkway, just off the South Meadows exit. As for the super-duper extra-special first-in-the-nation kiosk, DMV Director Terri L. Albertson says, “For us at the DMV, this isn’t merely a building. It is a symbol of all that we need: a way to better serve our community, and the people of this great state, through dedication, modernization, and vision. This kiosk will work just like it sounds, helping to keep our customers on-the-go by providing another service to better meet the evolving needs of Nevadans.” (And lest you think I’m being sarcastic, let me clarify: I think this is a great development worth touting. I used to drive down to Carson City or up to Stateline when I had to go to the DMV, just to avoid the crowds at Galletti Way, and they won’t let you do that anymore.) Photo at right: Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

Of course, there's tons more to love about Reno than just these couple of items. Hold tight, and I’ll get around to them before too long!