Reno-Tahoe

For one week a year, some of the best golfers in the game stream into Reno Tahoe, seeking birdies, avoiding bogies and playing on one of the best golf courses in the West.

The Legends Reno-Tahoe Open, a PGA TOUR stop at Montreux Golf and Country Club (Aug. 3-9) in south Reno, offers a unique setting among the pines of the Tahoe forest (just minutes from Lake Tahoe) but is also right at the tree line with the Nevada desert on display in the valley below.

And although the LRTO offers a true PGA experience, this isn’t your father’s – or even grandfather’s – golf tourney. Spectators come out for the laid-back party atmosphere. It’s serious golf without the serious attitudes.

Take the Fiesta Loco-themed hole at #16. Here the margaritas and tequila drinks will be flowing, along with a burrito and taco bar. Oh, and there is also a Mariachi band. What would a PGA TOUR event be without a Mariachi band?

And of course there is plenty of fun for the kids. The Kidz Par Tee Zone offers a bounce house, face painting, putt-putt golf and more. This may be the only tournament where the cheers of the gallery have to compete with the sound of squealing kids having a blast.

If you are a wine lover, the Vino 100 Wine Walk offers the opportunity to enjoy all of the golf action while sampling wines at various tasting stations throughout the course. What could be better than a sunny day, high-level pro golf and wine tasting all at the same time?

On top of it all, the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open is an open invitation to have a great time viewing the game that we all love. Beyond the unique events and attractions – and of course competitive golf (players are competing for a $3 million purse as well as all-important FedExCup points), tickets are reasonable, and transportation from Reno Tahoe hotels is fast and easy.

For more information, visit the LRTO page at VisitRenoTahoe.com.

One of the great outdoor diversions in Reno Tahoe is mountain biking. From the hills of Peavine in Reno, to the fabulous Tahoe Rim Trail that circles “Big Blue,” there are hundreds of miles of single track that appeals to everyone from beginners to seasoned pros. One of the region’s most famous routes is the Flume Trail, connecting Spooner summit at Lake Tahoe’s South Shore to the Rim Trail.

The ride takes cyclists up a steep climb past Marlette Lake at the crest and then on a lengthy tour high above Tahoe on a moderate singletrack route. Overall, the trail offers boundless scenery without requiring too much exertion – perfect for moderately skilled, moderately fit riders. Here is a good snapshot (via Mike Henderson and iamindisposed.com) of what to expect on Lake Tahoe’s Flume Trail ride:

It’s the nostalgia of poodle skirts and doo-wop music … a trip back to a simpler time of drive-in diners and movies, when the car was king America and a night of fun was as easy as hopping in and cruising downtown.

That feeling still lives in Reno Tahoe, where each year thousands of car enthusiasts, ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s fanatics, and music lovers of all stripes descend on the area for Hot August Nights. The 10-day celebration (July 31-Aug. 9) is a non-stop parade of food and family fun, with events at venues throughout Reno and Sparks. Most of the events are outdoors, under the warm Sierra Nevada sun and free to visitors.

This year, organizers expect as many as 800,000 people to visit casino-hotel parking lots filled door to door with rare classics, music on stages in downtown Reno and Sparks, and events like a sock hop, a huge classic car auction and controlled cruises featuring the best cars.

And although enthusiasts travel from thousands of miles to show off classic, restored and one-off rides, Hot August Nights is far from being all about the cars. This is a cultural can’t-miss event that guarantees a good time for all.

Hot August Nights 2009 highlights:

• Peter Frampton plays John Ascuaga’s Nugget July 31
• Show-N-Shine at Cabala’s Outfitters, with raffles and giveaways Aug. 1
• Downtown Reno Show-N-Shine presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus casinos Aug. 2
• Sparks Victorian Square Craft Fair; kick-off party and cruise night at Peppermill Resort Spa Casino Aug. 3
• Guinness Book of World Records Hula Hoop contest at the Atlantis Casino Resort Aug. 4
• Controlled cruises in downtown Reno and downtown Sparks Aug. 5
• Bog Boys Toy Store at the Reno Events Center in downtown Reno Aug. 6
• Meet the stars and see the cars from American Graffiti at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino Aug. 7
• Grand Sierra Resort “Best of Show” $10,000 Competition Aug. 8
• Official Hot August Nights parade in downtown Reno Aug. 9

Check out complete information online at www.hotaugustnights.net

Each Thursday vendors set up their tents, bands tune up on stage and the local pubs roll out the kegs for the biggest weekly party in the region at the Sparks Hometown Farmer’s Market.

The market runs throughout the summer, offering visitors a taste of Northern Nevada fun at Victorian Square in downtown Sparks.

In addition to traditional farmer’s market fare, there’s music on three stages, demonstrations, dance and plenty of partying. Check out this video to get a taste of one of Sparks’ signature events.

Celebrate the vibrant cultures of the Pacific Rim during the 11th Annual Pacific Island Festival of Reno, July 24-26. Opening Ceremonies kick off Friday, July 24 at 3 p.m. and the festival continues Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. All festivities will be on the Downtown Plaza on 4th and Virginia Street and inside the Reno Ballroom.

Part of Reno’s Artown Celebration, this free event is presented by Pacific Exchange Productions and Silver Legacy Resort Casino. The Opening Ceremony features the blowing of the conch shell and a performance by Tahitian dance ensemble ‘Ote’a ‘Api to the roaring sounds of Toere and Pahu, Tahitian drums. Entertainment, dancing, contests and great food will be served all weekend long.

For more information about the Pacific Island Festival of Reno, call 1-800-687-8733 or visit online at www.silverlegacy.com.

The region’s preeminent holiday celebration and fireworks display – Star Spangled Sparks – takes place on July 4 with events at locations including Victorian Square in downtown Sparks, the Sparks Marina and the Legends at Sparks Marina destination retail center. The fireworks show, launched from John Ascuaga’s Nugget and viewable from Victorian Square at 9:30 p.m., is equally impressive.

• Reno’s new baseball team is offering its own show with fireworks launched at Aces Stadium in downtown Reno after the game.
• In North Tahoe/Truckee, several shows in Incline Village (Incline Beach), Tahoe City (Commons Beach) and Donner Lake (West End Beach) start at 9:30. If you’re headed to Truckee be sure to check out the parade downtown.
• And in Carson City, Mills Park offers revelers a party atmosphere highlighted by fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

A new kayak tour is bringing Tahoe’s rich history and boundless recreational opportunities together on the North Shore.

Tahoe Adventure Company introduced a kayak tour that has groups launching at Sand Harbor State Park (in Incline Village), with a stop at Thunderbird Lodge, to enjoy a walking tour of the 1930s estate and learn the story of George Whittell, the eccentric man who built it, followed by a fantastic deli spread lunch on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

If you’d rather hoof it, try the Tahoe City guided walking tour put on by the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society. Participants start at the Gatekeeper’s Museum and make their way to Watson Cabin, which turns 100 this year.

History is king on the West Shore as well. Head down the 1-mile, steep trail to visit Lake Tahoe’s only castle. Vikingsholm offers a sandy beach perfect for a picnic and a quick dip in the region’s clear blue waters. Tours are available. Also on the West Shore is the 1903 Ehrman Mansion, the opulent summer home of a San Francisco businessman.

For event details, along with deals on lodging, activities and entertainment, click to www.GoTahoeNorth.com.

An exhibit showcasing the amazing adventure of a 22-year-old from Hackensack, N.J., who became the first woman to drive across the United States in 1909, is open at the National Automobile Museum, The Harrah Collection, in downtown Reno. “On the Road with Alice Ramsey: 100 Years Ago” will fill the Changing Exhibits Gallery at the National Automobile Museum, 10 S. Lake St. through Jan. 11, 2010.

Challenged by a sales manager for Maxwell-Briscoe Company, Ramsey drove a 1909 Maxwell Model DA – 30 horsepower Touring Car right out of a New York City showroom and into history.
The company sponsored and publicized the trip to persuade Americans that cars were here to stay. The automobile had recently been invented.

There weren’t a lot of roads at the time, and those that existed were often in questionable condition. Ramsey and her three female companions carried a block and tackle, which they used often.
Ramsey changed tires often and cleaned and tested spark plugs when necessary. When she felt a “skip” in the engine she would hold a hammer against each plug and shorting it against the cylinder jackets to find the problem one. Then she would disassemble it, clean it with fine sand paper and reassemble it.

Alice Ramsey would later be the first woman inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

The National Automobile Museum at 10 S. Lake Street in downtown Reno is open Mon. – Sat. from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $4 for children 6 to 18 years. Children age 5 and younger are free. Parking is free. For more information, call (775) 333-9300 or visit www.automuseum.org.

The Little Book of Artown, a free pocket guide for all that is Artown, the nation’s most comprehensive arts Festival held in Reno, Nev., is now available. Covering every event, every hour for the entire month of July, the Little Book of Artown is a one-stop guide to the more than 400 events held at more than 100 locations.

The 2009 festival calendar boasts on average eight unique free events each day and includes international musical performances, national dance, theater, multi-cultural events, family and youth activities and entertainment, hands-on workshops for emerging artists and more.

Designed to point art lovers in the right direction, the Little Book of Artown is available at the Artown office, located at 300 E. Second St., ground floor as well as other locations throughout downtown Reno. If you’re from out fo the area and want more information on Artown – including a downloadable version of the Little Book – visit www.RenoIsArtown.com or call 775-322-1538.

It’s an old tradition with the Reno Rodeo — the annual cattle drive through the streets of the Biggest Little City. Our intrepid photographer Rick Saake was there to catch the sights and sounds (and smells). Check out these photos:

The rodeo continues through June 28. Be sure to catch one of the region’s best events. On the Web