Top Ten Reasons the Roaming Gnome should should have broken his Cabin Fever in Tahoe rather than Utah in Travelocity’s Top Ski Destination contest.

1.     Ski in two states at the same time at Heavenly while looking at the deep blue of Lake Tahoe, even with your narrow gnome stance

2.     Go on a blind date with Tahoe Tessie (Lake Tahoe’s mythical resident “sea creature”).

3.     Depending on how the date goes, perhaps a quick wedding and an even quicker divorce in Reno.

4.     50 Tram laps at Squaw Valley USA to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first televised Winter Olympic Games.

5.     Tempt fate with a visit to the Donner Party museum,  just hope they don’t think you’re a chocolate filled gnome.

6.     Our drinks have personality with drinks like the ‘Wet Woody’, the ‘Scorpion’ and the ‘Flaming Kava Kava’. Gnomes keep your beards away from the flames!

7.     Forgot your skis?  No problem, where else but in Sparks can you get your skis, ride a Ferris Wheel and drive a NASCAR simulator in one mega sports store?

8.     Follow in the footsteps of Ol’ Blue Eyes and Marilyn Monroe in the tunnels at the historic Cal Neva Lodge

9.     Spend a little downtime at the spa before heading out for a long night in Reno

10.    Satisfy a late night hunger at what has been heralded as one of the best burgers in the country, the Awful Awful, awfully big, awfully good, don’t be scared my friend, you can do it.

In the Sierra Nevada it’s known as the “shoulder season,” the period between ski season and summer. The kids are still in school and the crowds are thin. But spring is the time to get to Reno-Tahoe for a visit. Check out these spring highlights:

1 – Down by the River

A trickle turns to a roar as Tahoe snowmelt feeds the Truckee River in downtown Reno. The Riverwalk area is prime for lazy walks, shopping and a streamside drink under the sun. Read More

2 – Catch a Homer

A new ballpark has risen on the banks of the Truckee River. The Reno Aces, a Triple A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, offer exciting professional baseball action in the heart of the city. Read More

3 – Get Teed Off

Reno-Tahoe might be golf’s best-kept secret in the West. Here 50 courses from high-mountain to high-desert challenge players with variety at a great value. Read More

4 – Try Lady Luck

The gaming action is always hopping in Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe. Dozens of properties offer a unique experience on the casino floor. And who knows? You could get lucky. Read More

5 – Shop Till You Drop

Power shoppers have a new destination in Sparks. The Legends at Sparks Marina destination center is opening shops in phases, and it’s home to Scheels, the World’s Largest All Sports Star at nearly 300,000 square feet. Read More

6 – Cast a Lure

Cast a fly for big brown and rainbow trout, catch a cutthroat at Pyramid Lake, or hit the mackinaw in Lake Tahoe. Spring fishing is a right of passage for any Sierra Nevada adventurer. Read More

7 – Wine and Dine

A nice cab … perhaps a pinot or a chardonnay. Several downtown Reno establishments – including the West Street Wine Bar, Jungle Vino and the Siena Hotel Spa Casino – cater to wine-lovers pallets, while a fine-dining experience waits just around the corner. Read More

8 – Exit Stage Left

There’s always a show to see in Reno-Tahoe. The newest offering, Celtic Legends playing at the Eldorado Hotel Casino from May 15-July 26, offers Irish music and breathtaking dance on center stage. Read More

9 – Lake Tahoe

When the ski lifts stop turning, Lake Tahoe is all about beaches, sun and getting out on the water. Experience “Big Blue,” just a 45-minute drive from downtown Reno and Sparks. Read More

10 – Arts and Culture

Reno-Tahoe is the cultural hub of Northern Nevada, boasting 31 museums. The Nevada Museum of Art is an architectural delight housing local works and traveling exhibits. Or find your niche, with great offerings from the National Automobile Museum to the Nevada State Railroad Museum. Read More

We all need to get away now and then, so Reno-Tahoe is offering a dose of fun for our furloughed neighbors in California who might appreciate using the unexpected time off to get out of town.

Local hotel-resorts have gotten together to offer State of California workers on furlough an unprecedented buy-one-get-one-night “Extra Day Getaway” deal on hotel stays with a valid state employee identification card or paystub, and a valid photo ID.

So, if you book a night at participating properties, get another night free to extend your weekend or getaway.

Visitors who stay any Friday or Saturday you could get Thursday or Sunday free. Or stay any day Sunday through Thursday and receive the second day of equal or lesser value free (Friday and Saturday are not eligible for free nights).In addition to the free night stay, properties are also offering special “furlough relief offers” to California state employees.

To view getaway offers online, log on the CaliforniaFurlough.com.

Reno-Tahoe is a family-friendly getaway, offering tons of fun for kids and adults alike. Add some of these Top 10 attractions to your travel itinerary:

1. Catch a ballgame: Downtown Reno is home to a new ballpark and the Reno Aces, a Triple A team. The boys of summer are playing in Reno-Tahoe.
2. Hit the slopes: Reno-Tahoe offers the largest concentration of ski and board resorts in North America — 18 within an hour drive of Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
3. Shop till you drop: The shopping is great in Reno-Tahoe, including the new Legends at Sparks Marina in Sparks, Nev., which boasts more than 70 stores and restaurants, including Scheel’s, the World’s Largest All Sports Store at almost 300,000 square feet.
4. A river runs through it: The Truckee River winds through downtown Reno and downtown Sparks, offering great opportunities for recreation and relaxation during the warm months. Whitewater enthusiasts can paddle to their heart’s content in the two whitewater parks.
5. Nevada-style casino action: In Reno-Tahoe the action goes 24-7, with deluxe, modern resort casinos that offer fun gaming action without the Vegas crowds.
6. The Jewel of the Sierra: Lake Tahoe is 45 minutes from Reno-Tahoe International Airport and downtown Reno — a great day trip whether it is summer or winter.
7. The Comstock Lode: Step back to Wild West times in Virginia City. The preserved epicenter of the Comstock Lode features classic buildings, old saloons and a cast of characters that is always entertaining.
8. V&T Railroad: Ride the rails of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad in Carson City, Nevada’s capitol. Working steam engines hearken back to the golden age of rail travel.
9. Wine and dine: Reno-Tahoe is known for adventure and Nevada-style gaming, but hundreds of restaurants serving everything from casual to five-star fare also make it a great destination for culinary enthusiasts.
10. Culture connection: Reno-Tahoe is home to 31 museums, including the Nevada Museum of Art, the National Automobile Museum and the Nevada State Museum – live Nevada’s rich culture.

Downtown Reno

Flickr photo from RenoTahoe

Reno-Tahoe is inviting visitors to break the ‘Reno Rules’ with a new television and ad campaign featuring attractions from skiing to dining and casino action in the Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe markets.

Part of the promotion includes a vacation prize package worth a weekend stay at participating hotel-casinos, plus meals and ski tickets. Enter online

Visitors are also encouraged to break the rules and submit photographic proof – snapshots or video – to enter for a vacation prize package, plus an official Reno Rules Flip Mino video camera. Enter online

Also check out the lodging discounts for hotel-casinos in Reno and Sparks – get a free at participating hotels when you book online.

Reno-Tahoe offers the perfect romantic getaway for Valentine’s Day. Here are some options …

• Spas abound

Dozens of Reno-Tahoe spas cater to every taste, from massage to healing mud baths. Two new additions in Reno offer world-class spa experiences: The Tuscan-theme Peppermill Resort Casino Spa Toscana offers customers an old-world experience with modern amenities, while the Spa Atlantis at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa provides indulgent luxury with unique services found nowhere else.

• Dinner for two

Reno-Tahoe is known as an adventure, gaming and nightlife destination, but there are numerous options for the culinary curious. Try Sezmu, LuLou’s or 4th Street Bistro for high-end fair, or how about an Italian experience at La Strada, one of the fine dining options inside the Eldorado Hotel Casino. And don’t forget your red meat fix at Sterling’s Seafood Steakhouse at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino or The Steakhouse Grill at John Ascuaga’s Nugget. Check out all of Reno-Tahoe’s great restaurants online.

• Vacation Packages

Travel deals are abundant right now in Reno-Tahoe, with getaway packages including lodging with skiing, spas and everything in between.

• Take your love to a ‘higher level’ at Diamond Peak Ski Resort

Diamond Peak Ski Resort, located high above Incline Village on Tahoe’s sunny North Shore, is inviting couples to “Take your love to a higher level” this Valentine’s day.
For $285 – two people, all inclusive – lovers young and “mature” will be treated to an incredible five-course dinner paired with fine wines at the fabulous Snowflake Lodge at the top of the Lakeview Chair. There may be no better sunset view in all of Tahoe (and maybe the world).

Diamond Peak is located at 1210 Ski Way in Incline Village, Nev., just 45 minutes from Reno. To make reservations go online or call 775-832-1177