Reno-Tahoe

The rumble of motorcycles has officially filled Reno Tahoe as 25,000 of the region’s friends on two wheels pour in for Street Vibrations, the area’s annual celebration of bikes, bikers and the people who love them. Throughout the weekend, there will be events, contests, cruises and tons of food and live music (events calendar), but the highlight may come Saturday evening at Grand Sierra Resort when daredevil rider Ryan Capes attempts to smash the world record for a ramp-to-ramp jump.

Capes, who was recently featured on the ESPN FMX blog in preview of the jump, said the jump harkens back to the glory days of motorcycling.

“Well, about three years ago at Evel Knievel Days, I went for the ramp-to-ramp world record and I jumped 246 feet — seven feet short of the record,” he told ESPN’s Ryan Leyba. “I would’ve broken it back then, but I didn’t due to the fact that the wind was whipping badly and I had to shut it down — so I’m coming back to Reno and I’m going for the record again. I’m on a bigger takeoff ramp and a bigger landing ramp, and I plan on being the first guy to jump 300 feet ramp-to-ramp. The record right now is 253 feet, set by Jason Rennie, and I will beat that.”

The attempt is no joke. Construction shows a take off ramp that stretchs more than 20 feet off the ground, and a huge landing ramp — the largest ever built according to Capes — that rises approximately 30 feet. The event is all part of the grand opening celebration of the Xtreme Sportsbar + Lounge at the hotel-casino. The evening will also feature a performance by MiniKiss, a Kiss tribute band headlined by the most rockin-est little people this side of the Rockies.

When: Saturday, Sept. 26

• 6 p.m. Livfast freestyle demos and record-breaking attempt by rider Ryan Capes.
• 8:30 – 9 p.m. Performance by MiniKiss in the Grand Sierra parking lot.
• 10 p.m. Afterparty in Xtreme Sports Bar + Lounge with a special grand opening performance by Mini Kiss.

Where: Grand Sierra Resort parking lot, and inside the casino

Video: Capes’ previous world-record jump:

Burning Man has once again taken over the Black Rock Desert north of Reno. The annual countercultural celebration of art, music and free expression attracts nearly 50,000 attendees from all over the world. Here are some photos from the 2009 celebration (theme: evolution). For more information check out Burning Man online.


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Have you ever attended “Burning Man,” the wildly original annual art event that attracts more than 50,000 people to a remote area of northern Nevada on the Black Rock Desert?

Described as an “experiment in community, radical self-expression and radical self-reliance,” it’s really out there, both artistically and geographically.

Many friends make the annual trek to this destination. After getting to Reno, it requires a three car ride through ascetically beautiful desert and small but not forgotten towns.

Now, thanks to the wonders of technology, you can get a sense of the place without leaving home.

All you have to do is watch the live stream from “Burning Man,” which gets its name from the ritualized, Saturday night burning of the colossal male timber figure.

Answer: The same as great golfers, wildlife, great scenery, cardivascular exercise, a kids party zone, awesome food and drinks and of course the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.

Take a look at these photos and see what you are missing if you don’t get out to the Montreux Golf Course and see this great event for yourself.

Legends Reno-Tahoe Open
Jack Nicklaus Signature Design course, Montrêux Golf & Country Club
August 3 – 9, 2009
http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/reno-tahoe/what-to-do/events/08-03-2009/legends-reno-tahoe-open

In our neverending effort to promote the virtues (and sometimes fun vices) of Reno Tahoe, we give away a lot of stuff — and we do a lot of giveaways online. And now we are stepping up the giveaways to our ‘Tweeps’ on Twitter.

If you’re a Twitter user, but you aren’t following @renotahoe, take a moment and do so here – you won’t regret it. Once you are following, check out our contest: We’re giving away a 3-day, 2-night stay in Reno Tahoe to a random Twitter user on Aug. 3. All you have to do to enter is add 10 characters to any tweet – #renotahoe – between now and Aug. 2 and that constitutes an entry. Enter early and enter often for your chance to win.

Contest details:

• The prize is a three-day, two-night getaway to a Reno Tahoe hotel casino
• Winner will be chosen randomly from tweets containing the phrase “#renotahoe”
• Multiple #renotahoe tweets constitutes multiple entries (through Aug. 2)
• Winner will be announced on Twitter and on our contest page Aug. 3

Rules:

• Contest runs July 15 – Aug. 2.
• Participants are encouraged to enter multiple times.
• To enter, follow us on Twitter and include the #renotahoe hashtag in your tweets. Each tweet sent with the #renotahoe hashtag constitutes one entry.
• A winner will be chose at random Aug. 3, and the winner will be announced on the @renotahoe Twitter account and on the this contest page.
• Winner will be contacted via direct message on Twitter and must respond within 5 days via e-mail. A redeemable voucher will be sent to the winner via U.S. Mail within 10 days of receipt of mail details.
• No purchase is necessary to enter.

Read more

Check out other Twitter users’ hashtags of #renotahoe here

The Riverwalk District Wine Walk seris continues Saturday, May 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. in downtown Reno. The event will benefit the American Cancer Society.

The Riverwalk Merchants Association presents wine walks every month along the Truckee River and on neighboring streets in the Riverwalk District.
You must be 21 or older to participate in Wine Walks. Visit any participating Riverwalk District merchant on Wine Walk day and for a $20 wine tasting fee and a valid photo I.D. you will receive a wine glass, wrist band and a map of the merchants pouring wine.  Parking is available in public lots.

To see a list of participating merchants or for more information visit www.renoriver.org or call 775-825-WALK (825-9255).

Wine Walks in downtown Reno are kicking into high gear as the spring weather brings sunshine and long afternoons. The April 18 Wine Walk (2-5 p.m.) benefits the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Northern Nevada.

The Riverwalk Merchants Association presents wine walks every month along the Truckee River and on neighboring streets in the Riverwalk District.

You must be 21 or older to participate in Wine Walks. Visit any participating Riverwalk District merchant on Wine Walk day and for a $20 wine tasting fee and a valid photo I.D. you will receive a wine glass, wristband and a map of the merchants pouring wine. Parking is available in public lots.

To see a list of participating merchants, visit www.renoriver.org.

A charity benefits from a portion of Wine Walk proceeds monthly. The SPCA of Northern Nevada is Reno’s pioneer “no-kill” animal shelter.

Strollers and pets are not advised during Wine Walks and participants are encouraged to enjoy a responsible taste of the Riverwalk District.

For more information on events at the Reno Riverwalk District go online, or call 775-825-WALK (825-9255).

Join the excitement and support your team in Reno-Tahoe during the 2009 Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament March 10-14. The University of Nevada, Reno is host school this year to one of the most exciting college basketball tournaments in the country. Each WAC school is assigned a sponsor hotel, so the team and fans can stay together and play together …

While you’re here, enjoy all that Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe has to offer with Nevada-style gaming, entertainment and nightlife. During the day, downtown Reno is a shoppers’ paradise, complete with boutiques, a Riverwalk district along the Truckee River and tons of tourism distractions. Or hit up the campus at UNR to get the feel of one of the West’s historic educational institutions.

Springtime in Reno-Tahoe is a nature lovers delight – it is a walkable city that boasts consistent sun and mild temperatures, and features miles of trails as well as must-see destinations such as Lake Tahoe and Virginia City, all within an hour drive. Springtime in the Reno-Tahoe outdoors offers the chance to golf and ski – even in the same day! Check out all that Reno-Tahoe has to offer and plan your trip online at VisitRenoTahoe.com. We’ll see you at tourney.

Getting to Reno-Tahoe is easy:

• From Boise, Idaho:
  For those who choose to drive, Boise is approximately 7 hours door-to-door from to Reno, taking Highway 95 south before merging with Interstate 80 West in Winnemucca, Nev. From 80, take to the Downtown Reno exit. From here the Peppermill Hotel Casino is located within a 10-minute drive.
  Several carriers offer one-stop service from Boise Airport to Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
• From Hawaii:
  Reno-Tahoe International Airport offers flight service to most major markets, and one-stop service from Honolulu.
  From the airport, the Eldorado Hotel Casino is a short 10-minute shuttle ride, and conveniently located within the downtown Reno casino corridor.
• From Fresno, Calif.
  For those who choose to make the drive to Reno-Tahoe, the trip from Fresno takes approximately four hours. Take California’s Highway 99 north to Sacramento and merge with Interstate 80 East. Travel over the crest of the Sierra Nevada and cross the state line before dropping into Reno. From 80, take to the Downtown Reno exit. The Silver Legacy Resort Casino is located within the downtown Reno casino corridor.
• From Moscow, Idaho:
  Direct and one-stop flights are available to Reno-Tahoe International Airport from Spokane International Airport.
  From the airport, the Eldorado Hotel Casino is a short 10-minute shuttle ride, and conveniently located within the downtown Reno casino corridor.
• From Ruston, La.:
  One-stop flights are available to Reno-Tahoe International Airport from Shreveport Regional Airport.
  From the airport, the Eldorado Hotel Casino is a short 10-minute shuttle ride, and conveniently located within the downtown Reno casino corridor.
• From Las Cruces, N.M.:
  One-stop flights are available to Reno-Tahoe International Airport from El Paso International Airport in El Paso, Texas.
  From the airport, the Peppermill Hotel Casino Resort is a short 10-minute shuttle ride, and conveniently located near area attractions.
• From San Jose, Calif.:
  For those who choose to drive, San Jose is approximately 4 hours door-to-door from to Reno, taking Interstate 680 north before merging with Interstate 80 East.
  From 80, take to the Downtown Reno exit. From here the Peppermill Hotel Casino is within a 10-minute drive.
  Daily direct flights from San Jose International Airport to Reno-Tahoe International Airport are also available.
• From Logan, Utah:
  For those who choose to drive, Logan, Utah is approximately 6 hours door-to-door to Reno, taking Interstate 15 south before merging with Interstate 80 west in Salt Lake City.
  From 80, take to the Downtown Reno exit. From here the Peppermill Hotel Casino is within a 10-minute drive.
  Direct flights from Salt Lake International Airport to Reno-Tahoe International Airport are also available.

More information:

• Tournament Schedule
  
• Ticket Information
• WAC Website
• WAC Blog

Tickets:

• Full Session ticket pricing for the WAC Tournament

Ski and board season is going strong in Reno-Tahoe, and we’re blogging about it at Ski and Board Reno-Tahoe, the region’s stop for snow sports news and events. Learn about deals, resort reviews and events and submit your own adventure online.

Planning a Reno-Tahoe ski getaway? Shop online for discounted packages.

Reno-Tahoe is more than a basecamp for outdoor adventure or a hub for casino gaming. The region also boasts a rich history from its Native American roots to its foundation during the frontier days of the western expansion.

Today, ties to the past are reflected in many of the region’s 31 museums, while an active community of enthusiasts continues to position Reno-Tahoe on the cutting edge of art. Here’s a sample of the area’s diverse offerings:

• Nevada Museum of Art
  Divided into five focus areas, the permanent collection of the Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, consists of over 1,900 works of art organized around the general themes of land and environment. The museum also features traveling exhibitions.
• Nevada State Museum
  The Nevada State Museum, Carson City, engages diverse audiences in understanding and celebrating Nevada’s natural and cultural heritage. Exhibits include a replica walk-through mine and ghost town, the Carson City Mint, and Native American displays.
• National Automobile Museum
  The National Automobile Museum, Reno, displays approximately 175 cars, many of which came from gaming magnate William F. Harrah’s famous collection. The collection’s stars include the 1907 Thomas Flyer, winner of the 1908 New York to Paris race. Other vehicles appear in rotation on the museum’s “streets” in three galleries.
• Fourth Ward School Museum
  Abandoned to the elements, the Fourth Ward School, Virginia City, seemed doomed until it was resurrected in 1986, 50 years after the school closed its doors. Since that time hundreds of thousands of visitors have made their way to the school celebrate Virginia City’s glorious past as a frontier town during the gold and silver boom.
• Wilbur D. May Museum
  The Wilbur D. May Museum, Reno, features the accumulated trinkets and treasures from more than 30 trips and safaris the eccentric son of a department store magnate made in the 1920s and 1930s. Since May rarely collected just one of anything, cases are crammed with T’ang Dynasty animals and African masks; hundreds of Oriental miniatures, dozens of pistols and rifles. Gobelin tapestries and Navajo rugs are among objects decorating the walls.
• Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada
  The Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada, Carson City, is dedicated to providing education and entertainment to children ages 2 and up and families through exhibits and programs that focus on the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities.
• Nevada State Railroad Museum
  The Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City, preserves the railroad heritage of Nevada, including locomotives and cars of the famous Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Much of the museum equipment was obtained from Hollywood studios, where they were often featured in movies and television.
  Museum activities consist of operation of historic railroad equipment, including train rides, handcar rides, lectures, an annual railroad history symposium, changing exhibits, and a variety of special events.

Click here for a complete Reno-Tahoe museum listings, or tell us about your favorite Reno-Tahoe museum in the comment section.