National Geographic released its ultimate, state-by-state guide to the top outdoor hubs in the U.S., selecting only 100 towns. The criteria – the town must offer something for everyone. It’s no surprise Reno, Nevada was selected to be on the list with year-round special events, hiking, skiing, cycling, kayaking, climbing, snowboarding, fine dining…the list could go on. (And it does!)

In the words of NatGeo, “Reno’s hospitality jobs, a refurbished downtown, and a new $1.5 million white water park—all reasons enough to stick around for awhile.” We know that’s why we’re here!

Check out the interactive map to see which other cities and towns made the list. While you’re there, be sure to share your favorite restaurants, hotels and Reno Tahoe adventures with National Geographic!

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.

Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort will serve as the host venue for the final stop on the Winter Dew Tour, Feb. 19-22! Building on the success of the five-stop AST Summer Dew Tour, a 3-stop nationally televised Winter Dew Tour has been created and will begin this December in Breckenridge, Colo. and travel through Mt. Snow, Vt. before crowning Tour Champions at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort.

The Winter Dew Tour will bring the top athletes in skiing and snowboarding to Northstar for four days of high-level competition, as well as extensive spectator entertainment and activities on the mountain and in the village.

For those not able to make it to the event, ABC, the USA Network, and MTV/MTV2 will be broadcasting the 3-stop tour. Check out this tour preview:

Reports of amazing winter weather are coming in from all over Reno-Tahoe. Our first hand investigators confirm EPIC powder everywhere you turn! And the powder on the ground is being rapidly covered by even more POWDER!!!!!

• “I can’t believe how hard it’s snowing right now,” said Alpine Meadows spokeswoman Rachael Woods. “This kind of snowfall definitely sets up the Sierra for great spring skiing conditions and really helps with our water situation.”
• “Everybody’s ready to ski,” Kauffman said. “They missed out last year, and this last Saturday and Sunday were excellent. The snow is very deep, powdery dry, like Colorado and Utah,” Kauffman added. “We don’t get that too often.”
• “We did get hammered up here,” said Greg Murtha, spokesman for the resort [Sugarbowl], which has 71 inches of snow at its base, 104 on top. “It was hard to tell when one storm stopped and the next one started.”

Reno Tahoe is about adventure. And that’s not a name just drawn out of a hat to appeal to itchy mid-west executives in corner offices (although we hope it does…). Real people live here who love adventure and actively pursue it every day of their lives. Below is a video trailer made by SummitSide a group of Reno-Tahoe locals which shows some of that pursuit via skiing, snowboarding, kite-boarding and mountain biking.

Here’s the home of a team of downhill mountain bikers. These guys live and breathe bikes. The trail shown here is the start of the first real, legal and purpose-built competition downhill mountain biking course in all of Northern Nevada, right here in Reno. It’s called the Entrail, or the “N” Trail because is runs from the big white N on a hillside above town. The trail is conceived, built and maintained by dhReno.com, The Poedunks (the northern Nevada IMBA affiliate), and Washoe County Parks. If you love summer more than winter, hold tight, biking is going to be big in Reno this spring!

Just examples of the many Reno Tahoe locals with the passion and drive to make adventure their life and their life an adventure.

-MTB

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