The Reno-Tahoe area is one of the most beautiful areas in the country, with loads of activities to get involved in all year around! From Reno to Lake Tahoe, San Francisco to Yosemite, the area is rich in places to explore. Reno has a great nightlife, too! Shows, restaurants, and casinos offer music, dancing, and excellent food.

Outdoor activities include some of the country's best skiing and snowboarding with most resorts within an hour's drive from UNR. The Lombardi Recreation Center at UNR rents outdoor equipment at low costs to students. Canoing, swimming, hiking, and cross-country skiing are very popular with visitors and locals. Community pools are open to the public with a small fee. The summer offers several festivals, like Art Town, Hot August Nights, and the Rib Fest. There really is so much to do here!

Things to do outside of Reno

Lake Tahoe after a snowy winter in 2005

Yosemite has breathtaking views.

Yosemite is a morning's drive away! If you have never seen this National treasure, than you must take the time to do it. Ansel Adams, the early 20th century photographer, is the most famous Yosemite photographer ever, but you will get images you will never forget when you actually go yourself.

The best time to go is in late spring or early fall when there are fewer tourists, but summer is always wonderful, too. After a snowy winter, the waterfalls are gushing with water, and that is an amazing sight to see. It is best to take a few days for this trip and up to a week, if possible.

San Francisco is approximately a four hour drive from Reno. One of the most beautiful cities in the world, San Francisco is the west's urban jewel. You can find almost anything to do there, from fine dining to bicycling, to enjoying quiet moments at the bay. Trolley cars and steep, hilly roads make for a fun time...that's a "must do" in San Francisco.

Fisherman's Wharf is a great place to shop and eat, and watch the sea lions. All in all, San Francisco is a place you will have to visit while you are studying here at UNR.