By Margot Black
California’s Reno-Tahoe region is an eclectic mix of stunning contrasts and dramatic landscapes that range from pristine lakes to rugged mountains to vast desert valleys. An impressive variety of activities and attractions are in the area, all within a short distance of each other, making for an adventurous road trip unlike any other.
In fact, some of Nevada’s travel gems lie between the sparkling shores of South Lake Tahoe and the bright lights of Reno. From kayaking in Lake Tahoe to soaring high on a plane ride in Carson Valley, there are so many ways to unplug and fill up on outdoor adventures in some of the best spaces Nevada has to offer.
As one of my favorite places on planet Earth, South Lake Tahoe made for a great start to our road trip. And to make the most of our time in this adventure playground, we headed straight to the lake. The clear kayak tour we booked through Tahoe Paddle Sports was heavenly and we could enjoy the vivid blue and green hues of the lake at every turn of the sun. Our friendly guide, Marco, took us along the coastline from Sand Harbor State Park to Bonsai Rock.
Since we were traveling with a teenager, I wanted to throw some speed into the mix. Going on a slingshot ride along the Tahoe coastline put this in perspective. Our rental from Rolling Freedom Motorcycles was next level – like a convertible on steroids. We drove through Incline Village with our son DJing the entire ride. After our amazing ride, we had some time by the water to enjoy the sunset over the lake.
We certainly worked up an appetite after our action-packed day and our dinner at Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen was phenomenal, especially after watching every season of MasterChef Junior. Because we were traveling in the summer during high season and rooms were scarce, we ended up staying at the Hard Rock Hotel. I was nervous about being in a casino; however, our teenage son loved the musical history of the hotel, and we had easy access to everything we needed, including in-house dining at the Alpine Union. The next morning, we went for a walk around the beach. You can find plenty of hiking options in the area, including Spooner Summit, Van Sickle Bi-State Park, and Rabe Meadow in Nevada Beach.
We hit the road again and drove 12 miles east to explore our next road trip destination, Carson Valley. This “land of legends” provides a gateway to the authentic American West, bringing rustic adventures to be experienced in the city of Genoa. While Carson Valley and Virginia City are often overlooked regions in northwestern Nevada, they are incredible destinations that are steeped in history and certainly deserve a few days of exploration.
We couldn’t visit Nevada’s first settlement without stopping at the Genoa Saloon, Nevada’s oldest saloon, where we met some charming locals and soaked in the quaint splendor of old-fashioned Genoa. Then we grabbed some deli sandwiches for an idyllic afternoon picnic on the sprawling lawns of Mormon Station State Park. The park’s charming little museum, which is filled with artifacts from the pioneer era, costs just $1 and learns more about the town’s early settlers.
We had an unforgettable dinner at JT Basque Restaurant in Gardnerville. Thanks to their hearty portions, we didn’t leave this place hungry. Their menu has remained the same since they opened more than half a century ago, and includes some unusual dishes such as pig’s feet and beef tongue stew.
The next day in Minden we had a chance to experience the Carson Valley from a new perspective aboard a flying airplane. Our pilot gave us the smoothest ride of our lives. After entering a small cabin, a tow plane released us and we glided into the quiet serenity of this engineless flying aircraft. It was like flying in the safest toy airplane in existence and ticked all the boxes of a bucket list adventure.
We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the historic town of Virginia, Nevada. Being in this colorful and vibrant historic city was like taking a step back in history. We took an old-time shot at Silver Sadie’s, got some jerky from Virginia City Jerky Co., checked out the Story County Courthouse, and stopped for refreshments at the Bucket of Blood Saloon before driving to Reno.
The highlight here was our stay at the Whitney Peak Hotel, which offered stunning decor, a great in-house restaurant – Cafe Whitney – and a great gym. It is home to the “World’s Tallest Artificial Climbing Wall” as defined by the Guinness Book of World Records. Our son had a blast hanging about 50 feet above Reno’s famous arch. This 164-foot outdoor climbing wall was an unexpected and fascinating travel delight and a great way to end our unforgettable road trip adventure tour.
WHEN TO GO
Reno-Tahoe: www.renotahoe.com
Visit Lake Tahoe: www.visitlaketahoe.com
Hard Rock South Lake Tahoe: www.hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com
Clear Kayak Tour: www.tahoepaddlesports.com
Roll Tahoe: www.rolltahoe.com
Carson Valley: www.visitcarsonvalley.org
Genoa: www.genoanevada.org
JT Basque Bar and Dining Room: www.jtbasquenv.com
Air travel: www.soaringnv.com
Visit Virginia City: www.visitvirginiacitynv.com
Whitney Peak Hotel: www.whitneypeakhotel.com
A hiker tries his luck in downtown Reno, Nevada. Photo courtesy of Margot Black.
The author and her family tool around Lake Tahoe, California, in their rented Slingshot. Photo courtesy of Margot Black.
A glider plane waits to take off for a bird’s eye view of Carson Valley, Nevada. Photo courtesy of Margot Black.
Margot Black is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Guild writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Guild website at www.creators.com.
A glider plane waits to take off for a bird’s eye view of Carson Valley, Nevada. Photo courtesy of Margot Black.
