1. Leave the casinos! The casinos are not a good representation of the locals Reno. However, I’m not a gambler… so maybe they are cool? The Grand Sierra is definitely the nicest.

2. Go watch baseball – Downtown Reno has a brand new AAA baseball stadium and team, the Reno Aces. The crowds are not ‘bumpkin’ at all – mostly young people and families out to enjoy the sun, crowd and America’s favorite pastime. Their mascot, Archie, has his own tricked out Segway. Oh, and he talks. How cool is that?

3. Reno has better bars than the Silicon Valley – Downtown Reno has quite a few local bars that have a big city vibe and character. My favorite is St. James Infirmary which specializes in belgian brews and cocktails from around the world. In summer, you can sit out on their roofdeck and enjoy the sun. Also worth checking out: the Lincoln Lounge, Imperial Bar & Lounge, and Chapel Tavern. The favorite local dive bar is Amendment 21.

4. The Truckee River – I absolutely love to stroll down the Truckee River by foot or bike. On sunny and warm days it is fun to walk Westwards down the river and watch the kayakers try their luck in the kayak park or watch fly fisherman attempt to catch fish. Farther down the river, you’ll see some huge mansions on one side of the river and the dregs of Reno on the other. Total contrast. Anyway, if you like festivals, every spring Reno hosts the Reno River Festival: live music, kayaking competition, mud run, and beer of course! http://www.renoriverfestival.com/.

5. Eat! I love food and would never recommend Outback Steakhouse so hopefully my opinion means something. My favorite cheap and easy places to eat near downtown Reno are Beto’s Mexican Food & Michael’s Deli. For pub grub, visit Silver Peak Restaurant and Brewery. For an authentic family-run Mexican restaurant with a ton of soul and knock-you-on-your-ass margaritas, visit Bertha Miranda’s by the ballpark. For hip, fine dining, I hear that LouLou’s is quite good. Disclaimer: My suspicion is that the nicest, fine dining restaurants are still, for the most part, in the casinos.

6. Ski & Snowboard – Yes, you will need a car and will need to brave the sometimes treacherous roads. But I can be at Squaw Valley or Northstar in 45 minutes from my front door. Do you know how many of my co-workers at the big, fancy Silicon Valley tech company I now work at are so jealous of that fact? Lots.

7. Art, anyone? I haven’t been but have it as a ‘to-do’ to visit the Nevada Museum of Art. Again, it is right downtown and in a very cool building that will probably make you forget you are in Reno. Even better is that you can stumble there a little tipsy from St. James Infirmary. http://www.nevadaart.org/

8. Scheel’s Sporting Goods – This is technically in Sparks, but totally worth a visit. Not in a “wow, this place is really cool” kinda way, more of a “wow, what is this place?” kinda way. It is a massive sportsman’s store with an indoor ferry wheel and a whole mountain of various stuffed animals (like, ones that used to be living). It is so weird, but sooo good.