Is Reno a family-friendly place to stay? (Carson City: crime, hotels)

[wcaamyg]

My family and I are visiting relatives in Nevada and are trying to decide between staying in Carson City or Reno.
Reno seems like there is more to do and the hotels are less expensive than Carson City.
I realize that there is gambling in Reno, I have absolutely no problem with that - I enjoy gambling. However, last time I went to Vegas, there was nudity everywhere. You could not turn your head without seeing naked women on the sides of buses, on those little cards that they try to shove in your hand on the strip (the ones that advertise prostitutes), etc. I just want to make sure that stuff like that isn't in Reno. I have 3 children that will be staying with us: boys ages 4 and 7, and a 2 year old girl. I don't want my kids seeing that.
Can anyone comment?
Thanks.

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by wcaamyg

My family and I are visiting relatives in Nevada and are trying to decide between staying in Carson City or Reno.
Reno seems like there is more to do and the hotels are less expensive than Carson City.
I realize that there is gambling in Reno, I have absolutely no problem with that - I enjoy gambling. However, last time I went to Vegas, there was nudity everywhere. You could not turn your head without seeing naked women on the sides of buses, on those little cards that they try to shove in your hand on the strip (the ones that advertise prostitutes), etc. I just want to make sure that stuff like that isn't in Reno. I have 3 children that will be staying with us: boys ages 4 and 7, and a 2 year old girl. I don't want my kids seeing that.
Can anyone comment?
Thanks.

No, Reno and Vegas have nothing in common with the exception of being in the same state. Reno is a much more laid back city. They do not have porn everywhere unlike Vegas. It is also not legal to have open containers on the street like Vegas. I lived in Reno for a month, and I could tell a large difference between the two.

[daisies16]

You are just talking about visiting temporarily, on vacation, right? I would recommend staying in Reno, just because there is not much at all to do in Carson City and you'll have to drive 30 minutes into Reno. As for where in Reno, I do NOT recommend staying downtown. For some reason this is where tourists usually go (I guess for the convenience of having all the casinos within walking distance), but there is more crime downtown than anywhere else in the city. I've lived here for several years and I don't go downtown if I don't need to - it's just not as clean or nice as other areas of Reno.

If you want to stay in a casino I recommend the Grand Sierra Resort - it is very conveniently located, but outside of downtown so you will have super easy access from the freeway (as opposed to all the congested one-way streets downtown) and a safer area. They also just renovated and the new rooms are amazing. The GSR also has a pretty good arcade and a bowling alley that your kids will enjoy, as well as a driving range and a movie theater inside that shows movies for only $3.

If you were coming to visit me, I'd book you a room in Reno at the GSR, or at another non-casino hotel outside of downtown (there is a new Holiday Inn express across the street from the GSR that is also nice).

Don't worry about the nudity, Reno is NOTHING like Vegas in that respect. We have prostitutes here, but they are mostly confined to 4th street (downtown) and we don't have pimps handing out leaflets like they do in Vegas. When you go visit downtown, just stay together as a family and be aware of your surroundings. I hope you enjoy it here! And make sure you visit Lake Tahoe, it's AMAZING and the best thing that the Reno area has to offer!!