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First a little background. My wife and I have lived collectively all over the country: San Diego, Spokane, Monterey, Chicago, St. Louis, LA, Philly Area... and now Reno.
I feel obligated to post this here because of all the misunderstandings about Reno.
Here are some of my thoughts a year in...
Early on I realized there are two types of people in Reno... those that look at the buildings around the city and hate it... and those who look at snow capped Mount Rose every day and just marvel at being located in one of the most beautiful areas in the country.
In short... you better like something outdoorsy to enjoy Reno. We do. From Camping to Skiing to Kayaking to going to Farmers Markets... etc... If you like these things... truly like them... you'll love it here. That simple. My wife and I head up to Tahoe at least once a month... usually more... we have done day trips to Sacramento (2 hours flat, and a pretty drive)... we have visited the Bay Area/Monterey/etc.
Basically if you are willing to "explore" it's a fantastic place to live.
The people who are not going to like Reno are those who fall into a routine specifically in Reno and then complain about the lack of variety. You are missing the blessing of living here if you don't do an occasional day up at the lake, a drive out to sactown, watch an aces game in downtown Reno, hit the slopes on a powder day, stay at the Monte Bleu in South Lake for 40 bucks a night and take advantage of their indoor pool in the winter... etc.
I mean is it possible to like Reno still if you're not into those things? Sure.. but you'll probably have a city you fit into better.
A few myths about Reno....
-Snowfall... Reno is a desert folks. People who talk about the Snow flat out haven't lived here, or in a place that actually gets snow. Reno is essentially home to a crazy weather reality. It is not uncommon for their to be 6+ inches of snow pouring down in the Sierras - but not even a drop of rain hits the valley.
My sister from LA never believed me when I told her this... you know when she finally did... Driving up here to visit she had to put on chains over the 80... finally got into Reno... and boom... no weather... The Sierras protect the valley. The average winters in Spokane, St. Louis, Chicago, and Philly had by FAR more snow then you get here. Really there were only two storms this year that actually had notable snow down in the valley.... Which is crazy seeing the Sierras themselves are experiencing one of their best snow years in the last couple of decades.
-Heat of the summer - Yes it gets hot here... you know for how long? A couple of hours a day. So yes does August get hot? Sure... up to 90 is a regular occurance... but it isn't humid... and it's only hot when the Sun is at its apex... once the sun sets behind the Sierras... the temps quickly drop. They keep cool until well into midmorning the next day. Essentially I could wear a leather jacket most nights in the summer - no problem.
-The myth of distance from the outdoor recreation of Tahoe. I see people all the time talking about how they might work in Reno and commute from Tahoe... lots of people do that here. Go for it... However if you live in Northwest (Verdi/Mogul/Sommerset) or if you live by Mount Rose Highway (Galena, Double Diamond areas, or Pleseant Valley) - you can be 20-35 mins from Ski Resorts... and 30-45 mins from taking a dip in Lake Tahoe. It's not a long drive. If you're on the fence of where to live between Tahoe and Reno because of such a situation... save yourself from having to shovel snow... etc.. .and just live in Galena for example (30 mins from the Lake - 20ish mins to Mount Rose). Having grown up by the Ocean... sometimes not having something fantastic as that in your backyard makes you appreciate it more when there...
-The concern of living in a Gambling city... You know when I remember I live in Nevada "The gaming state"... when I visit Safeway and see slot machines... I usually shop at Trader Joes or Costco for food... so literally its when I stop by Safeway I say to myself "Oh yeah I do live in Nevada". The Reno downtown I only see from the freeway... It's just buildings like everywhere else... but they have more lights. Honestly... I haven't met people who are local and avid gamblers. There is no dominating gambling culture here in terms of day to day life.
-Traffic... this town seems to think it has it... mainly those who have always lived in Reno... It doesn't... In terms of traffic... this town has very little of it... by far the least of any city I've ever lived in.
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one thing that isn't a myth about reno.
As a food town it's at best average. This isn't a Morton's, Lawry's, Ruth Chris town...
It's a Claim Jumper and Outback kind of town.
You're not going to find a Cheesecake Factory... etc... Basically every midlevel chain Resteraunt is here... none of the higher tiers are available... and for better then that you will have to drive up to Tahoe or venture into a hotel.
I would rate it well below cities like Chicago LA and San Diego as food towns... above Spokane... and below St. Louis and Monterey. This list might help some of you.
Of course every city has some local and hidden gems... but you'll have to seek them out. Reno doesn't have them on every corner like some cities.
----
quickly as a concert area... it's very good... even if they don't visit Reno... chances are the act or band you want to see will visit Sactown or South Lake Tahoe.
Also Reno has 3 malls: The high end one, the indoor one loaded with teenagers, and the outlet/deal mall... You'll quickly figure out which is which.
---
Quick summary. My wife and I love the outdoor lifestyle here. We both have decided it's the best place we've ever lived and want to settle down here. We just put in an offer on a house (in Northwest) after giving it a year trial - and couldn't be more excited.
I hope this helps some people,
Kevin
If you have any specific questions... feel free... I'll subscribe to the threads replies.
Last edited by KevinJPPark; 05-07-2010 at 03:56 AM..
Thank you for your post. I lived in the Reno area (in Fernley) for several years and I loved the area. In reading so many of the negative posts about the area, I figured it must have changed a lot more than I realized. I am glad to hear from someone who sees the side of Reno that I always enjoyed. Again, thank you and best of luck with your house purchase!
This is one of the best descriptions I have read about the area. I lived here a few years ago and felt exactly the same. Would love to move back. The only thing keeping me away is the lack of good career opportunities.
I'd also argue that to enjoy living in Reno-- and this actually goes for everywhere-- you need two things-- friends/relationships/family/significant others, and a decent paying, stable job. My 6 mo experience in Reno, being a single new to town, and not really knowing if each week on the job would be my last, was not a very happy experience. And unlike bigger cities, there's really not many places you can just "hang out" and randomly meet some new people. Unless if you are an alum of UNR, it's not an easy town for someone to get their life/career established. But I don't hate Reno either, in fact, I would even consider giving it another chance if another career opportunity opened back up there.
[SIZE=3]Awesome post, Kevin! You've read my mind... There's so much I want to say, but I don't want to bore people, so I've tried to be as concise as possible. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]My husband and I moved here about 10 months ago from many, many years of living in Hawaii (big change!) and I love it. First of all, we visited here several times over the years, in various seasons, so we had some idea what we were getting into. I am always surprised by the people that post in this forum about moving here sight unseen... [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]We were a little worried about how we'd handle the winter season; to us, 70 degrees was cold! And even though everyone said it was a very unusual winter this year (colder and more snow than usual), it wasn’t bad at all. We've apparently gotten acclimated already because I can now walk outside barefoot to get the paper in the morning when it's 40 degrees. And during the winter, I really looked forward to putting on my snow boots and going for a walk in the snow! Next year I want to try more snow activities (skiing, snowshoeing, etc.). Sure, the Koolaus on Oahu are stunningly beautiful, but so are t[SIZE=3]he Sierras. And the sunsets here are fantastic! And have you seen those lenticular cloud formations?!! And now that it's spring, we love that it starting to stay light so late; more time to play![/SIZE]
[/SIZE][SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Like Vegaspilgrim said, it’s helpful that we have family here because (1) their friends become your friends, so that makes it easy to meet people, and (2) they know all the great places to go and things to do. I go running with my sister and her friends with a local training group, and they know all the great trails and routes. My husband rides bike so he’s joined up with the training group for weekend rides; they take him places that he would never have known about (Diamond Valley - how beautiful is that?!). So we've gotten to see and do a lot of things that we wouldn't have if we had moved here without knowing anyone. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE][SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Like Kevin said, there is a lot to see and do just a short drive away. We wanted to see Avatar in Imax, so we made a day trip out of it and drove to El Dorado Hills, CA. We hope to do a lot more driving trips; the list of possibilities is endless! Everyone we talk to has a recommendation for a great trip. We've already gone to Sacramento, Eugene, and Napa Valley. And when the airlines had one of their super specials, we planned a trip to Vegas to see friends.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]The drivers are seriously crazy here, but the people are really nice. Everyone we’ve met here has been friendly and very genuine. I was lucky (really lucky!) to find a good job as soon as I started looking. The pay isn't great, but apparently it is enough because we were able to buy a really nice house for the same price that a tiny condo in Hawaii would have cost. The disaster in the housing market here has been a blessing to us.[/SIZE][SIZE=3] (We weathered 8 years of being "upside down" in our condo in Hawaii, so I know how it feels...)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]The gaming doesn't bother us. We go to the casinos occasionally, but if we gamble, we set a limit for ourselves and stick with it. If we win (which my husband does sometimes), that's great. If we don't, we haven't lost that much. And the casinos offer other kinds of great entertainment - shows, concerts, cheap movies ($3!!) and great restaurants and buffets. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]We're trying hard not to let ourselves get into a rut and a routine. We've only scratched the surface in terms of all the great things to do around here. We're looking forward to many more great adventures in the coming years!![/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
First a little background. My wife and I have lived collectively all over the country: San Diego, Spokane, Monterey, Chicago, St. Louis, LA, Philly Area... and now Reno.
I feel obligated to post this here because of all the misunderstandings about Reno.
Here are some of my thoughts a year in...
Early on I realized there are two types of people in Reno... those that look at the buildings around the city and hate it... and those who look at snow capped Mount Rose every day and just marvel at being located in one of the most beautiful areas in the country.
In short... you better like something outdoorsy to enjoy Reno. We do. From Camping to Skiing to Kayaking to going to Farmers Markets... etc... If you like these things... truly like them... you'll love it here. That simple. My wife and I head up to Tahoe at least once a month... usually more... we have done day trips to Sacramento (2 hours flat, and a pretty drive)... we have visited the Bay Area/Monterey/etc.
Basically if you are willing to "explore" it's a fantastic place to live.
The people who are not going to like Reno are those who fall into a routine specifically in Reno and then complain about the lack of variety. You are missing the blessing of living here if you don't do an occasional day up at the lake, a drive out to sactown, watch an aces game in downtown Reno, hit the slopes on a powder day, stay at the Monte Bleu in South Lake for 40 bucks a night and take advantage of their indoor pool in the winter... etc.
I mean is it possible to like Reno still if you're not into those things? Sure.. but you'll probably have a city you fit into better.
A few myths about Reno....
-Snowfall... Reno is a desert folks. People who talk about the Snow flat out haven't lived here, or in a place that actually gets snow. Reno is essentially home to a crazy weather reality. It is not uncommon for their to be 6+ inches of snow pouring down in the Sierras - but not even a drop of rain hits the valley.
My sister from LA never believed me when I told her this... you know when she finally did... Driving up here to visit she had to put on chains over the 80... finally got into Reno... and boom... no weather... The Sierras protect the valley. The average winters in Spokane, St. Louis, Chicago, and Philly had by FAR more snow then you get here. Really there were only two storms this year that actually had notable snow down in the valley.... Which is crazy seeing the Sierras themselves are experiencing one of their best snow years in the last couple of decades.
-Heat of the summer - Yes it gets hot here... you know for how long? A couple of hours a day. So yes does August get hot? Sure... up to 90 is a regular occurance... but it isn't humid... and it's only hot when the Sun is at its apex... once the sun sets behind the Sierras... the temps quickly drop. They keep cool until well into midmorning the next day. Essentially I could wear a leather jacket most nights in the summer - no problem.
-The myth of distance from the outdoor recreation of Tahoe. I see people all the time talking about how they might work in Reno and commute from Tahoe... lots of people do that here. Go for it... However if you live in Northwest (Verdi/Mogul/Sommerset) or if you live by Mount Rose Highway (Galena, Double Diamond areas, or Pleseant Valley) - you can be 20-35 mins from Ski Resorts... and 30-45 mins from taking a dip in Lake Tahoe. It's not a long drive. If you're on the fence of where to live between Tahoe and Reno because of such a situation... save yourself from having to shovel snow... etc.. .and just live in Galena for example (30 mins from the Lake - 20ish mins to Mount Rose). Having grown up by the Ocean... sometimes not having something fantastic as that in your backyard makes you appreciate it more when there...
-The concern of living in a Gambling city... You know when I remember I live in Nevada "The gaming state"... when I visit Safeway and see slot machines... I usually shop at Trader Joes or Costco for food... so literally its when I stop by Safeway I say to myself "Oh yeah I do live in Nevada". The Reno downtown I only see from the freeway... It's just buildings like everywhere else... but they have more lights. Honestly... I haven't met people who are local and avid gamblers. There is no dominating gambling culture here in terms of day to day life.
-Traffic... this town seems to think it has it... mainly those who have always lived in Reno... It doesn't... In terms of traffic... this town has very little of it... by far the least of any city I've ever lived in.
-----
one thing that isn't a myth about reno.
As a food town it's at best average. This isn't a Morton's, Lawry's, Ruth Chris town...
It's a Claim Jumper and Outback kind of town.
You're not going to find a Cheesecake Factory... etc... Basically every midlevel chain Resteraunt is here... none of the higher tiers are available... and for better then that you will have to drive up to Tahoe or venture into a hotel.
I would rate it well below cities like Chicago LA and San Diego as food towns... above Spokane... and below St. Louis and Monterey. This list might help some of you.
Of course every city has some local and hidden gems... but you'll have to seek them out. Reno doesn't have them on every corner like some cities.
----
quickly as a concert area... it's very good... even if they don't visit Reno... chances are the act or band you want to see will visit Sactown or South Lake Tahoe.
Also Reno has 3 malls: The high end one, the indoor one loaded with teenagers, and the outlet/deal mall... You'll quickly figure out which is which.
---
Quick summary. My wife and I love the outdoor lifestyle here. We both have decided it's the best place we've ever lived and want to settle down here. We just put in an offer on a house (in Northwest) after giving it a year trial - and couldn't be more excited.
I hope this helps some people,
Kevin
If you have any specific questions... feel free... I'll subscribe to the threads replies.
Thanks for all the useful info. I am coming to the Reno area next spring after I retire to look it over as a possible relocation locale. You answered all the questions I had, re: climate, snowfall, etc. I always liked Reno but it was out of my price range until the recent correction of prices. I would prefer it over the really hot (climate-wise) areas of Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Nicest apartment communities in Reno/surrounding areas?
... If there is such a thing? Strangely enough, I live in Lake Tahoe - in a beautiful area on the "Nevada" side, but my roommate has just moved out and in with her boyfriend and I can't afford the rent by myself. Because of that, and for a change of pace, I am strongly considering Reno or Carson City (possibly.) Minden/Gardnerville might do the trick but I haven't found much out there.
I am somewhat familiar with Reno, having lived in Tahoe for a total of 13 years. However, most Tahoe folks go to Reno for two purposes: shopping and the airport. As Carson City begins to add a little shopping - Costco, Bestbuy, etc., I find myself venturing all the way (lol) to Reno less and less.
I am a single female with two kids in college. I work out of the house and live on about $2000 a month. I plan to do this for a year and see if I can grow my business. I know there are recommendations that say not to have your rent exceed a third of your income; but I can go about a hundred or so over that - if I need to.
The bottom line: I am strongly considering one of the new "apartment" type communities. My reasons? (1) I don't have a lot of time to look (my roomie left rather suddenly,) (2) I would really like something newer (changing a light bulb is about the level of maintenance I am capable of, and, well, who doesn't like "new"? Vintage is cool, but I don't think Reno is there yet,) (3) I think I will feel safer, and (4) SOME of these places, especially the newer ones, have finally put a premium on open space. I'm talking about green areas, not fancy clubhouses (who cares about those? It drives me crazy how much money these places spend on this stuff,) fitness facilities, nice for some, but I'm the type to walk, jump on my bike, or ski.
Therefore, the AREA is extremely important to me and henceforth this post. I would appreciate ANY and ALL recommendations for places to look. I will probably have about one or two days and my trusty internet connection to find something. I'm actually pretty bummed but trying to be positive, so any help will be well received.
In terms of these type of communities, I would prefer a small townhouse/duplex situation, but that may be more than I can afford because the most important thing to me is the area and the unit itself. I know that "apartment community" and "open spaces" is oxymoronic, but a balcony with a view of some trees, rocks, greenery, mountains has to be out there. Working from home, often on the computer all day... well, if you are reading this post you probably know how important a window with a view is -- and not a view of a thousand kids. Please no rec's for senior facilities; I'm not there yet and even if I were, I DO like having kids around. Just not walking on the floor above me.
I'd like a 2+2 but can go for a one bedroom as well. Any small thing such as free wi-fi is a big deal to me. The areas you spoke of, Kevin (and thanks for your post, it was great!): Galena, Double Diamond - places off Hwy 80 - appeal to me... affordability is an issue; but I am more fortunate than many people and am thankful for that.
Is there anything near the Truckee river? I would love Incline and am going to take a quick look there, but one doesn't get much for their money in that town (especially this time of year,) and again, I'm running short on time. I have two indoor cats as well.
Okay, I'm throwing this out there... please respond! Specific names of places would be most helpful; but please, no agents' names, or anything. Safe, clean, newer, GREEN, "a room with a view," and any move-in specials (lol) would fit the bill (I hope!)
Thank you! I'd love some opinions, though... anyone live in or have seen "The Village at Idlewild Park?" or.. "Skyline Canyon?"
Why don't you start a new thread, instead of highjacking this one?
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thanks for the useful info
