Hidden Valley - Reno, NV Area Guide

Miners flocked to Reno in the late 1800s to make their riches in gold, and the city only continued to grow from that point on. The University of Nevada relocated to Reno from Elko in the late 19th century, and the Reno-Tahoe International Airport completed its first terminal in time for the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley. Jobs at the airport compelled people to move to central Reno, and as the city grew, more people called the neighborhood home.

Most locals find Reno museums centered in the downtown area, including the Nevada Museum of Art, which displays local art and Nevadan collections. Stremmel Gallery in Midtown displays popular paintings to view and purchase. Central Reno residents also travel to downtown for various festivals throughout the year, like Artown in July and the Eldorado BBQ, Brews and Blues Festival.

Central Reno and the areas around the airport provide access to several bars and restaurants, ranging from Mexican to Thai cuisine. Residents in the center of Reno have access to a few music venues and nightclubs as well, though they have to travel north to find many options of either. Locals regard nightlife in Reno as important, so Renoites always have something to do when the sun sets, especially along South Virginia Street.

Travelers staying in the Peppermill and central Reno residents rave about Clary's Bar & Grill, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try the chicken fried steak for a filling breakfast, or come by after 11:30 a.m. for a burger or turkey Parmesan and bacon sandwich. Others like to come to Clary's Bar & Grill for the beer and neighborhood socialization. Either way, the joint sets itself apart as a central Reno favorite.

One of Reno's many Thai places, Thai Lotus serves up tasty Thai classics for central Reno locals. Residents love the basil salmon, as well as the Thai ribs and curry puffs. Pumpkin fans adore the pumpkin curry for its vibrant flavor.

Stick around the Peppermill area to go to Naan & Kabab, a Mediterranean grill featuring falafel, dolmades, naan bread, gyro and more. Taste the vegetable combo plate to start, even if just to try the well-regarded falafel. Move on to the kababs and try the flavorful meats. Then finish with the Awesome Dude, consisting of baklava and rosewater ice cream - one bite, and you'll understand the hype around the traditional dessert.

Though most Renoites go downtown to party, a few bars in central Reno provide plenty of entertainment for those looking for a drink at night. Murphy's Law Irish Pub on Peckham Lane attracts billiards players and sports fans. Residents love to hang out with the rest of the neighborhood at this Irish pub. The Flowing Tide Pub III works the same way, but serves up great bar food as well. Live music lovers go to shows at The Holland Project near Midtown or The Terrace in the Peppermill.

Tourists and locals who want to dance have many choices in downtown Reno, but the closest club to central Reno and the airport, Edge at the Peppermill, brings in plenty of people. Head to Edge on a weekend night to meet with a fun crowd and dance the night away.

The outlying sections of central Reno around the airport tend to contain larger houses in bigger neighborhoods. Therefore, pedestrians walk around for exercise, but rarely to go shopping or run errands. However, the area across South Virginia Street on Plumb Lane welcomes pedestrians who need to pick up a few items.

Overall, Renoites love their cars and drive everywhere, and, excepting the airport, they can park in central Reno easily with no payment required. RTC Ride, Washoe County’s bus service, does give residents a chance to hop on several different bus routes in the area, especially on large roads like Virginia Street and Moana Lane. The buses travel the city on surface streets, but highway drivers easily get to Interstate 580, which runs through the middle of Reno.

Cabs in Reno service the central parts just like they do in downtown. Uber, however, has not taken hold in Reno, so ridesharing hopefuls need to go online and connect with other carpoolers. Fortunately for bicyclists, central Reno lies flat in the middle of the valley, so few hills prevent bikers from getting where they need to go. Most roads have bike lanes, but bicyclists take caution on Virginia Street, which frequently hosts a lot of traffic.

Two large parks near central Reno and the airport entertain residents with their amenities and the opportunities to hike and view wildlife. Hidden Valley Regional Park contains a playground for children to enjoy, and adults can indulge in sports on athletic fields. Others bring their dogs to the Link Piazzo Dog Park, where dogs can run around and meet new friends. Equestrians also adore the free park, as they can bring their horses in and ride on the equestrian trail.

Exercise enthusiasts prefer Huffaker Park for its simplicity and its amount of hiking trails. Locals can hike up hills to get a great view of the city from this recreation space. Enter for free, and feel free to bring the family dog on a leash.

For festivals and annual events, Renoites in the central neighborhoods need to travel north. There, they can go to Idlewild Park for the large Earth Day Festival in the spring or to various festivals at the downtown casinos, like the Great Italian Festival at the Eldorado.

Life in Reno has a somewhat higher cost of living than the national average, and a one-bedroom apartment in central Reno costs about $673 a month to rent. A typical beer at a bar around the airport and out in central Reno costs $3.50 a glass or less, depending on weekly specials.

The price of gas in Reno generally costs more than the national average. In central Reno, expect to pay 4 percent more for a tank of gas than most people in the U.S. Public transit commuters pay $2 for a ride on a RTC Ride bus.

Central Reno inhabitants find themselves close to one of the largest malls in the Reno area, Meadowood Mall. Located near Virginia Street and Neil Road, Meadowood’s anchors, Macy’s and Sears, draws in hundreds of shoppers every weekend. H&M and Forever 21 display clothes for younger people, and high-end shoppers can go to Coach to take advantage of any deals on designer shoes and purses.

Those searching for games have a few neighborhood gaming shops to choose from in central Reno. Games Galore at Meadowood Mall sells many board games and strategy games for players of all skill levels. People who just need a good party game can stop by the shop to go over a number of products. Boutiques in central Reno give shoppers a chance to buy more clothes, especially at The Niche. Search for new clothes and accessories in every inch of the store.

Grocery store shoppers find a number of organic and healthy food stores in central Reno. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s attracts its own regular patrons with fresh food, and shoppers can even eat lunch at Whole Foods. Those who need large-scale shopping can stop by Walmart and SaveMart. Residents find the closest farmers markets to central Reno to be the Summit’s market in South Reno and the West Street Market in downtown.