Northeast Reno - Reno, NV

Reno popped up as a small town after miners began passing through the Sierra Nevada in the 1850s, hoping to find gold. Once the University of Nevada relocated to Reno, the population grew and neighborhoods like northeast Reno became important for its access to downtown and the college. Now, northeast inhabitants still find their neighborhood location to be one of the best reasons to live there.

Close to northeast Reno, locals can pass by the Wilbur D. May Center at Rancho San Rafael Park to learn about the park’s history as a large ranch. The National Automobile Museum in downtown also draws in scores of car enthusiasts. Galleries like the Liberty Fine Art Gallery appeal to art lovers, and festivals such as Artown in July attract thousands of attendees.

Most restaurants, clubs and bars in Northeast Reno lie closer to downtown, generally near Virginia Street. A night out in downtown Reno satisfies any local who's looking for some good food, drinks and dancing. However, Renoites find a few restaurants, especially Mexican places, up in the Valley Road part of northeast Reno.

One small, locally owned Mexican joint, Mi Ranchito, has a solid reputation with families and the college crowd due to its affordable and authentic fare. Try the large wet burritos to eat a Mexican staple, or branch out with exotic menu items such as armadillo meat. Locals love the al pastor tacos and the chile relleno. Keep in mind that this taqueria does not have many menu items suited for vegetarians and vegans.

Residents looking for vegetarian food or a healthier meal should instead head to Pathways Cafe, located at the medical school of the University of Nevada, Reno. Don't be deterred by the campus location, as anyone can have a bite to eat at Pathways. Drink a chai latte with almond milk, or taste the kale or tomato soup. The gluten-free bread just tops off this healthy eatery. Residents also like to visit Great Full Gardens, Pathways' second location in Midtown Reno.

Travelers on the hunt for a drink have a few options in northeast Reno, particularly along Fourth Street. Mixers Bar on Clear Acre Lane, however, functions as a neighborhood bar for that Reno neighborhood centered around McCarran Boulevard and close to Highway 395 entrances. Play Pacman or enjoy an affordable drink after work at Mixers. For live music, especially alternative and punk, go downtown or stop by Jub Jub's Thirst Parlor off Wells Avenue.

Locals also enjoy going to the Lincoln Lounge, which serves up ice-cold beer on tap and interesting music for an evening of laid-back fun. Sip on a whiskey at the well-stocked bar any night of the week, or stop by on the first Friday of the month to enjoy the tunes on Soul Night.

The large area of northeast Reno may look intimidating to bicyclists and pedestrians. In most of the neighborhood, locals prefer to drive mostly because they need to. Major roads such as McCarran Boulevard and Virginia Street make car travel easy, as does Interstate 580/Highway 395, and drivers find parking easy in most of the neighborhood.

However, the part of northeast Reno close to downtown proves to be more walkable than the other areas, especially because the parking becomes more congested. Street parking costs a few dollars for several hours in downtown Reno.

The RTC Ride system in Washoe County provides some bus lines along major roads and common thoroughfares like Wedekind Road, but overall, public transit takes a while to get to bus stops. With a call, the Cab companies around downtown will to travel to northeast Reno to give locals a ride. Ridesharing in Reno may be tough to find, since Uber and Lyft don’t operate there.

An increasing number of Renoites utilize bicycles to get around the city. Biking around the University of Nevada continues to grow more common, and residents find biking in downtown to be much easier than driving, which becomes difficult on crowded days such as weekends. Bicyclists generally feel safe riding in northeast Reno with its many bike lanes.

Northeast Reno locals can find hiking trails in Keystone Canyon for exercise, or smaller neighborhood parks for children to play in. However, the most impressive park in the area, Rancho San Rafael Park, has everything residents need to have a great day outside. The former ranch houses the Wilbur D. May Museum, along with large children’s play areas and a few hiking and walking trails. Dogs enjoy the off-leash park where they can play with other pooches.

Groups can rent picnic shelters or reserve large fields at Rancho San Rafael for big events, such as Girl Scouts meetings. Normally, travelers enter the park for free. Some people like to lay on blankets to sunbathe at the park, and others prefer to check out the arboretum to see Nevada plants.

The Wilbur D. May Museum and ranch house hosts meetings and gatherings throughout the year, but thousands of Renoites turn out for the Great Balloon Race in the fall. The Dawn Patrol event compels people to come out to watch the balloons ascend in the air in the sunrise, an unforgettable site for many Nevadans.

Reno’s population growth has pushed up its living prices, so the city has a slightly higher cost of living than the state average. However, neighborhoods such as northeast Reno demonstrate that parts of the city have reasonable living rates. The average one-bedroom apartment in northeast Reno costs $634 a month.

Drivers in Reno generally pay about four percent more for a tank of gas than the national average. Those who choose not to drive can take a one-way trip on RTC Ride for $2. A typical beer in northeast Reno costs $3.50 at a neighborhood bar.

Northeast Reno shoppers don't have a large shopping plaza in their own area, but many of them travel to Outlets at Sparks. This mall houses many factory outlets, like Ann Taylor, and other mall favorites, like Forever 21 and Levi's. High-end shoppers like to pass by the Coach Outlet store to check out designer handbags and shoes, and the massive Scheels keeps sports shoppers entertained for hours.

A few local Reno boutiques sell affordable and nice clothes as well, and many locals like Never Ender Boutique & Art Gallery near South Center Street. Not only can residents purchase stylish clothes and accessories such as sunglasses, but they can also buy locally made ceramics and art. Kids enjoy Kelekia Toys & Gifts on Kings Row for its welcoming atmosphere and variety of toys, including puzzles.

Grocery shoppers in northeast Reno have a few choices for their main stores, such as Walmart, Raley's and WinCo. The Great Basin Community Food Co-op in downtown appeals to healthy eaters who like to have a farmer's market experience when the markets close. Downtown farmers markets like the West Street Market give residents the chance to shop outdoors while searching for fresh produce and homemade goods.