Reno Vs. Vegas

Digging around in my stats, I find that I get hits from search engines a few times each week for "reno vs. vegas" and since I can't actually find anything well written on the topic, I decided to go ahead and write up something.

Overall

First, the similarities:  Reno and Vegas are both cities located in high desert valleys near big lakes, somewhat surrounded by natural wonders.  Both are the biggest thing for hundreds of miles in most directions.  Both feature casinos on a scale not found many other places, and the corresponding bright skylines those casinos bring.  Both feature an abundance of housing subdivisions and strip malls.

As we start to explore the differences, geography plays in:  Reno is located in the northwestern corner of Nevada, next to the natural wonder of Lake Tahoe and the man-made fun of ski resorts and due northeast of San Francisco; Las Vegas is located hundreds of miles away (roughly 8 hours by car), in the southern tip of Nevada, next to the man-made wonder of Lake Mead and the natural beauty of Grand Canyon and due northeast of Los Angeles.  The population of Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, is a cool 2 million give or take a few thousand, while the population of Washoe County, where Reno is located, is almost half a million.  So while both cities are not small towns, Las Vegas is clearly many times larger.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas' Strip casinos are a spectacle on a scale which Reno has not yet built (though some work in that direction is going on).  Those which spring most immediately to the mind of almost everyone when thinking of Las Vegas, have some theme, paying homage to or trying to recreate some world culture or location:  Luxor, the pyramids of Egypt; Paris, with a replica of the Eiffel Tower; New York New York, what more do I need to say; the list goes on and on and on.  These giant, themed adult attractions draw tens of millions of visitors a year to the city, resulting in McCarran International Airport's status as the nation's 6th busiest. 

The casinos attract an incredible number of people to relocate to Las Vegas, and make a living performing some function:  everything from hotel desk clerk, to sous chef, card dealer, or slot repairman - to more advanced technical work in the theaters and keeping the rides and other attractions operating.

This fame, glitz and glamour have also attracted a number of other activities in the general fame, glitz and glamour industry:  Vegas spends a lot of time on TV and so it is a haven for people who would like to have a camera pointed at them at some point in their lives.  Vegas gets a lot of well-heeled visitors in need of exquisite food and drink, and so it is a haven for celebrity chefs.

All of these things combine to form a very desirable environment, and should combine to form a very desirable city but that is where the difference between Las Vegas and Reno begins.  Las Vegas is on a scale completely alien to the comfort of its pedestrians, and features almost no non-casino attractions either within walking distance of casinos or located conveniently to other non-casino attractions.  Everything is a drive across town from everything else, and nearly everything is tucked away in some strip mall somewhere.

Reno

Reno's bright skyline and its most immediate tourist draw are located downtown.  Here there are large hotel-casinos featuring all manner of gambling activity, and its assorted entertainment:  lounges, restaurants, some theme attractions, shows.  In fact this whole business was invented in Reno:  the original Harrah's is the Reno Harrah's, the first integrated high-rise hotel casino was the Mapes in Reno (demolished in 2000 in true casino industry fashion), what I like to call the prototype Strip mega-resort, the MGM Grand (now Grand Sierra Resort) was built in Reno in 1978 and still features the world's largest moving stage.

Something different is happening in downtown Reno, however, and it is this something different that for me will always be the true draw of Reno.  Step outside any of downtown's casinos and you will be a short walk away from a number of restaurants, nightclubs, and live music venues.  These attractions are clustered around the Truckee River, with as its centerpiece, the majestic and marvelous Wingfield Park; during the day find alternately families splashing around in the Truckee's cool waters (warm months) or kayakers trying their hand at her rapids in the whitewater park (cold months).

A stroll down the river promenade in one direction puts you in the midst of beautiful old houses and the classic cityscape of Riverside Drive with its quaint green benches all positioned for an enjoyable view, with the stroll terminating on the other side of the river at Idlewild Park, with its rose gardens, summer weddings, skate park, ponds with ducks and geese, and exercise driving range. 

A walk in the other direction finds in the winter an outdoor ice skating rink in the plaza at city hall, in the summer, people lounging on the grass at same.  Just a short stroll south from there finds touring Broadway performances and other acts at Pioneer Center; finds the inspiring Nevada Museum of Art with touring international exhibits as well as local art highlighted.  Along the way, grab a coffee or a sandwich at any number of small, locally owned establishments, and see people who live in the neighborhood going about their business.

Of course there are wonderful things in Reno which are a drive across town and tucked away in strip malls near nothing similar, but to me the fundamental difference between the two cities is the quality of the experience of their city centers and the local attitudes toward same. 

Summary

If you want to get to know a place, go to Reno, but be prepared to expend some energy on it.  There is a ton to see and do within a 60-mile radius in addition to the aforementioned charming town, but a little research will be in order.  If you want to be dazzled without having to expend any effort, and you don't want to get to know the place, go to Vegas.  If you want to get drunk and lose your money (or have a chance to make a lot of money), go to either place.

Comments

[Justin]

Great writeup! I have to say I agree with many (most) of your observations.

[Ken]

Thanks, Justin! I'd be interested in hearing what parts you don't agree with. I think there's a little wiggle room in my analysis, it's kind of personal and subjective.

[MattLO]

Love it, its a great way to compare 2 cities that are not so different as far as amenties. Its great!

[Kat]

I fully agree, but I would add the climate factor. A typical Las Vegas summer has days and days of 116 degree weather with lows also in the 100s. Even swimming offers no real relief. Walking outdoors feels like a slow form of torture! In Reno, it may get to 100 degrees in the summer, but it cools down to the low 60s at night, which is very nice.

I haven't been to Reno in the Winter and was wondering how bad the snow gets. My research shows 4 to 5 inches, but photos of driving conditions I've found on-line look frightening (I've never driven in snow before)?!

Thanks.

[Ken]

Hey Kat thanks for the comment!

I totally agree about the summers in Vegas though I've always felt that building under shade, even pedestrian walkways, massive connected portions of city, could probably alleviate a lot of that. There's a lot of creativity that could go into creating an indoor/outdoor setting in Las Vegas that would feel very natural if it were done right.

On to snow in Reno - it depends on the winter, really. Sometimes you will not be able to go 2 weeks without a good snow; sometimes you will go all winter waiting for it to snow only to have it dump in April and all be gone less than a week later. But if it does snow, driving in snow isn't terribly difficult if you're in a front-wheel drive vehicle and you remember basic rules. Don't do anything you weren't planning to do. The brake is not nearly as useful as letting your foot off the gas which means you need to be driving a reasonable speed which means you should probably find an empty street or parking lot and test your car's slide.

Again thanks for the comments, I love this topic :)

[Hannah CaVa]

I love the comparison. I typically shy away from Reno even though I spent most of high school there and always fly into RNO. However, I know for a fact I hate Las Vegas and just never compared the two. Your article is lovely and reminds me I live by a place that has much more to it than electricity.