Reno and Tahoe: Uncommonly tapped Winter Wonderlands

BY LIANA LEE

Sure, we all love the fast-paced excitement of Las Vegas, but this winter, if you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of our urban existence, Reno, “the biggest little city in the world,” makes a fantastic alternative Silver State destination. Reno’s recent revitalization efforts (aptly dubbed the “Reno-ssance”) focused on modernizing the pastoral locale while maintaining its historical integrity. The success of this endeavor is evident upon viewing all the classic stops, buzzing with the authenticity of days long past. Lake Tahoe, a mere hour away by car, also makes for a fabulous vacation site, and the visual splendor of the hour-long drive through the stunning Sierra Nevada mountain range is worth the gas fare. Prior to departure, be sure to review information compiled by the Travel Alternatives Group (tagapproved.com). TAG not only profiles business’ responsiveness and candor in regards to LGBT clients, but also assesses their business policies and the support reciprocated back to the LGBT community.

The Reno location of Harrah’s (harrahsreno.com) is a one such TAG-approved hotel, featuring eight restaurants and some of the best in live entertainment. The long-anticipated Chinese production of the martial arts-inspired The Monkey King will run at Harrah’s from Dec. 3-18. To experience some of Reno’s entertainment highlights of yore while feasting on succulent filet mignon and delectably creamy five-onion soup, look no further than Harrah’s award-winning steak house, where the time-honored staff will happily regale you with stories of visits from Frank Sinatra. The also TAG-approved Peppermill’s (peppermillreno.com) Tuscan-themed renovation is scheduled to conclude at the end of this year, boasting a Roman-influenced day spa, multiple bars and cocktail lounges and varied dining options ranging from the seafood eatery Oceano, whose utilization of fresh ingredients is illustrated in the daily menu variations, to the high-end White Orchid, rated the “Best Place for a Romantic Evening” by Nevada Magazine. The Grand Sierra Resort’s (grandsierraresort.com) new condominium hotel, The Summit, proudly features Charlie Palmer’s Steakhouse (charliepalmer.com) in addition to a bowling alley and a grandiose theater, as well as a certified TAG seal of approval.

Start your first morning rediscovering Reno’s charm at the family owned-and-operated Daughter’s Café (daughterscafe.com). Quaint and unique, their scrumptious breakfast menu includes sweet potato doughnuts and dutch babies, a wonderfully rich caloric take on the traditional pancake. Barb, the friendly matriarch, and her daughters, Bianca and Skye will happily make you feel like one of the family.

Walk off your meal by heading to the Truckee River Arts District (cityofreno.com). Festivals and concerts are held all year long at Wingfield Park (visitrenotahoe.com). Continue down the Riverwalk (renoriver.org), a stretch of shops, coffeehouses and art galleries lining the beautiful Truckee River. If you happen to be on the Riverwalk on the third Saturday of the month between 2 and 5 p.m., you’ll find yourself in the midst of the famous Wine Walk (renoriver.org). For $20 you’re given a glass, a bracelet and all the wine you can drink, er, sample.

Although Reno doesn’t have a designated “gayborhood,” the LGBT community is intermixed throughout the city and is thriving. For a map of popular gay hot spots, nab a bar map from Carl’s (renodean.com/carlspub), the watering hole where cowboys and leather men assemble. If Brokeback is your thing, the High Sierra Rodeo Association (renogayrodeo.com) unites 25 states every autumn to raise funds for national charities, and no rodeo experience is required. Popular drag shows are held at 1099 Club (ten99club.com), the oldest gay bar in the city and largest contributor to the LGBT Reno community. 5 Star Saloon (5starsaloon.net), located in the bar hopping block of West St. Plaza, caters to queers, heteros, bohemians and cowboys (sensing a trend?) and therefore is always packed. For those with circuit interests, Tronix (tronixreno.com) ought to be hit up.

After a night of drinking, treat yourself to the best burger in Reno, which comes in the form of the legendary (and erroneously titled) Awful-Awful at the Nugget’s Rosie’s Café (janugget.com). This double patty delicacy has been sating the appetites of locals for nearly 50 years, and comes with a hefty helping of crisped-to-perfection fries.

The mining boomtown of Virginia City (visitvirginiacitynv.com) is located 30 minutes south of Reno and still retains the historical veracity from the days of Comstock Lode, the first major deposit of silver ore discovered in the U.S. in the mid 1800s. Piper’s Opera House (pipersoperahouse.com) was constructed in 1885 and is considered to be an American treasure and a national icon. Still operable, Piper’s plays host to productions of American theatrical significance, and admits visitors for $5. The Mark Twain Museum (visitvirginiacitynv.com) commemorates the 21 months he worked for Nevada’s first newspaper, The Territorial Enterprise. For a $3 admission fee, you too can see Twain’s desk in the condition he left it upon leaving in May of 1864.

A tour of the Cal-Neva Resort’s (calnevaresort.com) clandestine subterranean tunnels is mandatory when visiting this alpine region. One of the tunnels connects to Cabin #5, inhabited by one-time owner Frank Sinatra. Cabin #3 was frequented by the lovely Marilyn Monroe, who some allege died here of an overdose while visiting at the request of Old Blue Eyes a week prior to the official date of her death in L.A. Although shrouded in conspiratorial scandal, the majestic nature of the Cal-Neva Resort, resting on Lake Tahoe’s Crystal Bay, is a sight to behold. Another place of note is the Thunderbird Lodge (thunderbirdlodge.org), once home to the wealthy, eccentric George Whittell, Jr., whose flagrant disregard for work influenced his unyielding devotion to fast women, exotic wildlife (we’re talking a personal zoo with elephants and lions) and gambling.

After steeping in such scandal you owe it to yourself to visit the Stillwater Spa (laketahoe.hyatt.com) at the Hyatt’s High Sierra Lodge (hyatthighsierralodge.com). Also TAG approved and situated lakeside, a variety of full body massages and facial treatments are guaranteed to refresh and reinvigorate your mind, body and spirit.

With summer behind us, Lake Tahoe will soon become a winter activity destination, and the gays definitely are represented. The Blue Gay-La (ltva.org/glski/index.php), South Lake Tahoe’s annual LGBT ski week is generally held the last week in January. With three South Shore resorts offering more than 9,000 skiable acres, you can enjoy some of the best slope activity and revel in Tahoe’s 24-hour gaming nightlife.

Thanks to the natural beauty, fascinating history and luxurious amenities now being offered in the Reno and Tahoe area, everything you could possibly want for a relaxing, invigorating getaway is available all year long.

For more information regarding travel options in the Reno and Tahoe area, see visitrenotahoe.com.