The Gambling City of Reno

Next stop: Reno, Nevada! A short drive from Virginia City brings us to the gambling town of Reno, which markets itself as "The Biggest Little City in the World." You could think of it as a mini version of Las Vegas—just not quite as grand. Staying in Reno is incredibly cheap—we paid no more than $30 for a night in the city! We stayed at the Flamingo Motel, which I highly recommend because they have a lovely pool! In fact, there aren’t many motels downtown that have a pool, which is a must, especially when temperatures are around 40 degrees. In the evening, we headed over to see a variety show at the Flamingo. The ticket prices for some of the best shows are really reasonable compared to Las Vegas. The variety show was excellent. Dance, music, and top-notch entertainment at bargain prices! We sat at a table with an older couple, and it turned out the man was a real gold miner who makes a living finding gold! Sure, there isn’t as much gold left as there was 100 years ago, but he said it’s still possible to find plenty of gold in California. The show lasted about an hour and a half and included a magician and a comedian. After the show, we wandered around the city and soaked in the atmosphere. Reno is, like Las Vegas, most beautiful at night when lights and colors dominate the streets! The city is definitely worth a visit. But if you expect it to be as grand as Vegas, you might end up a bit disappointed...