The Biggest Little City in the World’ is what they call Reno, Nevada. Hotels abound in this city, which has a rich arts scene, great shopping and dining, and are only 45 minutes from Lake Tahoe skiing and resorts. Reno, of course, is especially known for its casinos, so many hotels in Reno are part of a casino/resort complex. But it wasn’t always so.

Before there were gambling casinos in Reno like the famous Eldorado Hotel, Reno hotels were more like the Pincolini Hotel, which later became the Mizpah hotel. In 1984, the Mizpah Hotel Reno was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. When someone set this old Reno hotel on fire in October 2006, six people were killed and a landmark destroyed. The Mizpah had been built in 1922, and was a residential hotel typical of the pre-casino era. The hotel’s interior still had its original plan and many decorative elements, such as the lobby desk and simulated oak paneling. Some of the hotel rooms had their original furnishings: iron beds, pine dressers and night stands.

Today, hotels in this city are synonymous with casinos and luxury. Everything is over-the-top, opulent, bright, and each Reno hotel has a different way of doing this, starting with the El Dorado Hotel in Reno. At The El Dorado Hotel and Casino, Reno gaming and entertainment reaches a high pitch. With 1500 slot machines, plus table games, poker, keno and sports betting, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. With the El Dorado Hotel casino, Reno boasts Northern Nevada’s only $100,000 keno aggregate limit game; you can win up to $100,000 on any number spot played.

Another hot spot is the Atlantis Hotel. Reno is nowhere near the ocean, but the décor at the Atlantis is exotic and tropical. There is even a Royal Dolphin Tower, where room décor includes, of course, dolphins. There are eight, count them, eight restaurants that serve sushi, steak, seafood, Italian dishes, and morning coffee and pastries, as well as a 24-hour coffee shop.

One of the biggest award-winning hotels in Reno is The Peppermill Hotel Casino, Reno NV, Nevada’s 1100-room luxury hotel, which includes eight restaurants, 14 themed bars and lounges, and heated waterfall pool open year-round. Finally, there’s the Silver Legacy Hotel. Reno has a unique tourist attraction here: a 120-foot-high automated mining machine that simulates the production of silver coins. It is encased within a 180-foot-high dome which measures 75,00 square feet! The dome’s mural depicts an entire day in Reno, from sunrise to sunset. Enjoy hourly laser/sound shows seven days a week that bathe this incredible structure in color and light.

So, you may ask, how do I find the right hotel room in Reno? Hotel reservations may seem daunting at first. There are many, many websites that will make reservations for you. Since you want your Reno vacation to be everything you’re looking for, it is probably best to do some word-of-mouth research as far as quality of service, talk to a travel agent, and be sure before you book that the amenities, room size, and type of accommodations suit your needs as closely as possible. With the number of hotels to choose from, you will surely find something that will help make your stay memorable.