Reno Tahoe Adventures for Young Families

Let’s start with one of the most important categories in our household: food.

We love trying new restaurants while still returning to our longtime favorites. Some of our go-to spots around Reno include:

• SouthCreek Pizza Co.
• Casale’s Halfway Club
• Cosmo’s Snack Bar
• DOPO Pizza & Pasta
• Loco Ono
• Kuma Sushi

Casale’s Halfway Club

Although some people may not immediately think of Casale’s as a kid-friendly restaurant, it has become such a staple for our family. It’s family-owned, cozy, and has such a warm atmosphere. We’ve been bringing our daughter there for years, and without fail she orders a giant plate of spaghetti every time. On some visits, their own grandchildren are wandering around too, which somehow makes it feel even more welcoming.

Pizza Spots

And then there’s pizza, one of our daughter’s personal favorite food groups. Reno has so many great pizza spots, and each place offers something a little different for families. At DOPO, we love the beautiful outdoor seating where she can chat and move around a bit more freely. Cosmo’s is always a hit because of the incredible appetizers followed by homemade gelato. SouthCreek has such a fun, lively atmosphere that makes it easy to bring kids along without feeling stressed.

Sushi Joints

Now for my proudest, and most expensive, parenting accomplishment: our daughter loves sushi.

While sushi isn’t exactly the most budget-friendly family dinner option, we’ve found some amazing spots around town and thank goodness for all-you-can-eat! Kuma Sushi has become one of our favorites because of its huge variety of rolls and appetizers, and they’re always incredibly welcoming to families. On the days we can’t justify sushi for the third time that week, we usually pivot to poke bowls at Loco Ono. Our daughter absolutely loves walking up to the counter and choosing all the toppings for her bowl herself.

Taking kids out to restaurants can definitely feel intimidating at first, but we’ve found that the more you do it, the easier it becomes. We always keep a small bag packed with activities to keep her entertained, and many local restaurants are great about providing coloring supplies, games, or little things that help keep kids engaged.

Beyond the amazing food scene, there are so many family-friendly activities around Reno that we enjoy together year-round, especially during the summer when we aren’t out camping or fishing.

Biking Around Reno

One of our favorite weekend traditions is biking to the Village Farmers Market in Reno’s old southwest neighborhood on Saturday mornings. We may be biased, but we truly think it’s the best one in town. As is tradition, we usually grab a coffee from The Roost before or after shopping, and it always makes for the perfect morning.We’ve been taking our daughter since she was little, and now she loves helping us pick out fresh fruit and produce for the weekend. Most vendors are so kind to kids and usually offer fruit samples, which she looks forward to every visit.

Coffee and Family Walks

We’re also huge fans of coffee outings and family walks. Even though our daughter obviously isn’t ordering lattes, she definitely knows how to enjoy the experience. At Hub Coffee Roasters, she’s all about the pastries and at Bibo Coffee she immediately asks for gelato the second we pull into the parking lot.

Some of our favorite family walks and bike ride spots around Reno include:

• Virginia Lake – A favorite because of all the geese wandering around the path.
• Crissie Caughlin Park – Such an underrated gem with beautiful walking paths and a playground right by the river.
• Idlewild Park – Probably our overall favorite. The Riverwalk is peaceful, and the large playground is perfect for burning extra energy.
• Caughlin Ranch Park – Another hidden gem, especially because we can usually pair it with a stop at Yogurt Beach afterward.
• Riverwalk District – A great place to walk after grabbing coffee at the Hub.

Lake Tahoe Activities

While Reno keeps us plenty busy, we also spend a lot of time up at Lake Tahoe. Two of our favorite family activities there are scenic bike rides that somehow always end at an ice cream shop, and attending Tahoe Knight Monsters hockey games.

We only got into hockey in the last few years, but we quickly became fans. The games are surprisingly perfect for kids because they’re high-energy, interactive, and constantly entertaining. The themed nights are always such a hit with our daughter — especially Marvel Night and Star Wars Night.

One of my favorite parts of being a mom has been watching my daughter fall in love with the same things my husband and I have always enjoyed. We feel incredibly lucky to live in a place like Reno Tahoe, where there are so many opportunities for families to explore together.

If I could give one piece of advice to other young families, it would simply be this: include your kids in the things you already love. It may require a little extra planning, a few backup activities in your bag, and a bit more patience at times, but it’s so worth it. More often than not, they’ll end up loving those experiences just as much as you do.