ROAD TRIP: Take your new Barrett-Jackson Ride on a scenic Reno Tahoe drive
June 26, 2015
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Kayak Park in downtown Reno.
It’s a temptation too good to pass up: come for The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions® and extend your stay to explore the beautiful scenery and fascinating towns of western Nevada. Just a short drive away from the Barrett-Jackson block are attractions sure to impress any traveler.
Start in Reno by getting your feet wet – literally – and explore The Biggest Little City in the World beyond the blackjack tables. A relaxing stroll along the banks of the Truckee River running through downtown will bring you to the Riverwalk District, where there are a multitude of attractive bistros and galleries. The District is also home to Whitewater Park, also known as Kayak Park. With 11 pools for kayak adventure and a racing course, the half-mile-long park provides plenty of whitewater thrills, no matter your skill level.
If relaxing before your road trip is more your style, head for a luxury spa … or the golf course. For Reno’s most indulgent spa experiences, consider the award-winning Spa Atlantis at the Atlantis Casino Resort or the 33,000-square-foot Mediterranean-themed Spa Toscana at the Peppermill Resort. These peaceful sanctuaries feature a wide array of innovative and therapeutic treatments in opulent and idyllic surroundings. If you prefer finding your peace on the fairways, you’ll find three top-notch 18-hole golf courses less than five miles away from downtown Reno: Wildcreek, LakeRidge and Washoe County (the latter is Nevada’s oldest course). Enjoy watching your ball fly farther than ever before because of the city’s altitude of more than 4,500 feet.
Pyramid Lake, about 50 miles north of Reno, makes for a fascinating day trip.
Now it’s time to rev that engine and hit the road.
For a quick scenic tour, drive about 50 miles northeast of Reno to one of the largest natural lakes in Nevada. “Ethereal” is perhaps the best word to describe the magnificent Pyramid Lake, widely acclaimed as North America’s most beautiful desert lake. The source of its name will be evident as soon as you catch site of the impressive pyramid-shaped limestone formations found in the lake and along the shores. The Pyramid Lake National Scenic Byway is the only national scenic byway entirely within an American Indian reservation. Visitors can learn about the lake’s fascinating history, culture and folklore at the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Visitors Center and Museum. While visitors are drawn to the lake for a variety of outdoor activities, it is best known for its world-class fishing. Pyramid Lake is the only habitat in the world where the ancient Cui-ui fish can be found, and is also home to the world-record Lohanton Cutthroat Trout (41 pounds).
Sightseeing in western Nevada is an easy proposition, whether you want to devote just a day or even longer to your trip. The 134-mile circular route described here will take you through some truly spectacular scenery and fascinating Nevada towns that are right out of the pages of history.
Begin your tour in Reno and head south for a trip 150 years back in time. A stunning 26-mile drive through the mountains – with ample scenic pull-outs along the way – brings you to Virginia City. The town sprang up with the 1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode, the first major discovery of silver ore in the United States, and is also known as the home of the Cartwrights in the TV show “Bonanza.” Stroll the wooden sidewalks, belly up to the bar of an old-time saloon, investigate a historic mine, take a ride on a stagecoach or just go on a walking tour of this picturesque town. With a multitude of charming restaurants, bed-and-breakfasts and hotels, you just might consider Virginia City the perfect stopping-off point for the night.
Next stop: Nevada’s state capital, Carson City, only about 15 miles away. The road out of Virginia City heads steeply down the mountain through the historic little mining town of Silver City, which today is virtually a ghost town. Just beyond is the highway leading to Carson City. Named after famed mountain man Kit Carson, the city’s downtown district is lined with shops and restaurants. Among Carson City’s highlights is the Nevada State Museum, located in what was once a branch of the U.S. Mint. The facility minted low numbers of mainly silver coins in the late 1800s; the original Coin Press No. 1 still works and is a main attraction.
Down the street is the Nevada State Capitol building, built around 1870 and set on attractive grounds containing several other legislative buildings. The Nevada governor maintains an office here, and the second floor houses a number of historical exhibits. Nearby is the Nevada State Railroad Museum, which often runs diesel or steam trains on short scenic trips for visitors. For those who want to stretch their legs and discover more of Carson City’s history, the Kit Carson Trail Walking Tour is a 2.5-mile self-guided walk to over 60 historic sites in the downtown area, marked by a blue line painted on the sidewalks.
Genoa, the oldest town in Nevada, is full of picturesque historic buildings.
About 13 miles down the road is the little town of Genoa. Nestled at the base of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada range, the town was founded in 1851 and was the first settlement in what became the Nevada Territory. Settled by Mormon pioneers, it is home to the Mormon Station State Historic Park – a replica of the original trading post that now houses a museum. For a great round of golf, the nearby Genoa Lakes Golf Club & Resort is hard to beat, with stunning vistas and a choice of two championship courses. Head back into town after your round to enjoy your “19th hole” at the Nevada’s oldest watering hole: the Genoa Bar, built in 1853. A stroll through town might also be in order. Designated as a National Historic District in 1975, the Genoa Historic District includes 29 buildings, many of which are original.
From Genoa, head south about six miles to the community of Mottsville, where you’ll pick up the twisty 12-mile stretch of road up and over the escarpment to Stateline. As its name implies, the town is on the Nevada-California border and sits on the southernmost edge of Nevada’s portion of Lake Tahoe.
Jewel of the Sierra
Beautiful Lake Tahoe as seen from the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada.
A trip on a paddlewheeler around Lake Tahoe is a perfect way to view the breathtaking vistas.
Your first view of magnificent Lake Tahoe will undoubtedly take your breath away. With its crystal-clear blue waters surrounded by majestic mountains on all sides, this largest alpine lake in North America is spectacularly beautiful. Lake Tahoe straddles Nevada and California and is a renowned outdoor recreation destination. You’ll find top-notch skiing in the winter months, as well as a wide variety of water sports, blissful beaches, and outstanding hiking and bicycling opportunities all summer. Gambling is also an attraction on the Nevada shores, with a number of first-class casinos located in Stateline, and on the North Shore in Crystal Bay and Incline Village. Stateline is also home to a number of fine resorts and makes a great base from which to explore all the southern part of the lake has to offer. Several facilities offer kayak, canoe or bicycle rentals. Golfers won’t be able to avoid the allure of Edgewood Tahoe, set along the lakeshore and arguably one of the most scenic golf courses in the world. Just a couple of miles away is Heavenly Mountain Resort, the largest ski area in California and Nevada, where (snow or no snow) you can take a gondola ride 2.4 miles up into the mountains for breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe. If you need a little more excitement, opt for the Blue Streak zip line instead: similar views, more adrenalin-laced.
A drive on the Lake Tahoe National Scenic Byway will yield unforgettable moments and stunning scenery.
Continue your excursion along the Nevada shores of Lake Tahoe by heading north on a 28-mile stretch of road that is sure to be a highlight of your trip. This is the Lake Tahoe National Scenic Byway, often referred to as “the most beautiful drive in America.” Running from Stateline north to Crystal Bay, the route offers motorists striking views of the deep blue alpine lake, towering pines and the majestic Sierra Nevada range. Just two miles out of Stateline is Zephyr Cove, where you can board an old-time paddlewheeler and cruise to magnificent Emerald Bay on a narrated journey through some of the most incredible scenery in the world. Watercraft rentals and parasailing are also available here; stay the night at the lodge or cabins if you’d like to extend your visit.
Go ahead — take your daily driver or new auction purchase on the road through scenic western Nevada. You’ll be glad you did.
About 11 miles further on, you’ll come to Spooner Lake, a popular spot for picnicking and catch-and-release fishing, where U.S. 50 turns east and will take you back to Carson City. If you’d like to explore more of Lake Tahoe, keep left to the scenic byway, known as State Road 28 at this point. Before you come to Incline Village some 12 miles ahead, you’ll pass through Lake Tahoe State Park, where hiking trails abound. Swimmers, scuba divers and boaters head to the popular Sand Harbor Beach, which is surrounded by interesting rock formations and offers panoramic views of the east shoreline.
Biking the Flume Trail is an exhilarating experience.
At the northernmost point of Lake Tahoe are the neighboring communities of Incline Village and Crystal Bay, the latter on the Nevada-California border. You’ll find golf courses, casinos, spas and beaches, along with all manner of water sports activities. Although the entire Lake Tahoe area is rife with great mountain biking trails, aficionados in the sport head to Incline Village because it’s the starting-off point for what’s said to be the most epic ride of them all: the Flume Trail. Rent a bike at Flume Trail Mountain Bikes and their hourly shuttle van will take you to Spooner Lake State Park, the drop-off point for a challenging 14-mile ride at 7,000 to 8,100 feet in elevation – yielding spectacular vistas, but at the expense of steep terrain in places. You’ll end up back at the bike shop and café, where you can swap trail tales with other adventurers. If you feel like taking on an even bigger challenge, the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail runs along the ridge tops of the Lake Tahoe Basin and forms a loop around the entire lake, crossing six counties and two states. For many cyclists and hikers alike, to complete the entire trail is a bucket-list accomplishment.
One last leg of your journey through the Reno Tahoe area remains: back to Reno via another impressive drive. The two-lane Mount Rose Highway is a Nevada Scenic Byway that scales the Sierra Nevada, affording views of several notable peaks in the range and cresting at the Mount Rose Summit. Just past the Mount Rose ski area, numerous pull-outs overlook both Reno and the Washoe Valley. Several serpentine bends later, you’ll arrive at the outskirts of Reno.