Northern Nevadan author, marketer, and mother Mikalee Byerman has released the second edition of her next book 100 Things To Do in Reno Before You Die. Published by Reedy Press, it is the ideal guidebook for residents looking for their next local afternoon adventure, visitors planning to spend a week or longer in the Biggest Little City in the World, or even real estate agents wanting to give a unique closing sale gift.
Even though “Reno” is in the title, at least half the listings are of businesses located in Sparks (there are a few in Carson City and Lake Tahoe, too). Broken down into five parts: Food and Drink; Music and Entertainment; Sports and Recreation; Culture and History; and Shopping and Fashion; this huge breadth of activities will keep you, your family, and friends occupied every weekend for an entire year.
The most iconic Sparks restaurants are mentioned, including: Casale’s Halfway Club, Louis’ Basque Corner, Engine 8 Urban Winery, David’s Grill, Pietro’s Famiglia, and Great Basin Brewing Co., along with descriptions about what makes them so special or suggestions about what to order while you’re there. The book is pretty up to date, mentioning newer places like the Sparks Water Bar, Legends Casino, and Mari Chuy’s, too.
In the Sports and Recreation section, Wild Island is called out as a place to take the whole family or hiking the many trails around in the hills of east Sparks to watch the sunset.
The Andelin Family Farm in Spanish Springs is listed as a place to visit three seasons out of the year, and Copper Cat Studio (as well as The Generator) get special mentions for places to go to take art and craft classes.
Reading 100 Things To Do In Reno Before You Die conjured up memories of floating the Truckee River, celebrating Artown with The Holland Project, going to a Reno Aces game, or getting up at the break of dawn to watch the Great Reno Balloon Race.
And I had no idea that there was a naturally heated swimming pool at Bowers Mansion, that the 10 percent rule applies to golfing in the High Sierra, and that we have adults-inspired arcades that serve drinks with old school pinball machines, air hockey, and Centipede at places like Playfield 76 and Press Start in Reno. I didn’t know there was a PBS show called “Wild Nevada” that takes armchair adventurers through tours of the Silver State, or that there’s a company that takes people out on tours to see Northern Nevada’s wild horses.
It’s obvious that Byerman has extensive knowledge of the Reno/Sparks area, considering the impact that viewing the shrunken head at the Wilbur D. May museum had on her as a kid, sharing how Double Diamond Ranch was named, and how Pinocchio’s (with locations in both Reno and Sparks) are the main supporters of Moms on the Run.
In the Shopping section, Legends at Outlets is described as a place that appeals to kids, art aficionados, and history buffs, complete with the Ferris wheel inside Scheels and the IMAX theater. Or head to the Moana Nursery to get a whiff of fresh flowers and plants. Byerman calls White Daisy Designs on Los Altos Parkway the place to go for Nevada-themed gifts and nice home décor, and mentions The Flag Store on Glendale Avenue, too.
Filled with fun facts, cute puns, and unique places that will surprise the most seasoned Renoite, this book is the perfect gift for anyone who calls Nevada “home”.
100 Things To Do In Reno Before You Die by Mikalee Byerman is sold through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. For more information, visit www.mikaleebyerman.com.
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