Some of the top travel trends anticipated for 2026 include mountain tourism and multigenerational travel, according to Skyscanner’s recent survey of 2,000 American travelers. Finding a destination that combines both can be tricky. Different interests and energy levels can make it feel like betting against the house to keep every member of the family happy.
Reno’s push toward outdoor recreation and new downtown developments draws growing attention from travelers. Photo credit: Visit Reno Tahoe.
Shaking off its historical stereotypes and comparisons to Las Vegas, Reno is branching out and embracing the outdoor opportunities around it to attract a different kind of tourist. From glittering Lake Tahoe, only 30 minutes away, to the mountains surrounding the city, the region offers four seasons of outdoor recreation. Outside Magazine has named Reno one of its best places to live multiple times, citing its access to the outdoors as a primary reason.
Combined with the amenities offered by Reno’s large resorts, such as pool complexes, spas, kid zones, multiple on-site restaurants and live performances, it’s easy to see why travelers on a multigenerational trip would find the city appealing. And Reno is betting that its blend of outdoors and city life will draw new kinds of visitors.
From ski resort improvements to multimillion-dollar developments in downtown Reno, the new investments are paying off. While tourist numbers were down throughout the first half of the year in Las Vegas, Reno almost increased by 2%. “Travelers come to Reno Tahoe because it offers genuine variety, from mountain adventure with ski days, lake dips and trail time, to dining, entertainment and events,” says Mike Larragueta, president and CEO of Visit Reno Tahoe.
Year-round outdoor activities
Lake Tahoe’s reputation as a world-class ski destination is well deserved, with 15 ski resorts in the area, and some have very reasonable family-friendly pricing. You don’t have to pay resort prices to stay near the slopes either, thanks to Reno’s estimated 15,000 hotel rooms. And a couple of resorts, like Mount Rose and Diamond Peak, are just 30 minutes from Reno. For those who don’t ski, Mount Rose has added Wildslide, a brand-new, $6 million snow tubing park that opened for the 2025-2026 season.
When the snow melts, Reno remains a major draw for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking is an obvious favorite, with trailheads dotting the outskirts of town as well as the shores of nearby Lake Tahoe. Feeding the wild chickadees along the Chickadee Ridge trail is a kid favorite. For a longer hike with memorable views, try the Tunnel Creek trail to Monkey Rock on Tahoe’s north shore.
Reno is also surprisingly cyclist-friendly. Mountain biking is big, and trails abound, as do tour and rental companies in Reno itself and in. Easy gravel rides and black-diamond downhill thrill rides are all here in the mountains in the area. For a paved trail adventure, check out the spectacular Tahoe East Shore Trail, a multimillion-dollar, 3-mile route with sweeping views over Lake Tahoe and just 40 minutes from downtown Reno. The trail has proven so popular that planning is underway to extend it farther around the lake.
If you’re not looking for some mountain biking action, rent a bike to explore downtown Reno and its Riverwalk greenway along the Truckee River. Or try a 15-person trolley bike tour around downtown for an easy and entertaining family bonding experience that doesn’t require much pedaling. They offer specialty tours such as a food tour or an art tour of Burning Man sculptures and Reno’s art murals in conjunction with a local guiding company, Travel Pineapple.
If you’d rather explore Lake Tahoe on the water, boat rentals, kayaks and paddleboards are all popular options. For a closer-to-town float, drifting down the Truckee River through downtown Reno is a time-honored summer tradition. There’s even a whitewater park downtown, open to all paddlers. Guided and unguided trips will shuttle you upriver so you can float back into the city.
Horseback riding is another quintessential activity in this cowboy town. Reno is home to the Reno Rodeo, which draws more than 140,000 visitors each year. In nearby Truckee, Piping Rock Horses gives tourists a taste of life in the saddle with trail rides through the Sierra Nevada wilderness. The outfitter offers experiences for everyone, from kids to grandparents, making lasting family memories.
Resorts expanding their multigenerational appeal
Reno’s large casinos may be part of its legacy, but they’re pivoting to appeal to the future. Reddit records a year-over-year 387% increase in family travel conversations, according to Skyscanner’s 2026 trend report, and these travelers want more family-friendly lodging options. Large pool complexes remain a staple, but some resorts are getting creative with new attractions and investing heavily in fresh developments.
Circus Circus Reno Hotel & Casino has renovated its carnival midway with games and free circus shows, including acrobats and jugglers, multiple times a day. Beyond its sizable pool, the Grand Sierra Resort offers an ice rink in the winter and a year-round FunQuest zone featuring arcade games, a kids’ climbing area and bumper cars.
The Grand Sierra Resort is also breaking ground on a new, multimillion-dollar arena that will hold 10,000 people. The arena will host Nevada Wolf Pack basketball and allow Reno to land shows and events that previously skipped the city due to a lack of a suitable venue.
Sports tourism and travel for live events are booming worldwide as millennials and Gen Z continue to focus on experiences over shopping. With live events often serving as the catalyst for choosing a destination, Reno is positioning itself to appeal to a broader audience.
“There is space here for every style of traveler,” says Larragueta, “with multi-gen families loving the outdoor adventure, lively festivals and amenity-packed resorts, kids enjoying hands-on discovery and epic play spaces, food lovers exploring a growing dining scene, creatives finding murals and museum gems, and serious adventurers taking on world-class mountain terrain. We are continuing to build on that mix with new additions like the Mt. Rose tubing park for 2025-2026, expanded athletic events through the indoor track and Reno Arena, and new music venues, adding even more to enjoy downtown.”
Festivals lead the way for live event travel to Reno
Besides the famous Burning Man festival, which takes place 120 miles north of Reno, the city also hosts the family-friendly Great Reno Balloon Race, one of the city’s biggest festivals. In fact, it’s the largest free hot-air ballooning event in the world. With 100 balloons taking part in daily launches, the spectacle also offers kid-friendly tethered rides, crafts and food along Balloon Boulevard.
The Dragon Lights Reno festival is another visual delight, a two-month-long lantern festival with a new theme each year. Held outdoors in an arboretum, the event uses thousands of lanterns to create immersive worlds for visitors to explore. At the center is a magnificent Chinese dragon, an interactive kids’ playground and a food court.
With new developments diversifying Reno’s traditional appeal, the city is capitalizing on its mountain location and natural resources to appeal to families looking for a destination that everyone will enjoy.
Amanda Luhn is a freelance writer who escapes from her never-ending cabin renovation by traveling, whether that is camping in her beloved Smoky Mountains or hopping on a plane to a new country. She writes for her family travel blog, Simply Awesome Trips, and her East Tennessee blog, Knoxville Backyard & Beyond.
The post Reno reinvents itself for outdoor and family travel appeared first on Food Drink Life.
