Reno Travel tips

How to get there

You’ll pay about $800 for a round-trip for two in late September with Web-only deals on Southwest Airlines, leaving on a Sunday and returning the following Wednesday. The flight is about seven hours each way, with one or two layovers.

Where to stay

Affordable: Standard room in the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, 407 N. Virginia St., $49 a night for a Sunday through Wednesday in September. www.silverlegacyreno.com

Luxury: Suite in the Summit at Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St., $450 for a Sunday through Wednesday in September. www.grandsierraresort.com

Where to eat

Casino buffets: For atmosphere and variety, including steak and crab Wednesdays, try Toucan Charlie’s at Atlantis, $18.99 to $28.99. 3800 S. Virginia St.

Santa Fe: Salad, beans, bread, chorizo, wine, dessert and an entrée – the grilled lamb is divine – served family-style for $14. A unique Basque experience; 235 Lake St.

Peg’s Glorified Ham Eggs: A cheery diner serving imaginative breakfast dishes. Some are even healthy, though the portions are still generous; 420 S. Sierra St.

LuLou’s: You can spend all the money you saved on the hotel room at this modern, high-end restaurant. The seasonal salads alone are worth the visit; 1470 S. Virginia St.

Pick a Nugget: One dish that intrigues TV chefs is the succulent “Awful Awful” burger. Fancy at John Ascuaga’s Nugget resort or in a basket at downtown’s Little Nugget.

What to do

Take a hike: A handy guide to all the trails in the Reno area is available at the website of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, tbo.ly/r35D52.

Have a swim: Splash about or snorkel in crystal clear water at Sand Harbor in the Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park. Admission is $12 per vehicle.

See the planes: Reno boasts 290 days a year of special events, and one is the National Championship Air Races and Air Show, Sept. 14-18, Reno Stead Field.

Take a chance: You can play the slots anywhere, even supermarkets, but toss in a bit of history with those dice. The Cal-Neva opened in 1962 and is famous for its sports book.