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• Reno parks are open from 8 a.m. through sunset. • If you bring Fido along, be sure to bring your own bags for dog-cleanup duty. Check with park officials for dog policies. |
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Plan a picnic: Area parks have all the accommodations
Where to kick-back and relax in Reno
Sarah Cook, reno.com
Parks in Reno offer plenty of picnic areas, especially if you’re searching for a spacious, clean spot where you want to stay and hang, instead of race away in terror at the lack of accommodations.
Most of these areas in Reno are totally accommodating when it comes to picnics or barbecues, and playgrounds are a must, right? Without activities, kids are bored out of their minds and entertain themselves by bugging you. Instead, give them the option to fling themselves around in circles on a merry-go-round or dart down a plastic slide at full speed.
So, where should you go for an afternoon rendezvous in the “Biggest Little City?”
Your best bet is Rancho San Rafael. This is one of the bigger local parks, averaging about 570 acres, and can accommodate both small and large groups of people. Rancho San Rafael is located near the University of Nevada, Reno, off of Sierra Street and North McCarran Boulevard.
The cool thing about this place is that you’ll always be able to find an empty spot on the grass to set up shop, and you’re never going to be smashed against a hundred other people unless you try to be.
Rancho San Rafael has many options. If you’re having a huge party, you can reserve one of the covered pavilions, equipped with nearby restrooms, water fountains, and benches, not to mention many, many trashcans. To reserve one of these pavilions, you can contact the park offices at (775) 785-4512.
If you’re at the park just to chow down afternoon lunch, you’ll find you can pretty much go anywhere and be comfortable. Pick a place by a pond, in the middle of a grassy field, or under a group of shady trees.
Barbecues are placed randomly throughout the grounds of Rancho, so if your picnic requires a place to cook, you won’t run into any problems.
This park is also great for dogs as well as families, so don’t forget to take Fido along with. Be sure to bring your own bags for dog-cleanup duty, and if you do reserve a picnic area, keep in mind that dogs, although allowed on the grassy areas, aren’t allowed to hang in the pavilions.
Another great park in the Reno area is Idlewild Park. The Truckee River runs right along this park, so it’s great to set up an area in the shade on a hot summer’s day and watch the river race by.
Aside from being next to the river, Idlewild is also huge, about half the size of Rancho San Rafael. It is located near Reno High School, on Idlewild Drive, and has many offerings for visitors.
If you’re going there to hang out for the day, take your family. And, if your kid hates picnics and thinks it’s a burden to be dragged along, point him in the direction of the skate park and you’ll have made his day entirely.
Idlewild also has a public swimming pool on site, so if the Truckee River gets you in the mood for a swim, you can walk over and have some fun in the sun after lunch.
The family fun area at Idlewild has seasonal rides for the little ones, as well as a baseball diamond available for public use. And, there’s a pond where the ducks like to hang, so feel free to bring some bread and fatten those little guys up. Barbecues are available for public use.
Virginia Lake is another cool Reno park, but this one is a little different from the others. Virginia Lake is located on a busy street. Although people drive only 15 mph through there, it’s still a risk to have your kids or pets racing around unattended.
The park at Virginia Lake is right across the street from the lake, which is surrounded by a mile-long walking trail, so if you feel like taking a walk before sitting down for lunch, this is a great place to do so. However, don’t throw yourself in the lake. It’s full of duck poo and is probably one of the ickier bodies of water in the city, but pretty to look at. The ducks and geese that hang out at Virginia Lake are super sociable, so feel free to feed them, and be careful not to run them over as they’re big fans of walking as slowly as possible across the street. At least they tend to use the crosswalk!
The picnicking accommodations are nice. Playground equipment, covered seating, picnic benches, and barbecues are provided. Virginia Lake is located on Lakeside Drive, between Plumb and Moana Lanes.
Caughlin Ranch is one of the most beautiful residential areas in Reno. The entire ranch is pretty much one huge park with houses lined strategically throughout. Ponds are all over the place, and the grass is always kept nice and healthy, so this is a wonderful place to take a sacked lunch and plop down under the sun with some buddies. Located in the beautiful Caughlin Ranch community, the park is off McCarran Boulevard, stretching from Plumb Lane, almost all the way to Skyline Drive.
Caughlin Ranch offers bright and colorful flowers everywhere you look. It’s a great place to lean back and take in the scenery. And, if you want to cook something up, there’s a little park in front of Caughlin Ranch Elementary School with a large barbecue under its covered picnic bench area, right next to a volleyball net and tennis court.
Ambrose Park is a good pick if you’re looking for privacy or a secluded spot. No barbecues are available, so don’t bring raw meat. Ambrose is a tiny park located right along the Truckee River. There’s no grass to sit on, so bring a beach towel and walk along the tiny paths, toward the first clearing you can find along the water. It’s a fun spot that’s never crowded, and it’s a great place to fish. Sit along the small beach-like areas and watch the trains pass above you. This park is behind a great neighborhood, off Mayberry Drive. Since it’s a pretty safe place, it’d be fine for you to go there on your own to take some quiet time away, if you’re in more of a solo mood.
Most of these areas in Reno are totally accommodating when it comes to picnics or barbecues, and playgrounds are a must, right? Without activities, kids are bored out of their minds and entertain themselves by bugging you. Instead, give them the option to fling themselves around in circles on a merry-go-round or dart down a plastic slide at full speed.
So, where should you go for an afternoon rendezvous in the “Biggest Little City?”
Your best bet is Rancho San Rafael. This is one of the bigger local parks, averaging about 570 acres, and can accommodate both small and large groups of people. Rancho San Rafael is located near the University of Nevada, Reno, off of Sierra Street and North McCarran Boulevard.
The cool thing about this place is that you’ll always be able to find an empty spot on the grass to set up shop, and you’re never going to be smashed against a hundred other people unless you try to be.
Rancho San Rafael has many options. If you’re having a huge party, you can reserve one of the covered pavilions, equipped with nearby restrooms, water fountains, and benches, not to mention many, many trashcans. To reserve one of these pavilions, you can contact the park offices at (775) 785-4512.
If you’re at the park just to chow down afternoon lunch, you’ll find you can pretty much go anywhere and be comfortable. Pick a place by a pond, in the middle of a grassy field, or under a group of shady trees.
Barbecues are placed randomly throughout the grounds of Rancho, so if your picnic requires a place to cook, you won’t run into any problems.
This park is also great for dogs as well as families, so don’t forget to take Fido along with. Be sure to bring your own bags for dog-cleanup duty, and if you do reserve a picnic area, keep in mind that dogs, although allowed on the grassy areas, aren’t allowed to hang in the pavilions.
Another great park in the Reno area is Idlewild Park. The Truckee River runs right along this park, so it’s great to set up an area in the shade on a hot summer’s day and watch the river race by.
Aside from being next to the river, Idlewild is also huge, about half the size of Rancho San Rafael. It is located near Reno High School, on Idlewild Drive, and has many offerings for visitors.
If you’re going there to hang out for the day, take your family. And, if your kid hates picnics and thinks it’s a burden to be dragged along, point him in the direction of the skate park and you’ll have made his day entirely.
Idlewild also has a public swimming pool on site, so if the Truckee River gets you in the mood for a swim, you can walk over and have some fun in the sun after lunch.
The family fun area at Idlewild has seasonal rides for the little ones, as well as a baseball diamond available for public use. And, there’s a pond where the ducks like to hang, so feel free to bring some bread and fatten those little guys up. Barbecues are available for public use.
Virginia Lake is another cool Reno park, but this one is a little different from the others. Virginia Lake is located on a busy street. Although people drive only 15 mph through there, it’s still a risk to have your kids or pets racing around unattended.
The park at Virginia Lake is right across the street from the lake, which is surrounded by a mile-long walking trail, so if you feel like taking a walk before sitting down for lunch, this is a great place to do so. However, don’t throw yourself in the lake. It’s full of duck poo and is probably one of the ickier bodies of water in the city, but pretty to look at. The ducks and geese that hang out at Virginia Lake are super sociable, so feel free to feed them, and be careful not to run them over as they’re big fans of walking as slowly as possible across the street. At least they tend to use the crosswalk!
The picnicking accommodations are nice. Playground equipment, covered seating, picnic benches, and barbecues are provided. Virginia Lake is located on Lakeside Drive, between Plumb and Moana Lanes.
Caughlin Ranch is one of the most beautiful residential areas in Reno. The entire ranch is pretty much one huge park with houses lined strategically throughout. Ponds are all over the place, and the grass is always kept nice and healthy, so this is a wonderful place to take a sacked lunch and plop down under the sun with some buddies. Located in the beautiful Caughlin Ranch community, the park is off McCarran Boulevard, stretching from Plumb Lane, almost all the way to Skyline Drive.
Caughlin Ranch offers bright and colorful flowers everywhere you look. It’s a great place to lean back and take in the scenery. And, if you want to cook something up, there’s a little park in front of Caughlin Ranch Elementary School with a large barbecue under its covered picnic bench area, right next to a volleyball net and tennis court.
Ambrose Park is a good pick if you’re looking for privacy or a secluded spot. No barbecues are available, so don’t bring raw meat. Ambrose is a tiny park located right along the Truckee River. There’s no grass to sit on, so bring a beach towel and walk along the tiny paths, toward the first clearing you can find along the water. It’s a fun spot that’s never crowded, and it’s a great place to fish. Sit along the small beach-like areas and watch the trains pass above you. This park is behind a great neighborhood, off Mayberry Drive. Since it’s a pretty safe place, it’d be fine for you to go there on your own to take some quiet time away, if you’re in more of a solo mood.
Another fun picnic spot is Galena Creek Park, smack-dab between Reno and Lake Tahoe. Galena Creek literally flows right through the park, and it is beautiful. The family can walk or hike trails since the park is like a forest with some benches thrown in for comfort.
Galena Creek Park is most amazing in the fall. As the tree leaves change to orange and yellow, they fall, covering the walking trails, reminiscent of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This is a good pick for those looking to escape city life and find nature at its finest. This park is located on Mount Rose Highway, and the trails are very distinct and in-your-face, so you won’t have to worry about hauling through the tree brush to find them.
Galena Creek Park is most amazing in the fall. As the tree leaves change to orange and yellow, they fall, covering the walking trails, reminiscent of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This is a good pick for those looking to escape city life and find nature at its finest. This park is located on Mount Rose Highway, and the trails are very distinct and in-your-face, so you won’t have to worry about hauling through the tree brush to find them.
When planning your day, it’s good to remember that pretty much all of the parks in Reno are open from 8 a.m. through sunset. Good luck out there, picnic people! And remember to bring your sunscreen.
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