Think you know Reno? Think again ...

Reno is located in northern Nevada, on the very edge of the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range and in the heart of the Old West. As shown below, this places it close to Lake Tahoe and to historical sites such as Carson City and Virginia City. Reno itself is located at around 4,000 ft above sea level (Lake Tahoe is some 2,000 ft higher).

Reno and Sparks

The Reno-Sparks metropolitan area has a population of around 350,000 people. Reno prides itself on being "The Biggest Little City in the World". It makes an original and distinctive Worldcon destination - and its size and compactness make for convenience with light traffic and good public transportation. The Truckee River runs through the center of Reno on its way to Pyramid Lake. Reno does of course have casinos, but it is equally well known for sports and recreation - from the fun of white water rafting in the middle of the city to skiing and hot air ballooning. As many of you won't have visited Reno before, we have put together this introduction to the city, along with information on eating in Reno and family activities in Reno.

Natural Wonders

For those with some time to spare, the Reno area offers stunning natural wonders. Lake Tahoe is unrivalled in its beauty and known for both the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides. In 2008 it was ranked the #1 US destination by Trip Advisor. Read more about natural attractions close to Reno, including Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake. Away from the city, you can also expect some of the darkest, clearest skies in the World - an extra attraction for star-gazers. The Fleischmann Planetarium's shows and exhibits will introduce you to the sky of the High Sierras. Read more about attractions related to the sky and stars in Nevada.

The Heart of the West

Virginia City & Carson City will take you back to the heart of the Old West and the core of American history. Transport fans will be charmed by the Virginia and Truckee Railroad or a visit to the National Automobile Museum. Take a stroll through history, and learn the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Gold and Silver booms in Virginia City. Read more about exploring the Old West or becoming part of transport history while you're visiting Reno for the Worldcon.

Getting Here and Getting Around

Reno is located in northern Nevada, on the very edge of the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range. You can travel to Reno by plane, train or automobile.

• Reno-Tahoe International Airport is served by 160 flights daily.
• Reno is on the main East-West Amtrak route, served by the California Zephyr which runs from San Francisco right through to Chicago.
• By car, Reno is 220 miles from San Francisco and 500 miles from Los Angeles.

Once you arrive in Reno, you'll find the usual range of car rental and taxi services, as well as a very good public transportation system based on buses. Carson City, Virginia City and Lake Tahoe are all within 60 miles (90 minutes drive), as are Pyramid Lake and Squaw Valley.

Check out the separate travel section for more information on getting around, and we have also provided some useful maps to help with orientation.