If you thought Reno, Nevada, was a small Las Vegas, all about gambling and live entertainment, think again. These days it's showing a different side of its personality. Reno began next to the Truckee River, which flows through the city, and the Riverwalk District brings this city long known for gambling back to its roots.

It's an area bursting with shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars, theaters, and unique events. The Wine Walk and Halloween Hollow are just two of the fun happenings that make visits to the Riverwalk District fun affairs.

The Riverwalk District is centered on the officially named Raymond I. Smith Truckee River Walk, located along the south side of the Truckee River between Virginia Street and Arlington Avenue. From here, you can wander a few blocks in every direction to tour the many businesses in this loosely defined district.
At the heart of Reno’s downtown urban renaissance is the one and only Riverwalk District, a sparkling medley of shops, bistros and cafés, lodging, bars, taverns, indoor and outdoor entertainment venues and even a whitewater park.

The Riverwalk began in 1990 as a means of celebrating Reno’s scenic downtown river corridor, and today this lively district is the go-to place for a healthy dose of Reno’s arts, culture and heritage any day of the year.
Shopping, noshing, grabbing a drink, taking in a show or just soaking up the scenery, you can do it all in the Riverwalk District.

In fact, part of the Riverwalk’s popularity is the many events you can enjoy here, including open mic and acoustic nights and wine and art walks, held on the third Saturday of every month, where you can purchase a wine glass to sample wine while you shop.
It’s a haven for those looking for a little retail therapy, thanks to no less than three dozen shops, boutiques, galleries, specialty retailers and salons.

You’ll also find dining options ranging from cozy coffeehouses to French cuisine to riverside grills and more. If an evening of drinks sounds good to you, take your pick of the Riverwalk’s saloons, lounges, wine bars, even a hookah bar and more. No matter how dressed up or down you want to get, you’ll find the perfect spot to unwind.

Then there are the entertainment options. From eclectic theater groups to the incredible whitewater kayak park to the riverside paths and parks, you won’t run out of things to do.
In another departure from its old rough image, Reno has become known as a center for the arts. The Truckee River Arts District encompasses a big swath of downtown that includes the Riverwalk District and the California Avenue shopping area. In addition to what those two areas feature, you'll find the Nevada Museum of Art, National Automobile Museum, Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, the Lake Mansion, and the Truckee River Whitewater Park.