In June 2021, Stephen and I decided we needed a weekend getaway. We both needed to study for license exams for work without all of our distractions at home. We figured, why not book a spontaneous weekend in Reno, Nevada? We could listen to study material on the drive up, study in our room for a few hours each day, and relax. It was a win/win!
After a frantic afternoon scheduling boarding for our dog, booking a resort, and packing, Stephen and I headed on down to Reno for a spontaneous three day/two night trip of both work and play!
Day One
During our drive from the Bay Area, Stephen and I got stuck in traffic for almost 5 hours. When we arrived to check in to our room at the Silver Legacy Resort & Casino, we were hungry and ready to enjoy our vacation! We quickly unpacked and headed back downstairs for an early dinner.
Dinner at Brew Brothers
Whenever I travel within the United States, I love to visit restaurants that showcase local craft beers. Almost every state has at least one local brewery. It’s a great way to experience a taste of that state’s culture!
Luckily, a great brewpub called Brew Brothers was located inside the Eldorado Resort & Casino, which was connected to the resort we were staying at.
Brew Brothers offered 8 custom microbrews, each falling under a different category of craft beer. Stephen and I shared a Gold Dollar Pale Ale and a Redhead Amber Ale. Both were delicious, but the Redhead Amber Ale was a standout!
For dinner, our waitress recommended ordering an appetizer of the Wagyu Beef Sliders. The sliders were so delicious, we wished there were more! After that, we ordered a plate of beer-battered Fish and Chips and a Shrimp Po Boy sandwich. While both were tasty, I couldn’t get enough of the Shrimp Po Boy sandwich!
Exploring the Eldorado Resort & Casino
After finishing our dinner, Stephen and I had some time to kill. Since we had already wandered around the Silver Legacy Resort & Casino after we checked in, we decided to explore the Eldorado Resort & Casino.
The entrance to the Eldorado was adorned with a bright neon sign (of course) and several fun aquatic fountains. While the Silver Legacy had mostly modern décor, the Eldorado was more ornate. It provided a nice contrast and gave the resort and casino their own identity.
After exploring, Stephen and I still had a bit of time to waste. Stephen wanted to play a couple of rounds at a slot machine. I stood nearby and provided sassy commentary, as I always do when around slot machines.
Stand-up Comedy at the Laugh Factory
While my sassy slot machine jokes were riveting, Stephen and I wanted to hear jokes about gambling from professionals. We headed downstairs to The Laugh Factory, ordered a couple of cocktails, and got ready for the show!
We thoroughly enjoyed the standup routines of Noel Elgrably, Kristeen Von Hagen, and Angelo Tsarouchas. We laughed until we cried!
Drinks and Dessert at Roxy’s Bar and Lounge
Since the comedy show ended at around 8:30, Stephen and I weren’t ready to end our night so early! We decided to head back upstairs to Roxy’s Bar and Lounge for cocktails, dessert, and some live music.
One of Stephen and I’s favorite activities is listening to live music. After the pandemic, we were grateful to be able to experience the live jazz band performing at Roxy’s! We had a lovely time drinking two martinis and eating a delicious Black Forest Cake.
Day Two
Breakfast at Josef’s Vienna Bakery & Café
For breakfast the following morning, Stephen and I decided to leave the resort and dine and a locally owned spot. We asked a bellboy for recommendations, and he directed us to Josef’s Vienna Bakery and Café.
Josef’s is well known in Reno for serving delicious French Toast. They use homemade French baguettes coated in a mandarin orange sauce to give the dish a unique twist! It was the best French Toast I’ve even eaten.
As we exited Josef’s, Stephen and I stopped to look at their beautiful cakes and pastries. Josef’s offered a delightful array of baked goods, including my favorite, tiramisu! Sadly, we chose not to purchase anything due to my nut allergy.
Coffee at Coffee N’ Comics
Next, Stephen and I drove across the street to Coffee N’ Comics. Coffee N’ Comics is a cute shop that offers a full coffee and espresso bar, an impressive craft beer selection, and a wide variety of comics and tabletop games!
During our visit, we only ordered cold brew. However, we can’t wait to go back during our next visit to Reno and participate in one of the many tabletop gaming nights they host!
Morning at the Pool
Once we returned back to our resort, Stephen and I headed over to the pool to relax and study for our upcoming license exams. The pool at The Silver Legacy was pretty small, but it offered ample seating for people to lay out, sit and read, or simply enjoy a pool cocktail!
Unfortunately, we failed to realize how hot Reno was during the summer! While we were at the pool, the temperatures climbed to 90 degrees. Neither of us wanted to study while in the water, so we left the pool after 10 minutes. (Not without taking Instagram photos first, of course!)
Afternoon at the Casino
After a few hours of studying in our room, we ventured back out onto the casino floor. This time, we decided to play a few games at The Silver Legacy Casino!
First up, we grabbed a spot at a Craps table. Craps is one of the best casino games to play in terms of odds, so it’s something Stephen and I gravitate towards. Sadly, all of the Craps tables at The Silver Legacy Casino had buy-ins of $25, which was a little higher than we were comfortable with. We only played a couple of rounds before moving on.
Next, Stephen and I found a video Baccarat table. Like Craps, Baccarat has decent odds of winning. Unlike Craps, I had absolutely no idea how to play. I somehow won $40- yay!
After cashing out on Baccarat while we were ahead, Stephen and I came across a machine called “Triple Double Bonus Poker.” We were quite intrigued as to what this could mean- how is “Triple Double Bonus Poker” different from regular poker?
Sadly, we never found out. “Triple Double Bonus Poker” had no discernible logic to it at all. (Hopefully it has discernible logic to the company that made it). Even sadder, it ate some of my earlier winnings from Baccarat. Oh well!
I had no idea what I was doing! 
I had no idea what this machine was doing!
Drinks at Roxy’s Bar and Lounge (again)
Since we had such a pleasant time the night before at Roxy’s Bar and Lounge, we decided to return and try a couple new cocktails! As a bonus, we also got to listen to live jazz piano for over an hour.
Out of all the cocktails we tried during both visits to Roxy’s, I recommend the Lemon Drop Martini and the Cosmopolitan. Both were exceptional!
Photo Walk
After enjoying our cocktails, Stephen and I made a quick pit stop at our hotel room to change and pick up our DSLR camera. Since we planned on walking to a restaurant on the Reno Waterfront for dinner, I thought it would be a fun opportunity to take some photos of Downtown Reno!
I was particularly intrigued by all of the signs in Reno. While Reno is a lot like Vegas, it’s also more slow-paced. Even it’s neon signs were more low key!
Dinner on the Reno Waterfront
Finally, we arrived at our dinner destination. The Wild River Grille had great food, live music, and a gorgeous view of the Reno Waterfront. We were lucky to snag a table without a reservation!
To start our meal, we ordered a Sausage Trio. We were served some delicious fresh grilled bread, two different types of sausage, and an assortment of mustard and garnishes. It was all very delicious!
For dinner, I ordered Sautéed Elk Medallions. It was my first time trying elk, and it was quite delightful! Stephen ordered a ribeye, which was garnished with a tasty sauce and served alongside grilled asparagus.
After our amazing dinner, we decided to be responsible and return to our room early to study.
Day Three
Breakfast at Sips Coffee and Tea
Our third day in Reno was a short one. Stephen’s Contractor’s License Exam was scheduled for the following morning in Sacramento, so we needed to leave the hotel early to drive. We both woke up early to pack and grab a to-go breakfast at Sips Coffee and Tea.
My cold brew was delicious, and our pastries were even better! Stephen enjoyed an apple fritter, while I enjoyed a chocolate donut and maple long john.
Mani/Pedis at the Spa
Before checking out, Stephen and I rushed over to an appointment at the Silver Legacy Spa. Stephen chose a luxurious manicure, while I opted for a pedicure. Of course, the spa staff assumed it was the other way around, which gave us both a laugh! It was the perfect way to end our trip before driving to our next stop: Sacramento.
Overall, our trip to Reno was both relaxing and productive! Stephen and I had a lot of fun exploring both the Silver Legacy and Eldorado Resorts. We also loved discovering Josef’s Vienna Bakery & Café and Coffee N’ Comics. We can’t wait for our next visit!
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