Reno became America's divorce capital in the early 1900s when Nevada reduced residency requirements to six weeks. Women seeking to escape marriages they couldn't end in their home states came to Reno, established residency at 'dude ranches,' and obtained divorces that were legal nationwide. The industry created hotels, services, and the romantic mythology of Reno freedom. 'The Misfits,' Marilyn Monroe's last film, was set during a Reno divorce. The divorce trade declined as other states liberalized laws; the mythology persists in the arch and the reputation for permissiveness.

Reno's casinos preceded Las Vegas - gambling was legal in Nevada from 1931, but Las Vegas was barely a town. Reno's downtown casinos (Harrah's, the Eldorado, Circus Circus) provided the gambling that Californians sought before Vegas became dominant. The casinos still operate, though Vegas's scale made Reno secondary. The downtown gambling district is compact, walkable, somewhat faded - the gaming revenue that once drove the economy is now supplemented by warehouse jobs and tech. Reno's casinos are legacy operation, the industry that defined the city now just one piece of the economy.

Tesla's Gigafactory outside Reno produces batteries for electric vehicles at enormous scale - the building one of the largest in the world by footprint. Apple, Google, and other tech companies have followed, the data centers and distribution facilities spreading across the desert. The tech migration from California provides jobs and transforms the population - younger, more educated, expecting amenities that gambling town Reno didn't provide. The growth has pushed housing prices toward California levels, the affordability advantage eroding as demand increases. Reno is becoming what California was before it became unaffordable.

The Sierra Nevada rise west of Reno, Lake Tahoe 30 minutes away, ski resorts (Squaw Valley, Northstar, Mt. Rose) within an hour. The mountain access is Reno's advantage over Vegas - the outdoor recreation that attracts those who don't gamble, the winter skiing, the Tahoe summers. The proximity to California makes Reno accessible for weekend trips; the lower taxes make it attractive for relocation. The mountains moderate the high desert climate and provide the outdoor amenity that tech workers want. Reno without the Sierra would be just another desert city; with them, it's destination.

Reno is served by Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO). The downtown casinos offer the gambling experience, though Vegas does it bigger. The National Automobile Museum holds a strong car collection. The Truckee River runs through downtown; the riverwalk provides pleasant walking. Lake Tahoe is 45 minutes west - the drive on I-80 or Mount Rose Highway offers stunning views. Squaw Valley (now Palisades Tahoe) hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. For food, the casino buffets are traditional; the restaurant scene has improved with the tech influx. The weather is high desert: cold winters, warm summers. Visit in fall for the best of both.