Right in the center of Reno is this 24 acre lake and surrounding park. The walking loop is 1 mile and almost completely flat. The lake is very pretty and I an envious of people that have homes with a view here. I am not really sure how the water is safe to fish for mostly trout in, but not safe to swim in. Hmmmm someone has some explaining to do. One the west side of the lake is a small grass park, picnic and play area. Surrounding trees offer a bit of relief from the sun. read more

Virginia Lake Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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Beautiful Spring day at the park and it felt good to take a walk around the lake. Lots of people out on a weekend. A few people fishing and catching trout. Great place to enjoy peace within the city. Clean and safe, and beautiful surroundings. read more

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Nice area to get your steps in, read or just meditate. Looking forward to more walks here! read more

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The park like area around the lake is inviting. It's a nice place to sit and watch the geese and ducks. The speed limit on the street on the west side of the lake is 15 mph. This is due to the geese and ducks meandering across the street. This is a great place for locals to relax. read more

Try this one mile loop trail in Reno, Nevada. It's an easy flat route & takes about 20 min to complete. It's a popular trail for birding, running, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Remember, the strolling geese have the right off way. read more

I live that park! It's one mile around and that makes it easy to track how far you walk

A perfect little oasis of nature in the city! This time of year the leaves are changing, and you can see every color around the lake. There's a dirt path and a paved path around the lake -- the paved part is wide enough for two strollers, although certain sections are pretty bumpy. I usually end up doing 2-3 laps in about an hour. There are some benches to sit at scattered around, a dog park, and a playground at one end and a workout section at the other. Definitely something for everyone! There are NO poop bag stations around the lake though, so make sure to bring your own. Pro Tip: Be a cool human and smile or nod at your neighbors as you pass them, rather than totally ignoring each other like a stone faced zombie. You'd be surprised how it can make a difference in yours or someone else's day :) read more

Virginia Lake Park - Everyone likes the lake! - Playgrounds Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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The walk is quick I want to say its like one mile around. It's shady which is good for the hot days. There are beautiful views if you want to sit on one of the benches. read more

Virginia Lake Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Reno, Nevada

I came to this park to get a run in while I was in Reno. We were staying at the Peppermill Resort and Casino, and this park was located behind the hotel, about a 10 minute walk if you go out the back way. It was less than a mile around on the paved path circling the lake, so I ran around twice and some change. There was a fountain in the middle of the lake, and for a cold Reno morning, there was a fair amount of walkers here with very few runners. I did see lots of benches around the lake along with exercise stations and restrooms. I can see this place being popular with the locals, glad I found this park!! read more

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***This review is for the dog park area only*** We brought our pup here on a recent visit to the area and were pretty surprised when we pulled up. We were able to park right in front of the dog park area and it is divided into two sections; one for small dogs and one for large dogs. Unfortunately, the small dog area is all dirt with virtually no shade and is about 1/8th the size of the large dog area. All the "toys", like a couple of pipes for the dogs to run through are on the large dog side. There was another couple who had their small dog in the large dog area and we socialized with them briefly but the dog park just wasn't much to speak of and we would not return. As we were leaving, we saw a lot of people at the park and lake area and it looked nice so the park itself may be deserving of more stars, but the dog park area, not so much. read more

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This is one of my favorite places in Reno. I walk the lake most days. It's a great place to relax, see a lot of animals, & enjoy the sun. The mile loop is ideal for a quick walk, but I often end up looping multiple times because it's so relaxing. There's a playground, a workout area and lots of benches and picnic tables around. It's a great spot to have a little gathering! There's also a small dog park nearby. Extra perk: there's often an ice cream truck that stops by in the early evenings. Ideal for families, kids, and really people of all ages! read more

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We took our dog to the dog park here today and he had a blast! This was his first time there and there were lots of balls for him to play with, a little pool to keep cool and lots of room to run. The other dogs/owners were came across were wonderful as well. read more

Very nice neighborhood Walking / jogging paths around Fountains beautiful peaceful time away from casinos read more

Virginia Lake Park - Virginia Lake Park very peaceful with walk path and birds - Playgrounds Near Me - Reno, Nevada

This is a nice park with a nice lake to walk around. The walking trail is nice and there are plenty of geese, ducks and pigeons who call this lake home. Street parking is available and there is usually plenty of space. The playground is located across the street from the lake. There is a dog park across the street from the playground. The playground has two separate playgrounds. The silver and blue playground has sand underneath it. The slides are made of metal and will likely be hot on a hot day. The silver and blue playground has another set of toddler swings next to it. The multi colored playground has high monkey bars and a couple of slides. There is a cool climbing structure next to the multi colored playground. Wood chips are underneath the multi colored playground. There are toddler swings and regular swings at this park. There is a covered eating area with picnic tables underneath. There are bathrooms at this park. The bathrooms are located near the playground. The park was clean. Side note- This park is close to downtown. I've seen several homeless people in the area. There have been other times visiting this park when it wasn't as clean as my most recent visit. Have fun out there. - Dadzone read more

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4/19/20-Business as usual here. A few less people, better safe than sorry. We only stay 20 minutes and in the car, for now. It's how we have dinner nowadays. A picnic in the car. Car-nicking. The birds aren't aware of Covid19, they are here in droves. An occasional jogger or walker. There's a small fitness area that I'm certain everyone using must have a death wish. No gloves, sanitizing or hand washing. It must work like this: 1. Bare-handed grab an apparatus 2. When finished touch mouth/nose/eyes. 3. Repeat step 1 at next station. 4. Go for testing. It's really best to focus on the lovely water, the fountain and the birdies. Take a walk on the pier. Enjoy the picnic tables in the sun or shade and maybe climb a tree. Great place to walk the family beast (please be courteous and clean up after). 4/20 read more

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Who doesn't like being near the water. Lots of walkers and runners all day long. Good even pavement. About 1 mile around

For a duck hunter this place is torture. But for everyone else, you'll probably enjoy the bird watching, walking paths, and pleasant surroundings quite a bit! Had a bit of time to kill before picking up dinner this past Friday and decided to take my kiddo here for a little outside time ahead of the rainy weekend. My son loves to chase birds in parks, and it was so fun watching him run into the big groups of birds here. More crazy than fun was seeing how attuned these birds are to people. We walked from the sidewalk to the Sandy shore area, and as we set foot on the dirt we could hear the sound of birds erupting from behind us. Turning revealed a massive flock of pigeons flying at eye level directly toward us. This is a phenomenon you should experience for yourself... if you're not afraid of birds. Just across the street from the lake is a nice playground. There's an older play set that's designed for younger kids and another newer one for the older kids. I was looking off in the distance and next thing I knew my son was up on top of a big monkey bar arch crying for help to get down. That took me back to my childhood and I could imagine what he was feeling. At the same time I was standing in my parents shoes knowing how badly he wanted to be on the comfort of solid ground while simultaneously knowing he had to help me help him get there, which we did without incident. All in all a nice place, especially in warmer months. read more

An almost small football field stadium size lake. Its dotted with an exercise eqt, picnic, playground, restrooms, paved and semi paved flat ground and lots of benches. Parking surrounds the perimeter if the lake. There are a couple of water features and also a little garden area. **the tender birds, big and small, many stable and seasonal varieties stop by here. Fun to hand feed the braver geese. So sweet. read more

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I have been coming here for years and I have enjoyed it almost every single time I come. It's about 7/10 of a mile around the lake and you can either run on the dirt path or on a blacktop path. I have had several instances with some fishermen or things have gotten a little contentious, and them not liking me running around them, blah blah blah, but all in all it's a nice place and 99% of the people are pretty friendly. read more

Virginia Lake Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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This park gets a lot of love from local walkers, joggers, and bikers. Most folks are relatively friendly here. I've walked in early evening and after dark frequently. I'm usually good for 3 laps around. Good for mental health. They also have benches, exercise stations, and waterfowl to feed. Warning: this area is frequented by unhinged and mentally-ill individuals. Interactions with those individuals can be difficult and even triggering for some individuals. If you choose to use this local park, I hope you will choose to be respectful of those facing challenging times. If you see someone in mental distress or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, I find it best to allow a wide birth. read more

Virginia Lake Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Reno, Nevada

In this 32-acre, beautifully landscaped park that has a man-made lake, you will find tranquility, beautiful houses, and wildlife (Pigeons, Geese, Crows, Double Crested Cormorants, Snowy Egrets, and California Gulls). Virginia Lake is like a setting you'd find next to a beach, with the plenty scents of nature, sounds of water (from fountains) and activity of birds overhead and all around. The short, flat loop,1-mile-trail is lined with parking and houses and is easy to complete, with so much scenery and birds to look at. The park offers many amenities: -Grassy area with two play structures, swings, and a small stage for play -rentable pavilion with BBQ (100 person capacity) -trees lining lake provide partial shade in summer -restrooms (year round) -exercise area -pier -fishing -benches lining the lake -bird watching -dog park (all dirt so not ideal in wet conditions) -picnic areas -lake -dog waste station Notes: -This is not the park for you if you get bothered by bird droppings- they're everywhere -ice cream truck parks in front of the playgrounds during summer -there's multiple areas shaded by trees for picnicking -there's a giant dragonfly statue on the northside of the lake -there's a cool island in the center that has tons of birds -dog friendly but must be kept on leash -in addition to a paved trail is a concentric dirt trail that goes all around the lake -stroller and wheelchair friendly -no bikes and horses allowed on path -no smoking or vaping -There's a cool area next to pier that has a cute stone-benched garden -lots of flora to look at -there are designated feeding areas for wild birds (one on each end) -there's a small parking lot next to exercise area -within walking distance from Peppermill, theater, and restaurants -people like to picnic in their cars while watching scenery -not ideal for dogs that tend to eat poop read more

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My husband and I were looking for a dog-friendly park in the area and were excited to find this place, because it had an "off-leash" dog area! We absolutely love how Reno often has parks surrounded by lakes and rivers to help keep cool in hot weather and this is another great place to take pictures around if you're trying to explore the area. The houses around here are beautiful and suburban, and parking is so easy to find in the area since the park is pretty big. Unfortunately, we did have a few negative experiences with this area in the dog park. The reviews were fairly high so maybe we had high expectations. 1. There are literally bird landmines everywhere. If you don't mind that small bit of poo temporarily glued to the soles of your shoes, then you should be fine. 2. I know were are in COVID times, but it would be nice to know if water fountains and restrooms are inaccessible as my dog was actually dehydrated...... but nearly all the water features in the water park worked. The only water feature that seemed to work was the man-made lake. 3. There were absolutely no dog poop bags and we were on our last bag ourselves. 4. The "large dog" area was bigger and had more obstacle courses for their furbabies to run in but smaller/medium dogs didn't have that option AND lacked a cooldown/kiddie-pool area. 5. Again, the water drinking fountain was not working even for our dogs. Maybe it was just a bad time for us to go due to the pandemic but since my husband and I consider moving into the area, we hope that it can only get better! read more

With this beautiful summer weather, why not enjoy a nice walk in the park? Virginia Lake Park is less than five minutes from our house. The park is home to plenty of ducks, seagulls, geese and swans. There's a sidewalk circling the river where you can find pet owners walking their dogs, joggers running laps, and people just enjoying a relaxing walk. There are trees along the path that provide the occasional shade so you aren't in the sun all the time. There is also a spot where you can walk out into the lake, kind of like a boardwalk. It's a smaller park but it provides beautiful sceneries. I enjoyed my experience here and so did the house pup! read more

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I have lived in the Reno area for my whole life and have walked this mile long walk so many times. I love the way it is in the heart of Reno, lots of parking, a kiddie play area, a small workout area, and even a doggy park across from the lake area. If you are wanting to just go on a stroll to listen to the birds or ducks it is a great way to get out and enjoy nature. They have even have two paths around the lake, one is a paved path good for taking the strollers or jogging, and a dirt path that is good for walking on. It is a great way to get out and get a little exercise or to meetup with walking groups. If taking the furry kids on this walk please remember to bring your own poop bags to clean up after your furry kids because the bag locations are usually out and nobody wants to step in your dogs mess while trying to enjoy the park. So, get out and check this park out. This just might become a favorite walking place for you read more

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A decent size lake in the middle of Reno and now close to home. Lots of joggers and dog walkers enjoying the paved path around the lake. And families hanging out in the park on the west side of the lake. Fairly well maintained and clean. Some areas are a little strong from the odor of the countless gulls snd geese that hang out there. It is posted everywhere NOT to feed these birds. There are several spots to pick up poop bags and dispose of them- so do so please. Also take note there are numbers on the light poles- if you encounter a problem while being at the park or lake you give the 911 operator the number for faster help. At the north end there's a small parking lot and a fitness area. The doggie park is to the south end of the park and divided for large and small furry pals. It's a little disappointing, all hard rocky dirt. No soft grass to roll in. I guess Sheela and I will be strolling here quite a bit now read more

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Thanks to Virginia Lake, I live in Reno. Over 40 years ago, visiting from Honolulu I saw Virginia Lake and thought, Reno, this is a place where people live and raise their families not just about the Casinos. This little gem just keeps getting better. I enjoy the homes and apartments that are relatively new around the lake. I enjoy the two fountains to keep the water moving and even enjoy the somewhat aggressive Chinese geese. Want to feed the ducks? Be mindful that bread is easy but the very worst option to feed them, the single large swan almost died from gorging on bread. Walk the one mile around and enjoy this charming Reno gem. read more

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AREA: When you first turn down the residential street to get here, the area looked kind of run down with the older homes, but then you get to the lake and see brand new condo/homes being built in a cute modern beachy Victorian look in pastel yellow and blue colors. PARKING: Small parking lot area, but I could see church people with their stand setup with flyers and standing/sitting there waiting to talk to you, which I'm not saying is bad, but I prefer to go to a park and enjoy nature without being preached to about religion. So we opted to drive further around the lake to some street curb parking next to a residential area with land and horses. LAKE: LOTS of birds, but somehow the benches scattered throughout the lake weren't absolutely covered in bird poop. There are trees that provide some shade. PLAYGROUND: across the lake across a street. DOG PARK: is across the lake across the street from the playground. Big and small dog areas. Big dog area has two gates to prevent escapes. Small dog area has only one gate. Plastic bags are hanging on the fence I assume from people who donate plastic bags, which is nice considering in the Bay area, CA they don't give you plastic bags at stores anymore. No grass, which I actually prefer because it's easier to pick up poop when it's just the sandy gravel ground-plus easier to SEE poop versus dirt/mud and grass. OVERALL: I found this to be a lovely looking lake/park with a nice sidewalk around the whole park to walk/run by yourself, with groups, a partner, or your dog. Not only did it have a sidewalk, but most areas had the surrounding dirt/gravel floor in case you needed to avoid a dog walking around the outer sidewalk edge. Trash cans throughout too, which helps in keeping the place clean. read more

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This park/ lake reminds me so much of the one in my previous home town. A multitude of ducks swimming and the fountain. This is a perfect spot to take my pup for a nice relaxing stroll. It's very clean and no poops were seen that day. Love that. The water looks very clean and sparkling. I'm not sure if it is, but it looks beautiful! This spot is 10 minutes from home and has a okay dog park connected so it's a great place for me to take my beloved pet. It's like a treasure hunt now living in Reno and finding the nicest spots to go. Obsessed! read more

I've been coming to this lake since I could remember. I "use" to feed the ducks bread here w/ my family before I knew it was bad for them. Still, a great place to exercise and bring the family for fresh air. It's the original Sparks Marina. Background: Virginia lake was created in 1937 for fishing, the game fish include rainbow trout, brown trout, and bowcutt trout (rainbow x cutthroat hybrid), channel catfish, largemouth bass, and black crappie. Activities: -Bird watching: probably the first thing that comes to mine are all the birds and ducks at the lake -BBQ, parties or picnics -Dog Park -Exercise: run, jog or take a nice stroll -Playground: Bring your kids -Rentable Shelter: I've never used it, need more info about this. Cons: -NO swimming, you probably wouldn't want to anyway haha. I probably come once a year to give my nephews a break from their tablets! read more

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Virginia Lake Park is a good park. When I was in high school this was a good place to go for a run. Now if memory serves 2 laps around here equals about 3 miles. During the spring and fall I loved running here. It was a nice place to run. Well fall time you had to be on your tippy toes because of all the duck and geese poop haha. But it just made you a better runner haha. I still come by here more recently and I like the birds that come here. The make the park more interesting, I feel. If you make the whole loop there is a water feature and a nice bridge here. Also, a jungle gym for kids to play at and they are located at different areas along the path. Parking can be hit or miss here. I feel like when the weather becomes nicer the parking starts to become a fight for the best spots. But there is parking all around the lake. So, no need to fight over one. Just take a little drive you probably find one at a nicer spot anyways. Back around 2000 we use to feed the birds that would come here. I guess people who moved around the area dont want that. I can see why with the poop problem. But we use to feed the birds then and it was fun as kids. Now there are signs stating not to feed the birds. Just fyi incase someone tries to yell at you for feeding the birds. Thanks for reading my review. read more

If you're stuck in the city and looking a bit of nature, fresh air and exercise, Virginia Lake will suffice. Been here several times with my very elderly grandparents (ages 89 & 92) and mom for an afternoon of city nature and exercise. The walking path is nice and wide, free of tree roots and debris, which makes it nice for rolling walkers and people who are a bit unsteady. The 1 mile loop is a perfect distance for folks who like to power walk and track distance. There are plenty of benches along the path to rest or just take in nature. There is also an abundance of trees along the path to provide shade if needed. We have always felt safe and most people have been friendly and courteous. We usually park in the North parking lot, but there is plenty of free/public parking spots around the lake. The park/play areas are pretty simple and there's no shortage of geese and ducks to watch and it does my heart good to see how healthy they are compared to other parks. We were surprised that there wasn't an abundance of bird turds on the walking path considering the large population. It's our favorite place for a simple and convenient nature walk.. read more

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A great little park that is convenient to all of the apartment and condos in the area.. We have used the dog park many times and have walked around the lake.While it is probably not my favorite dog park, it is convenient and it serves the purpose of providing our old fellows a nice place to romp and poop. Virgina lake itself is a man-made lake and the path around the lake is about a mile. A very nice easy hike. My major complaint with the park is the goose poop everywhere. There is a small children's area and playground. the three areas of the park are separated by streets, but since it is a residential area, it is not a huge problem. Parking is free, easy to access and plentiful. read more

Reno's answer to Oakland's Lake Merritt. Not that I'm only looking to find equivalents to my Bay Area mainstays, but this one is pretty on the nose. The lake is utterly walkable, with two (!) perimeter paths: one is paved, and the innermost path is gravel. Next to the lake are a horse paddock, a huge kids park with play structures, a huge dog park with a separate small dog area, a public-use workout space, a WPA monument/rock garden (the lake is a WPA project), benches, and a pier. Lakeside Drive runs along the south side of the lake, where the speed limit is a very pedestrian-friendly 15mph. New to the lake is a huge installation piece - a dragonfly sculpture by Burning Man artist Peter Hazel. The lake is surrounded by private homes and pretty townhouses, which direct the flow of people: you'll see lots of families and power walkers, joggers and amblers, and probably at least one artist painting or sketching. The lake doesn't allow water sports, which is too bad. On the other hand, there is a great balance of quiet and spaciousness, which I love. There are lots of leashed doggos on the stroll, with freebie cleanup bag dispensers posted at regular intervals. read more

Virginia Lake Park - Outside the dog park, looking towards the kid's park across from the lake. - Playgrounds Near Me - Reno, Nevada

First time to come here though I've been in town for 15 years already. Would you believe that! Hahaha. Anyway, the park is really nice. We had a picnic gathering last Sunday (08.18.19) and we stayed at the covered area near the playground. We will come back again! read more

I think my favorite part is the location.............its so close to the hussle and bustle but far enough away to be quiet with less traffic. Foot traffic yes, but overall a nice park. It's not too big or small. It's makes walking or jogging a breeze. I love the convenience of a restroom and benches to have a sit and read etc. I can see this park being extremely crowded as the summer approaches, but right now it's just right. Parking could be a challenge I can see, but I'll venture out. read more

Virginia Lake Park - An easily accessible walk way.............a mile around, so it's not hard to calculate. Nice weather today ........I'm going to enjoy it. - Playgrounds Near Me - Reno, Nevada

This one is a two part review. Part A is for the traveler and tourist to our fair city. Don't go. It's honestly not worth going to. You wont reach for your camera phone. You wont go back and tell your grandkids how awesome this park was. You will just go...wha?!? There are many other parks in town that should give you a better experience. This "park" is really just a walking trail around a shallow man made lake that isn't all that picturesque. Part B is for someone who just moved here or has been under a rock for the entire time they have been in living in Reno. Check out the cool park! It's got some cool kiddie stuff on one side. It's got that totally cool thing that everyone uses....you know, a station to station exercise trail! It's so neat! And to top it all off! It's got duck poop and goose poop and...you get the picture. Really I kid, it's not really that bad for a great place to go for a power walk and not have to worry about tripping over stuff or getting lost or being bored out of your mind like you would be at the high school track. Plus they have different surfaces to walk on from asphalt to DG. So yeah, it's not really a "Park" it's more of a glorified walking track. read more

If you're complaining about there being bird poo at a park that obviously is home to hundreds of birds, you're an idiot. Birds crap. They crap everywhere. They also don't care that you don't like their crap, so watch where you're walking and you should be ok. Virginia Lake reminds me a lot of Lake Merritt and made me a little homesick while I was there. It's such a peaceful place to just sit by the water and enjoy the still silence while watching the hundreds of birds meander around, doing their thing. I thought it was really cool how so many different breeds of bird (ducks, geese, cranes, swans, pigeons, seagulls) were coexisting in peace with each other and with the people around them. There's not too much to say about the lake other than that it's a great place to escape the noise and lights of the 24 hour realm of gambling, especially on a beautiful, hot summer day. Take a breather and check out the lake if you're in Reno. read more

3.5 It isn't the most beautiful, it isn't the fanciest, but like my 1997 Honda CRV, it does what it's supposed to do. PARK: During warmer weather, my book club sometimes has picnics here on Saturday afternoons in a grassy area by the playground. We've always had a good time - plenty of room to spread out, nearby bathrooms, we can talk and not have to scream to be heard. DOG PARK: Great fenced-in area. The views are pretty barren, but I like that my little Jack Russell / chihuahua can play with the big boys and run around like crazy without me worrying about him getting run over by a car. *** However, last time I was here, I was annoyed that my dog was attacked by a larger dog (no blood, but it was pretty ugly) and the dog owner was too busy on her cell phone to break up the fight or even come over to check if my dog was okay. Not cool, lady. read more

I have lived in Reno on and off since the mid 1970's. Virginia Lake is a wonderful place to walk around the lake or to just "be" and watch the ducks or the clouds or the other people enjoying the lake. read more

Virginia Lake Park - Walking the dog at Virginia Lake with the Peppermill in the background - Playgrounds Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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This is a nice walk near the Peppermill hotel and casino. I come on occasion for work and was looking for somewhere nearby. It is about 1.5 miles around the man-made lake. Beautiful scenery. Clean. Surrounding the lake are condos which look upscale and well-taken care of. On another side, there are older homes which show pride of ownership. Lots of ducks and Canadian geese. (Don't feed them) As someone else noted, there are three fountains that keep the water from becoming stagnant. I came on a weekday. There were solo walkers and joggers, couples sitting on benches alongside the lake, a family or two enjoying the shade at picnic tables and possibly some homeless hanging out. I felt fairly safe, but I am a suspicious person in general so I wasn't completely relaxed only because I'm not familiar with the area. I would and probably will when in town visit again. read more

Virginia Lake Park - Sierras - Playgrounds Near Me - Reno, Nevada

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