RENO
Nestled at the base of the majestic Sierra Nevada, Reno is an ideal location for education and for living. At an elevation of approximately 4,400 feet, Reno enjoys a mild climate with four distinct seasons. To the west is Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park and the Toiyabe National Forest. To the east is the high desert of the Great Basin.
The city itself, with the Truckee River winding through its center, has an active arts community, with an opera company and chamber and philharmonic orchestras, as well as a number of specialty museums. It is also the home of a new Triple A baseball team, the Reno Aces. The Aces have a brand new stadium in downtown, along the river, and are part of the Arizona Diamondbacks franchise. It has highly respected schools, both public and private, such as the University of Nevada, Reno. Although a relatively small city of 300,000, Reno attracts top-name entertainers and boasts many excellent restaurants and resorts. Major annual events include the National Air Races, Balloon Races and automobile rallies. San Francisco is only a four-hour drive. Sacramento and California's Napa Valley wine country lie between Reno and San Francisco.
Outdoor activities are a major attraction. There are seven major ski resorts located just an hour away, including Squaw Valley which hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. These resorts are perhaps surpassed only by the incredible backcountry skiing and boarding. Options range from quick turns near Mt. Rose, to big East Side Sierra Peaks to multi-day tours in the Tahoe and Sierra Ranges. Numerous lakes and reservoirs offer fishing, sailing, waterskiing and windsurfing. In addition, there are a number of wilderness areas perfect for backpacking, hiking, mountain climbing and camping.
Although it's a well kept secret, Reno may be one of the best cities in the US for whitewater kayaking. The Truckee River offers quick access class II to IV whitewater from early spring into the fall and the Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield in downtown offers numerous drop pools and holds kayak events throughout the year. Additionally, there are many beautiful class III to Class V whitewater runs within two to three hours of Reno.
There is a healthy and growing medical community in Reno. Renown, St. Mary's Regional Medical Center, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center represent the established medical facilities, and each is a medical school affiliated hospital. In addition to those hospitals, the school is working in the marketplace with practice groups which have long been involved in its educational programs. In addition to the full-time faculty, more than 400 physicians in the Reno area have clinical faculty appointments and help instruct both medical students and residents.
