RENO, ever been there?

Lost $6000 @ Harrahs,Reno is wore out.

Reno looked bad ten years ago. You can find good video poker if that's your game.

I haven't signed on recently, so this is the first time I have seen Chilcoot's Boy Scout signature.

I worked with several gay teachers. None was out. Three of them (one male, two female) were suspected by the student population to be gay. Nothing ever happened between these teachers and any students, so far as I know, but being gay was a problem for the man. Kids used to ask me about the three of them, and when they did their tone and the contents of their comments and questions were always much more accepting when asking about the women. I don't know why, but there it is. Maybe things have changed.

I was approached by a gay sexual predator when I was a Boy Scout. I had to go to his home. It was a most uncomfortable situation because I needed the merit badge he was qualified to award to me. He did not persist, nothing physical occurred, I got my merit badge, and my parents reported him. The experience creeped the hell out of me and gave me a very bad attitude about gays in general that took a long time to overcome.

People should be able to understand that being gay does not make one a sexual predator. But they don't seem to get that.

You say you received FREE airfare and hotel offer from Harrahs. You did not say for how many nights and from where you would be coming. If the airfare is round trip to Reno, there seems no sense in driving to Vegas and back to get your "free" airfare. You would also miss out on your free room.

A lot depends on what you consider to be "acceptable" for a freebie. If I got that offer I would take it. But I'm not that picky. I have been to Reno many times since it is within a 2 hour driving distance for me. Here's my total opinion:

What used to be the "gambling central" of Reno is a desperate, delapidated dump. That includes Harrahs. About a block away is the only decent part of "old Reno" - Silver Legacy, El Dorado and Circus Circus. They are all next to each other and have acceptable rooms, restaurants, and gambling. About 1 - 2 miles away are Atlantis and Peppermill. They are pleasant and have good gambling. About 5 miles from Reno is the town of Sparks where John Asquagas Nugget is an excellent casino with lots of promos, entertainment, and good gambling choices. You can also ask someone to direct you to Boomtown. It is a "locals" place which reminds me of Sams Town in Vegas - if you like that sort of thing (I do). Oh, yes, there is also the Sands, a block off the main strip, behind the El Dorado. It is owned by Terribles and has the same club card and promos.

I stayed at Harrahs about a year ago (free, of course, I would not choose to stay there if I had to pay). The rooms are acceptable and so is the restaurant food. Only the slot mahine choices are bad and so are the surroundings.

As to Lake Tahoe, it is about an hour drive and well worth the trip if you want to experience the beautiful scenery. I would not recommend driving there just for the South Shore casinos (Harrahs and Harveys). They are good, but not good enough to warrant a special trip. It depends whether you want to make this a "gambling trip" or a nice vacation. There are many recreational activities around the lake.

All in all, it's a free trip. I think you can find enough good gambling and other things to do in the Reno area as long as you're not expecting anything resembling the wonders of Las Vegas.

Well, it's a better offer than we have ever had. Each month Harrahs send us an offer for three free nights and free airfare to Laughlin.
Never been to Laughlin, but I have been to Reno. Harrahs in Reno is a complete dump, but I'd consider it for the free air, and then drive to Tahoe.

But the free air to Laughlin doesn't even tempt me, and three nights free doesn't seem worth it, even if I drove straight to Vegas when I got off the plane!

in the late 80s there use be the mgm grand or something like that what is it called now?

I am staying at the Western Village in Sparks, as the last stop of a week-long road trip with my kids. I wanted to be away from downtown, and it was a heckuva lot cheaper but still had good reviews. I'll be there the end of the first full week of July. This is after spending a night in Salt Lake, three nights in Denver, and a night in Brigham City, Utah. Leaving and returning to Portland.

Stayed in the Nugget a couple years ago, for one night. If you are someone who likes the look and feel of the downtown Vegas hotels, you will be fine in Reno. If you are expecting the Bellagio you're in the wrong city.

The MGM Reno became Bally's Reno
Bally's Reno became The Reno Hilton
The Reno Hilton became and is known to this day as The Grand Sierra Resort

Thanks for the info, but we decided to pass on the offer from Harrahs.

I hope you don't regret staying at the Western Village, unless things have changed a lot in the past few years, that place is a total dump.

I'm not sure if anythings been remodeled, but the casino is a blue-collar locals place with low ceilings and very smokey and the rooms were worse than a Motel 6.

Is that like a Motel 2?