A Drive To Sierra Nevada

The long road to RENO;

the lake that is snow covered is a delight to see;

pine trees packed with snow is a reminiscent of a white Christmas in February;

the mighty Sierra Nevada from a distance;

a closer vista of the snow and the pine all add up to the thrill and excitement of coming to Reno once more!


We left SFO at almost 12 noon yesterday and arrived at around 4 PM here in Reno, Nevada. If you are not familiar with RENO, RENO is the smaller version of Las Vegas, the gambling capital of America. In Reno, we always stay at the PEPPERMILL Hotel which has become our favorite place for four years now. We have our Mariott Hotel platinum cards benefits and enjoy the perks we have but we just love it in Peppermill for its casino and great restaurants.

Mariott is a bit of a drag and out of the way and you still have a stretch of a drive to go to the casino. BTW, we're not high rollers! I for one, play the penny slots (1 cent)- and I get lonesome when I lose 10-20 bucks! Husband enjoys the craps so that's his gig. truly, we're not gambling addicts, just so you know!

Going to the casino is typical in the USA as a form of entertainment. In the Philippines for instance, casinos have a bad reputation as a place for gambling addicts. Here in the USA, going to the casino is a form of recreation for people 21 and above. Many come in different shapes and sizes, age and make-up from the healthy ones to the sick ones. Others come in wheelchairs, crutches and strollers, and they don't mind. They come to gamble and have fun! In the other Asian countries, people won't go out anymore once they are confined at the wheelchair. Not in America. Well, am just giving my 5 cent's worth of observation.

Some info:

The Sierra Nevada (Spanish for "Snowy Range") is a mountain range located in the U.S. state of California. In a few places, it overlaps into neighboring Nevada. The range is also known informally as the Sierra, the High Sierra, and the Sierras.