Over spring break, myself and the kids had the opportunity to hop in the car and take the quick 3.5 hour drive over the mountains out to Reno, Nevada.  The often overlooked little brother to Las Vegas, Reno offers so much to do for both adults and families, and it is right on the doorstep of Northern California.

The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa

The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is not only the #1 recommended hotel on Trip Advisor, it is also Forbes’ Travel Guide Recommended and one of the few Four Diamond rated AAA hotels in Reno. .

Our concierge tower hotel room was beautifully appointed with a fridge, mini bar, fully interactive TVs and the kids loved the chocolate that came along with our turn down service

AMENITIES

Featuring a four star luxury spa, the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa would be the perfect escape for a girls weekend or as a couples’ getaway.

The Atlantis Casino Resort Spa also boasts MULTIPLE top rated restaurants in Northern Nevada.
The Atlantis Steakhouse is a Four Diamond AAA rated restaurant and features upscale steakhouse cuisine.  This would be the place I would want to celebrate a birthday or anniversary since it is a real treat. 
They have an amazing wine selection to go with the amazing food. 
The decor was probably my favorite out of all the restaurants.

If local, seasonal and fresh food is more of what you are looking for, the beautiful Bistro Napa is where you will want to be.   As a Bay Area local, it was fun to see Napa as the inspiration for a restaurant.   Bistro Napa features Atlantis' largest wine cellar and the sommelier is sure to find a wine you will love! 

GAMING

And of course, we can’t forget what Reno is famous for. Gambling. Table games, slots, off track betting and more.  Atlantis Casino Resort Spa has more than 60,000 square feet of gaming space.

KID FRIENDLY RENO

Of course, not everyone is looking for a romantic getaway or high roller experience. I actually came to Reno with my kids in tow, and so we wanted to enjoy the more casual and kid-friendly side of Atlantis Casino Resort Spa.

Without a doubt the kids’ absolute favorite part of the hotel was the swimming pools.  The exterior pool features a hot tub and deck seating and is open in the warmer months.

The indoor pool, which is open year round, is located in a large glass atrium with a floor to ceiling waterfall at one side.

At night it is all lit up and the kids had a great time swimming long past their bedtimes.

Since children under 21 are not allowed on the gaming floors, the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa has created a separate entertainment venue just for the kids.  The Fun Center and arcade features video and arcade games as well as air hockey and even 3-D interactive rides.

It even comes with it’s own VIP club, just like the adults.  Kids can collect digital “tickets” which they redeem for prizes.  My kids had a BLAST at the arcade, and they never wanted to leave.
Kid friendly dining choices abound at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa.  Hands down, our favorite was Toucan Charlie’s Buffet.  The unlimited choices and completely customizable meals make it the perfect choice for kids.

Sundays they have a champagne brunch that is second to none!

If you aren’t in the mood for a full sit down meal, Manhattan Deli is another kid friendly choice, with it’s scrumptious New York style cheesecake and made to order sandwiches. 
Woodfired pizzas and Italian food are available at Atlantis’ Café Alfresco. And of course, my kids loved the gelato!

If the comfort food of a traditional diner is more your speed, the Purple Parrot is the resort's 24 hour dining option.  We loved that you could get breakfast all day (since everyone knows a waffle is good anytime!)  The casual quick-serve atmosphere is perfect for kids. 
If you want to venture outside of the resort, the city of Reno offers lots of kid friendly activities, museums and more.

We visited the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum and the kids LOVED it.  Depending on your children’s ages and interests some other ideas include: 
National Automobile Museum
Nevada Museum of Art
Fleishmann Planetarium and Science Center
Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary 

All of these activities are a short drive from the hotel, which made it easy to come back and relax when the kids got tired.

We had such a fabulous time, we look forward to going back.