If we included all of our favorite moments of the year, you’d wear out your scroll button before you ever reached the good stuff. Here are a few of the images that sum up 2011 in Reno Tahoe USA. From record breaking climbing walls to to near record breaking snowfall, grand openings to “The Burn,” 2011, well, rocked.

Shoulder Deep Pow Pow

Near Record Breaking Snow Fall

Tomato Fight with 75,000 lbs of Ammo

Reno-Tahoe Open

Jelly Doughnut Eating Contest at Hot August Nights

Hot August Night's Parade

10 Year Anniversary of 9/11 - Dawn Patrol Ceremony

Great Reno Balloon Races

Record Breaking Attendance at Burning Man

Grand Opening of The Discovery

Grand Opening of CommRow

Reno Santa Pub Crawl

The ACTRA National Finals are in town! FREE to the public, with team roping from 8:00am-5:00pm daily, through Saturday. Reno has been proud to be called “home” to this great event for 15 years.

The holiday season is just around the corner so take advantage of an opportunity to do a little shopping for western wear, décor, art, saddles and jewelry.

ACTRA (American Cowboys Team Roping Association) is the largest nonprofit team roping organization in the United States. It was founded in 1983 and has chapters in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Canada (British Columbia), Wyoming, Arizona, Utah and Montana.

Team roping competitions and vendor shopping at the Reno Sparks Livestock Events Center (in the Indoor Main Arena and outdoor Rodeo arena)

The holiday season is just around the corner so take advantage of an opportunity to do a little shopping for western wear, décor, art, saddles and jewelry!

Daily schedule:  8-5pm (today thru Sat)

Vendor hours:  8-5pm (today thru Sat)

Youth competition:  Friday at noon (watch the kids compete!)

For a complete schedule, visit http://www.actra.org/national_finals.aspx

Ben with Clyde Saunders, President ACTRA

Lake Tahoe

Artown

Dawn Patrol

La Tomatina

Virginia City International Camel Races

Sierra Summerfest

Reno Rodeo

Hot August Nights

9/11 Ceremony

Reno-Tahoe Open

Summer 2011 was epic. The above photos only highlight a few of the many unforgettable events, if we posted them all you’d be scrolling through pictures until your mouse broke. You can always check out more photos on our Flickr and Facebook pages. For additional information on the events and upcoming events visit our website at www.VisitRenoTahoe.com.

Enjoy these photos from the Official Kick-off Cruise through downtown. Click here for an events schedule or here to see more photos!

Artown kicked-off their sweet 16 with classic fun, color and creativity.  Festivities included hands-on children’s art activities, U.S. Bank mural painting, improvisation activities with TheatreWorks of Northern Nevada, live music with the Note-Ables, t-shirt painting courtesy Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum and dancing. Body Masterpiece, back by popular demand, transformed children’s faces with their signature style of face painting for the opening parade.

Artown’s Opening Night celebration featured a performance by Grammy-nominated Mexican-American singer/songwriter Perla Batalla.

To see more photos of Opening Day click here.

I own property on the Little Truckee River approximately 15 minutes north of Truckee.  I am a Real Estate Broker and photography is my hobby.  My husband and I roam the countryside on our double quad taking photos of interesting places. 

Verdi Look out is the origin of this picture.  It was a long hot journey to the top.  I (almost) unwillingly climbed the stairs to see the view and take a picture.  As I rounded the Verdi Look Out, I was struck by the view I had!  I was standing in California at an elevation of 8444’ viewing lovely Reno, Nevada!  Wow…Reno, in my humble opinion, is the gateway to as many outdoor activities as you can imagine.

If you are wanting a short trip to beautiful lakes and  fishing and boating is your desire, beautiful Stampede Lake (above) is just a short ride from Reno. I took this picture from Lady Bug road.

If you like hiking and kayaking…Independence Lake is a crystal clear lake with walk-in access. The surprising thing for people who have never visited Reno area is the variety of experiences available, as well as the access to numerous venues of activity just a short drive away!  I even visited Reno by vision alone on top of a mountain!

- Diana Kent

2010 ABA BMX Silver Dollar Nationals – Reno, NV

Photo by shortCHINESEguy

Reno, Nevada

“Home of the Wild Indian Jackpots”

Photo by Roadsidepictures

Photo by Billtacular