From open-air festivals to watersports and family-friendly activities, this city in northern Nevada is famous for outdoor activities and entertainment.
Home to museums, amusement parks, lakes, rivers and urban parks, Sparks is a city of entertainment and natural beauty. Sparks was founded in the early 1900s to support the Southern Pacific Railroad. Today, visit this northwest Nevada destination, known as the City of Promise, for its fun year-round activities for all ages.
Start your visit at Victorian Square, a leafy and pedestrian-friendly entertainment district with historic buildings, museums and restaurants. Your kids can cool off here in the interactive fountain. Learn about the city’s railroad heritage at the Sparks Heritage Museum. Check out the train and car exhibits in Lillard Park. The 19th-century Old Glendale School is one of the oldest surviving school buildings in Nevada.
Throughout the year, hordes of visitors come to Victorian Square for a busy schedule of cultural events. Celebrate America’s passion for cars and rock 'n' roll during the Hot August Nights. Sample local food and watch a rib-eating competition at the Nugget Rib Cook-Off. Themed parades and a tree-lighting ceremony highlight the Sparks Hometowne Christmas.
Sparks has over 50 public parks. Find walking trails, sandy beaches and picnic areas set around a 77-acre (31-hectare) lake in Sparks Marina Park. Enjoy a host of recreational activities, from windsurfing and fishing to scuba diving and sailing on the lake. Discover family-friendly fun, such as waterslides, go-karts and miniature golf, at Wild Island Family Adventure Park. Thrill-seekers will appreciate the kayaking, tubing and white-water rafting adventures at Rock Park.
Don’t miss the chance to experience Sparks’ lively nightlife. Play roulette and poker or watch well-known musicians at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Casino Resort, an entertainment complex located in two 29-floor towers. Sample award-winning craft beer at the Great Basin Brewing Company.
Reach Sparks by flying to Reno-Tahoe International Airport, just a 10-minute drive from the city center. While visiting, use public buses to reach most of the city’s major attractions. Rent a car and explore picturesque Truckee Meadows, which offers year-round hiking and biking adventures in Nevada’s great outdoors.
