There are four distinct seasons to be experienced in this beautiful region. Within 90 minutes of your doorstep are 17 alpine and Nordic ski resorts, 45 golf courses, a myriad of lakes, rivers, and far more hiking and biking trails than one could ever count. But let’s say you prefer a telephoto lens to a fishing line. To the west, the Sierra mountains beckon you to Lake Tahoe, home of some of the world’s bluest waters, most beautiful peaks and FannyBridge, the spot where the Lake begins emptying snow runoff into the Truckee.

Meandering down the mountain, the clear, cold Truckee runs through Reno and ends in the stark desert beauty of Pyramid Lake, home to American white pelicans and Lahontan cutthroat trout, about 10 minutes to the northeast. To the south, are low lying hills through which the new I-580 winds its way to Carson City, Nevada’s picturesque capital, South Lake Tahoe, and on down the eastern edge of the Sierra to Yosemite, Mammoth and southern California. To the north, Peavine Mountain anchors rolling hills and stunning sunsets in the distance.

Across the valley, beyond the cities of Reno and Sparks, the Virginia Range stretches south to north, where the Truckee River cuts through. The sun and moon rise from out there, also at eye level.Two. It is a small world. The airport, university, downtown, and virtually all local destinations are within 20 minutes of your door. There are two major medical centers, including the premier children’s center between Salt Lake City and San Francisco. Lake Tahoe is 25 to 45 minutes away, depending on whether you’re visiting the north or south shore. Every western city is a short plane ride away.