Reno Dads - Being a dad in the Biggest Little City

Calling All Griswolds

At Reno Dads, we celebrate all things fatherly, and no dad better personified the time-honored dad tradition of the Christmas lights display. As such, this year we are again in search of the best Christmas yard displays in the greater Reno/Sparks area. We’ll award the best of the best with the Griswold Award for their…

Halloween Alternative: Virtual Murder Mystery Fundraiser

Considering something other than trick-or-treating this year? How about a virtual murder mystery that you can play from home? Sierra Arts Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for arts and artists in the Truckee Meadows, is now selling a specially-crafted virtual murder mystery game, “Who Killed the Queen of the Reno Art Scene,” that will funnel…

Halloween Fun in the Time of COVID-19

For most families, Halloween will be spun on its head (imagine the scary scene in The Exorcist!). The only thing scarier than ghosts and ghouls is COVID-19 spread. But social distancing and mask regulations don’t have to slash your family’s Halloween fun. There are plenty of entertaining and innovative ways to take in the spooks…

V&T Railway Offers Family-friendly Railbike Rides for Halloween

V&T Railway Commission (V&T Railway) is celebrating Halloween with family-friendly and spooky railbike rides. Running Friday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 25 and Wednesday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 31, V&T Railway will offer family-friendly haunted railbike rides at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and adult-focused Halloween railbike rides at 8 p.m. Each ride will…

This Reno Dad Supports the Quest to Protect the Region from Second-Hand Smoke

Dr. Marc Johnson has firsthand experience with secondhand smoke, as he and his brother grew up in a household where both parents went through cartons of cigarettes. The 72-year-old Johnson still has memories of being trapped in the backseat of a smoke-filled car in the cold Kansas winters. “Both of my parents started smoking…

Teaching Kids Gun Safety

If you weren’t raised around them, guns can be a bit scary, and for good reason. The same justified fear goes for motorcycles, swimming pools, ledges, the forest at night, and pretty much all objects (and animals) that pinch. Thankfully, we as parents get multiple opportunities throughout life to educate our children about the rational…

The Price of Allowance

Allowance can be a tricky subject to tackle. Even my wife and I have differing views on allowance. When someone brings up the conversation of allowance, the traditional understanding tends to be that you pay your child a certain amount of money in exchange for their completion of a list of chores. This mimics the…

Navigating the Transitions

My son Jameson is two years old, and he’ll be three in another month, but it feels at times like he’s going on five or six. He says and does some of the most grown-up things I never would’ve imagined he’d be doing at this point in his young life. He quite frequently tells me,…

Excuses to Get Outside – Hiking Mount Rose

The value of spending time outdoors – whether alone or with others – cannot be overstressed. One of the highlights of living in Reno is the diversity and proximity of a huge range of outdoor recreational opportunities. This little series is designed to help give you excuses to get outside and enjoy all the area…

The Crazy Crocodile: Book Review

Recently, I was sent a copy of Richard Moyer’s children’s book, The Crazy Crocodile. It starts off like this: “King Peacock believed himself to be the most magnificent of all the jungle animals, and decided to have a contest to prove it.” It’s a good way to set up the plot, but it immediately left…

Northern Nevada Hillside Letters – Reno Dads Guide

Hillside Letters in Nevada Hillside letters (or “mountain monograms” as some people know them) have emblazoned the sides of mountains for more than 100 years in the U.S. Typically used to mark schools or cities, they become a landmark that is a source of pride for the community. I’ve seen them around our northern Nevada…

It May Feel Like Summer is Cancelled, But Fun Isn’t

Guest Author: Anton Novak It’s easy to feel boxed in and worn out at the same time right now. At my house, we’re teaching our kids, prepping meals, and jumping on endless zoom calls, all while trying to keep our business afloat and keep our employees safe from COVID-19. I can’t help but think, though, that…