If you enjoy hot springs, fish tacos, and keeping active, this is for you. Today we’re going to spend a day curated by Malia Ascuaga in the Reno-Tahoe area, all under $25.
Wondering why $25? Instead of using that amount for a single activity, why not stretch it to cover your entire day, starting from the moment you wake up until you wind down in the evening?
Yoga Pod, situated at the Summit Sierra mall in south Reno between Starbucks and DeVons Jewelers, is a local studio providing both heated and non-heated yoga, restorative/meditative classes, fitness classes, and mat pilates. The studio takes pride in fostering a friendly community and maintaining a high standard of cleanliness.
Let’s Start Your Day: Yoga
Whether you’re an experienced yogi or completely new to the practice, head to Yoga Pod at the Summit Sierra to start your day off with movement.
The studio offers a free week of yoga and an additional class for all newcomers.
Several morning classes are available to chose from. Starting as early as 5:45 A.M., there’s a Bikram-style class, PodHOT, and at 8:00 A.M., there’s HotVinFusion. Both classes are heated.
If you’re not a fan of heated yoga, consider trying the 9:30 podFLOW 1 or PodGentle classes — both excellent alternatives.
Regardless of your starting level, each class is suitable for you as long as you acknowledge your own practice.
To schedule your free class follow this link to Yoga Pod’s website or give them a call at (775) 420–4363.
Originally founded in Truckee, CA in 2014, the Midtown Coffeebar location is the first of three locations in Reno. Taking inspiration from Italian coffeebar culture and hospitality, they believe in making people feel good. Image from tahoe.com.
Next: Grab a Drink and Take a Walk
Drop by any of Coffee Bar Reno’s three locations: MidTown, McCarran, or the Roastery, and treat yourself to a latte or your choice of specialty drink.
Keep in mind that each drink ranges from $4.00 to $6.50, while working with our $25 budget for the day.
However, on days when budget constraints aren’t an issue, Coffeebar’s menu is filled with must-try bites. I highly recommend trying their divine lemon bars.
After grabbing your drink, you might consider taking an optional walk if you’re up for it.
If you chose the MidTown location on Mt. Rose Street, stroll around the charming surrounding neighborhood of Old Southwest Reno or bring your dog along to Plumas Park.
If you opted for the McCarran Coffeebar, explore the Caughlin Ranch Trails or the Steamboat Ditch Trail. For those who chose the Roastery location, venture into MidTown Reno.
Next in Line: Thrifting
Head down to the Goodwill Bargain Bins, where clothing that didn’t quite make it to the racks in the store are waiting to be discovered.
These bins can be a gold mine for vintage clothing and unique finds, you never know what hidden gems you might come across.
Everything is weighed by the pound here (excluding books and furniture) and is priced at $1.50 per lb. Sometimes you’ll leave with the jackpot or nothing at all, but today, let’s keep our spending under $10, which is doable considering the budget-friendly pricing by the pound.
The exterior of Mariscos El BarCo resembles a pirate ship in Sparks, Nevada.
Getting Hungry? Let’s Grab Lunch.
Ever dined aboard a pirate ship for lunch? Well, today’s your lucky day as we’re setting sail for Mariscos El BarCo, a Mexican seafood restaurant housed in a building shaped like a pirate ship in Sparks.
My go-to choices here are the fish or shrimp tacos, each priced at $3.00. I usually go for two-three tacos and it fills you up.
The entire menu features fresh offerings, so you may want to explore other options on another visit. But for the sake of today, I highly recommend the tacos. They never disappoint.
Here is my go-to order: 2 shrimp and 1 fish taco or vice versa. Photo by Malia Ascuaga.
To Finish: Sunset Soak at Farad Soaking Pool (Mystic Hot Springs)
Just 10 minutes away from Verdi, Nevada, we’re venturing out of state for this one. A quick 20-minute drive outside of Reno on your way up to Truckee, this secret hot spring is one I can’t gatekeep.
To reach the destination, take I-80 and exit at Farad or use the coordinates “Truckee River Wildlife Area” to identify the closest exit. Upon taking the sharp exit, you’ll encounter a dirt parking lot with a trail accessible behind the gate. The trail leads you by a hydroelectric plant, and in just a short 7-minute walk, you’ll arrive at a spring covered with a plastic tarp.
For more directions with pictures follow this link to Hot Springers. Despite its small size, the spring is consistently well-maintained and usually not crowded. The water maintains a comfortably warm temperature, allowing for extended soaking periods.
As the sun sets, you can enjoy watching stars overhead and the passing trains along the Truckee River.
Nestled just beneath I-80, Farad Hot Springs is a compact, well-maintained, underdeveloped tub with a view of the Truckee River. Visitors ensure the pool stays pristine, thanks to the protective plastic tarp.
Today’s Final Receipt:
To recap, today we:
Practiced yoga
Grabbed coffee
Went for a walk
Thrifted
Got tacos
Soaked in a hot spring
For all of that, we hypothetically spent:
Yoga: $0.00
Coffee: $5.25
Walk: $0.00
Thrift: $7.00
Tacos: $9.00
Hot springs: $0.00
Total: $21.25
That’s impressive! On today’s adventure in Reno, we stuck within our budget of $25 and finished just a few dollars short. Thanks for following along.