Recreation & Attractions

The Carson City Parks and Recreation Department maintains 40 parks and facilities. In 1996, voters passed Question 18, adding ⅛ of 1% to the sales tax to fund parks, the Aquatic Center, and the Edmonds Sports Complex. Mills Park hosts festivals and outdoor activities, Fuji Park is a favorite for dogs to roam, and the city continues to purchase land to preserve open space.

Carson City's location offers easy access to year-round recreation — America's greatest concentration of world-class ski resorts is within a 30- to 90-minute drive, and the Parks Department even runs a junior ski/snowboard program at Diamond Peak.

The Nevada State Capitol, completed in 1871, anchors downtown with its silver-colored dome; its second-floor Battle Born Hall museum and the statue of Washoe Paiute activist Sarah Winnemucca are highlights. The Historic Kit Carson Trail — an AAA top attraction — winds past 59 historic buildings and sites. The Stewart Indian School Cultural Center tells the stories of students who attended from 1890 to 1980, with a self-guided audio tour of its stone campus.

Edmonds Park packs in four softball fields, nine soccer fields, a multi-purpose field, and a BMX track, while the Olympic-size indoor Aquatic Center is home to the Carson City Tigersharks. Leagues cover basketball, Little League, Babe Ruth, softball, Pop Warner and flag football, AYSO and High Desert soccer, inline hockey, tennis, and more, and the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada offers a state-of-the-art home base for kids.

We're a 24-hour city — friendly local casinos offer great dining, buffets, and entertainment. Downtown's historic district mixes specialty shops, antique stores, and restaurants, with major retail centers nearby. Follow Shop Carson City First on Facebook.