Walker River Poker Run
Join us for our first event of 2026: a thrilling poker run to the Walker River Resort in Smith Valley on Saturday, February 28th! This exciting journey will feature stops at Nevada's historical roadside markers, where participants will draw cards at each location. The best five out of seven cards will determine the winning hand.
We will gather in Carson City at the Brewery Arts Center (449 W. King St.) at 9:30 AM (tentatively) to draw our first card. Our route includes stops at the Nevada State Prison and Stewart Indian School, with a potential museum visit. We’ll continue south along Jacks Valley Road to Wally’s Hot Springs, the 12-Mile House near Gardnerville, and Wellington Station on NV208, before reaching our final stop at the Walker River Resort to draw our last card.
Prizes will be awarded for the best hand, the second-best hand, and the worst hand. The Walker River Resort features a general store with a bar, where we will socialize and enjoy lunch at Topaz Lodge.
Don’t miss out on this local adventure! Please RSVP to join us, and feel free to reach out with any questions. Remember to... “Enjoy the Drive!”
Fallon Grimes Point Archaeological Site w/ Lunch at Middlegate Station
Discover History at Grimes Point!
Join us for an exciting trip to the Fallon Grimes Point Archaeological Site! Explore this fascinating area, renowned for its ancient petroglyphs and rich history that dates back thousands of years.
After our archaeological adventure, we will enjoy a hearty lunch at the iconic Middlegate Station, where you can savor delicious food while soaking in the rustic charm of this historic location.
Ananda Tulip Festival in Nevada City
Celebrate Spring at the Tulip Festival!
Join us for a delightful trip to the Crystal Hermitage Gardens for the Nevada City Tulip Festival! Experience the vibrant colors of thousands of blooming tulips set against stunning landscapes.
After exploring the gardens, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch in the charming town of Nevada City, where you can savor local cuisine and explore unique shops.
Lone Pine Adventure
Adventure Awaits: 2-Night Trip to Lone Pine!
2-night adventure to Lone Pine! Explore the stunning Whitney Portal, where breathtaking views and outdoor activities await. Discover the rich history of cinema at the Western Film Museum, showcasing memorabilia from classic films shot in this iconic region.
Optional Sunday trip to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, home to some of the world's oldest living trees.
Malakoff Diggins State Park w/ Lunch in Sierra Valley
Discover History at Malakoff Diggins State Park!
Join us for an exciting trip to Malakoff Diggins State Park in Bloomfield, CA! Explore the fascinating remnants of the Gold Rush era and immerse yourself in California's rich mining history.
After a day of adventure in the scenic park, enjoy a delicious lunch in the beautiful Sierra Valley, where you can relax and take in the stunning views.
A Trip East - Wendover Air Museum and Ely
Explore History and Nature: 2-Night Adventure to Wendover!
Join us for an exciting 2-night getaway to the Wendover Air Museum, where you'll delve into the rich history of aviation and World War II. After exploring the museum, enjoy a scenic drive to Ely on Saturday.
On Sunday, visit the fascinating Charcoal Kilns and discover the area's unique history. For those seeking more adventure, an optional detour to Great Basin National Park and Lehman Caves can be added on your way home.
A Trip South - Belmont and Goldfield
Discover the Ghost Towns of Nevada: Tonopah Adventure!
Join us for a captivating trip south to Tonopah, where we'll embark on an exciting ghost town tour!
On Saturday, explore the fascinating remnants of Belmont, a once-thriving mining town that tells the story of Nevada's rich history.
Then, on Sunday, visit Goldfield, known for its historic buildings and intriguing tales of the past. This weekend adventure offers a unique glimpse into Nevada's ghostly heritage.
Yosemite
Experience the Majesty of Yosemite: A Weekend Getaway!
Embark on an unforgettable trip to Yosemite National Park! On Friday, drive over the breathtaking Tioga Pass, entering the stunning Yosemite Valley where you'll enjoy a delightful lunch surrounded by towering cliffs and spectacular scenery.
On Saturday, immerse yourself in nature with a visit to Mariposa Grove, home to the magnificent Giant Sequoias. Stand in awe of these ancient giants and appreciate their grandeur.
Wrap up your adventure on Sunday with a scenic drive home via CA-49 over Carson Pass, taking in the beautiful landscapes along the way.
MINI TAKES THE STATES 2026
Route at a Glance.
Friday, October 2
Monterey → Sonoma
Monterey Rise & Rally: Cardinale Stadium, 4111 2nd Ave, Seaside, CA 93955
Sonoma Evening: SOMO Village Event Center, 1100 Valley House Dr, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Saturday, October 3
Sonoma → Lake Tahoe
Sonoma Rise & Rally: Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1450 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Lake Tahoe Evening: Palisades Tahoe, 1960 Olympic Vly Rd, Olympic Valley, CA 96146
Sunday, October 4
Lake Tahoe → Home
Lake Tahoe Rise & Rally: Palisades Tahoe, 1960 Olympic Vly Rd, Olympic Valley, CA 96146
Departures Home
Bodie State Park
Explore the Past: Day Trip to Bodie State Park!
Join us for an exciting day trip to Bodie State Park, a well-preserved ghost town that offers a fascinating glimpse into California's gold rush history.
2027 Mini Planning Lunch
Attention Sierra Nevada Minis Members!
Mark your calendars for our 2027 Planning Luncheon at (TBD) on Saturday, November 14th, at 11:30 AM.
Location:
TBD
During our luncheon, we will review and vote on the proposed events for 2027, and we invite you to take a look at the attached 2027 Events Ballot. There’s still space for more ideas, so don’t hesitate to share any suggestions you have, especially for social and driving events!
Please RSVP to confirm your attendance so we can inform the restaurant of our numbers. If you have any questions or additional ideas, we’d love to hear from you!
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
After Turkey Day Cruise
Post-Thanksgiving Impromptu Event -
A short run out to Yerington for lunch, comradery and cheer!
Annual Holiday Party
Sierra Nevada Minis — Annual Holiday Party — Saturday, December 5th, 2026, at 5:30 PM: Join us for our beloved tradition since 2009! Doris and I will host the party at our home in Carson City.
2026 Mini Planning Lunch
Attention Sierra Nevada Minis Members!
Mark your calendars for our 2025 Planning Luncheon at Chihuahua’s Mexican Restaurant on Saturday, January 31st, at 11:30 AM. We’ll gather in their meeting room, enjoy a delicious meal from their menu.
Location:
Chihuahua’s Mexican Restaurant
7111 S. Virginia St., Reno
During our luncheon, we will review and vote on the proposed events for 2026, and we invite you to take a look at the attached 2026 Events Ballot. There’s still space for more ideas, so don’t hesitate to share any suggestions you have, especially for social and driving events!
Please RSVP to confirm your attendance so we can inform the restaurant of our numbers. If you have any questions or additional ideas, we’d love to hear from you!
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Annual Holiday Party
Sierra Nevada Minis — Annual Holiday Party — Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 5:30 PM: Join us for our beloved tradition since 2009! Doris and I will host the party at our home in Carson City. This year’s theme is Italian! We’ll provide lasagna, along with water and sodas. Feel free to bring your favorite beverages! For the potluck, please bring appetizers, side dishes, other Italian dishes, desserts, or anything you'd like to share with fellow Mini enthusiasts. It’s always a great time to reminisce about the fun we had in 2025 and to look forward to 2026! Please RSVP by December 2nd regarding your attendance and what you plan to bring so we can prepare accordingly. We will also have an impromptu post-Christmas run on Saturday, December 27th—more details to come!
After Turkey Day Cruise
Post-Thanksgiving Impromptu Event -
A short run out to Yerington for lunch, comradery and cheer!
Mini Vacation in Vegas
We will head down to Las Vegas for some fun drives in the Las Vegas area and meet up some Las Vegas Mini owners. Our former member Vance will be arranging some of our activities.
October Pot Luck
Kim and John are hosting us for fall potluck dinner. Additional information as we get closer.
Mini Drive-In Movie Night
Sierra Nevada Minis — Italian Job movie event — Saturday–Sunday, September 27–28, 2025: This Sacramento trip to the California Automobile Museum is currently full; if you’d like to attend, please contact Lew to be added to the waiting list.
Pyramid Lake / Tribal Museum Run
Sierra Nevada Minis — Pyramid Lake Tribal Museum trip — Saturday, September 6, 2025: Meet at the Alamo Truck Stop (1950 E. Greg St., Sparks) at 9:15 AM (depart 9:30 AM) for a scenic drive via I‑80 to Wadsworth and NV‑447 to Nixon (about 45 minutes). We’ll visit the Pyramid Lake Tribal Museum (plan ~1 hour), then head to Sutcliffe for lunch at Pyramid Lake Lodge, with a few planned photo‑ops along the way to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Return to Reno/Sparks via NV‑445 (Pyramid Highway). This is a chance to learn about the heritage and culture of our local Indigenous community — please let us know if you’d like to join!
Gold Country Cave Tour
Sierra Nevada Minis overnight trip to Murphy’s — August 23–24: Meet Saturday at 8:30 AM (depart 8:45 AM) at SaveMart, 3620 N. Carson St., Carson City, for a scenic drive over the Sierras (CA‑89 → CA‑4) to Murphy’s (≈108 miles, ~3 hours). Saturday we’ll have lunch at The Grounds, explore downtown with wine tasting and shopping, then check into recommended lodging (Murphy’s Inn Motel) and meet for dinner at 6:30 PM at Jesus Restaurant; Sunday after breakfast we’ll caravan to California Caverns for the 10:00 AM guided tour (60–80 minutes, ~65 steps) — 30 spots are available for that tour, so book tickets early
V&T Train Ride to Virginia City
We will hop on the V&T Railroad at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City for a ride to Virginia City. After lunch and exploring Virginia City we will take the train back to our Minis.
Chester / Lake Almanor w/ Chico Minis
When we reach Chester, CA we will be meeting up with Chico Minis for lunch and a drive around Lake Almanor.
Fallon Churchill Museum / Hidden Cave Tour
We will motor to Fallon on Highway 50 and visit the Fallon Churchill Museum. We then will head over to the Hidden Caves for a guided tour. Lunch will be in Fallon after visiting the caves
Cowboy Poetry in Vinton CA
Each year the Sierra Valley Grange holds a cowboy poetry fundraiser. It is fun, and the food is good, and yes there is beer and wine. The show seating is reserved, when you send in your ticket order you will be assigned your seats. The current plan is to meet at Raley's North Hills at 4:15 and leave at 4:30 taking 395 north to Red Rock, then Red Rock north to 395, south on 395 to CA 70, and west to Vinton, arriving at the Grange Hall at 5:30.
Tonopah / Ichthyosaur Overnight Run
Saturday March 15th. We will meet in Carson City on Saturday the 15th and travel out US 50 to Fallon and to Middlegate Station for lunch. After lunch at Middlegate Station, we will take NV 361 south, to Gabbs and Berlin/Ichthyosaur State Park, for a self-guided tour of the old mining town and to see the Ichthyosaur fossils. After our tour, we head on to Tonopah and check in to our hotels. We will plan on dinner at Tonopah Brewing Co. Sunday morning, we will meet after breakfast, and then take NV6 west to Bishop, where we will plan on lunch at Schat’s Roadhouse! After lunch, we will take US395 North and head for home!
Mini Planning Lunch
Attention Sierra Nevada Minis Members!
Mark your calendars for our 2025 Planning Luncheon at Chihuahua’s Mexican Restaurant on Saturday, February 8th, at 11:30 AM. We’ll gather in their meeting room, enjoy a delicious meal from their menu.
Location:
Chihuahua’s Mexican Restaurant
7111 S. Virginia St., Reno
During our luncheon, we will review and vote on the proposed events for 2025, and we invite you to take a look at the attached 2025 Events Ballot. There’s still space for more ideas, so don’t hesitate to share any suggestions you have, especially for social and driving events!
Please RSVP to confirm your attendance so we can inform the restaurant of our numbers. If you have any questions or additional ideas, we’d love to hear from you!
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Susanville Run
January 25th Run Announcement
Hey everyone,
Our route for the January 25th run will take us north for lunch in Susanville at Side Iron BBQ, located in the same building as the coffee shop we visited on our trip to Redding for the Shasta Caverns.
Details:
Meet-Up:
Time: 9:15 AM
Location: Railey's North Hills, 1075 North Hills Blvd, RenoDeparture:
Time: 9:30 AM
Route: Head north on 395
We will have three detours along the way:
A detour off 395 to drive on Red Rock Blvd, returning back to 395.
A quick side trip through the town of Doyle.
A detour to explore Herlong.
Lunch:
We'll be dining at Side Iron BBQ, where you'll order at the counter, and they'll bring the food to our tables.
After lunch, we can head home, or if anyone has additional ideas, feel free to share!
Looking forward to a great run!
After Turkey Day Cruise
Post-Thanksgiving Impromptu Event -
A short run out to Yerington for lunch, comradery and cheer!
MINI Trunk or Treat
MINI of Reno is hosting a MINI Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, October 27th from 12-3pm and we would like to invite our favorite MINIacs to join us in supporting the community. MINI of Reno will have new MINIs decorated for Halloween and we are inviting some of the amazing non-profit organizations we work with to "adopt a MINI" and hand out candy while sharing information about the great work they do in Reno.
