Reno sits just east of the Sierra Nevada, happily buzzing on its slice of high desert. Perhaps the 11th-best air quality in the nation has something to do with it? Whatever it is invigorating Reno, it’s working. The city has been busy ticking off project after project. As a result, its downtown, like a desert mirage, is changing before our eyes. Forgotten rail infrastructure has been transformed into gathering spaces, like the new Locomotion Plaza, and plans are in action to make the city safer for pedestrians and cyclists. (Watch that #40 Biking ranking rise.) And, to match the crisp air, the EPA announced $128 million to support the construction of an advanced water purification facility. However, all pales in comparison to the $1-billion Grand Sierra Resort expansion—the largest private capital investment in Reno’s history. Expanding the resort into its own entertainment district, the project includes a 10,000-seat arena and a timeline that spans a decade. But who’s rushing? Reno’s healthy roster of family-friendly attractions—ranked #26 in the country—will keep visitors engaged. Among them are the interactive science museum The Discovery, Fleischmann Planetarium and the Greater Nevada Field, home of the Reno Aces ball club.