Are the dinners any fun? Can you go even if you don't have a table? How do you spend the evening when the show floor closes? What is the story?

Some of my favorite time. Go to dinner with outfitters, friends, etc.

The dinners are fun when you are sitting with friends. The only reserved tables are up front. You can buy a ticket and sit anywhere else.

When I don't attend an SCI dinner, I usually eat with friends someplace. Most nights, though, I head for my room and crash.

Bill Quimby

If you're inclined to do some other things during one of the days, and are not from northern California, a trip to Lake Tahoe is very worthwhile. You can catch the Mt. Rose Highway just south of Reno, from Highway 395. It takes you over the top of the mountains and dumps you right onto the lake at Incline Village. It is a very scenic drive!

Also, we've had a fantastic snow year, so the Tahoe area ski resorts are always a great option.

Cabelas is just west of town, right next to the Boomtown Casino (not sure why you'd go to Cabelas when you're already at SCI, but some people might).

If you like to fish, the Cutthroat fishing is red hot at Pyramid Lake right now, and there are guides who could take you out for a day. It is very cold fishing, but a couple 15 lb. cutthroats were caught in the last week or so. Also, this is a good time for big Mackinaws on Lake Tahoe, and the north shore is a favored area for guides to fish.

If you come in a day or two early, you could arrange for a guided waterfowl hunt in the Sacramento valley. Lots of birds around. I'm taking the Vincents out a day or two before the convention as Rene wants to do some bird photography, and I should get a good laugh out of watching Roy try to kill a few ducks.

There are lots of things to do besides just the show and dinners, if any AR members need some suggestions feel free to PM me. AND, right now, the long range weather forecast looks pretty good! No big storms in the forecast during that time, just cloudy and moderate temps.

The dinners are great for first timers but mostly now , PHs and outfitters go to dinner with hunters and guys making new bookings, the good places need bookings in advance , the dinners have become more of a good old boys club slapping each other on the back paid for by the general membership , I think it's loosing it's appeal to most SCI members, that said the first time it's impressive !!.