Projected 2012 opening dates for campgrounds and other recreation areas around Lake Tahoe have been announced by the U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

The deep blue water of Lake Tahoe.
Photo © Stan White

The opening dates vary from year to year, mostly depending on the snow pack from the previous winter. Our 2011 - 2012 winter was a scant one in the snow department, meaning some campgrounds and recreation areas will be opening sooner than is typical, and certainly sooner than after the epic winter of 2010 - 2011.

One of the most popular spots for visitors at Lake Tahoe, the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, is set to open on Saturday, May 26. Dates for others, from Angora Lookout to Zephyr Cove, are listed by the Forest Service under 2012 Recreation Area and Forest Road Opening Dates.

Nevada State Parks also has some pretty cool stuff at Lake Tahoe. Either of these units will satisfy a wide variety of recreational pursuits, from lazing on the beach to challenging world-class mountain biking trails - Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park and Marlette-Hobart Backcountry in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. Learn more from this article about camping at Lake Tahoe, from the About.com guide to camping - The Best Lake Tahoe Camping.

Source: U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

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The weather forecast is calling for temperatures in the 70s and 80s as we get into the weekend. It doesn't look like we will have any trouble enjoying a fine selection of fun diversions across the Truckee Meadows. There are certainly some interesting things to do.

If you have an event or activity you'd like to publicize for free, you can do it right here on RenoTahoe.About.com. Just go to Reno Area Events Submitted By Readers and fill out the form at the bottom of the page. Once approved, your entry will appear for Reno / Tahoe visitors to see.

Annular Solar Eclipse - Reno will be Eclipse Central on Sunday, May 20. We are almost dead center in the path of a solar eclipse that will be at its maximum from 6:28 p.m. to 6:33 p.m. Check out my eclipse information story to learn about the free viewing event being sponsored by the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center.

Reno Kite Festival - The 2012 Reno Kite Festival is a fun family event at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. The event is free and will be from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 20. The first 300 kids get a free kite from Renown Children's Hospital and New Tech Kites from Austin, Texas will have professional stunt flying demonstrations. Stick around after the Festival for solar eclipse viewing starting after 5 p.m. The first 1000 kids will get free solar eclipse viewing glasses. Call (775) 829-1964 for more information.

Reno Turkish Festival - The Reno Turkish Festival will be downtown in Wingfield Park from 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 20. The event celebrates the history, food, and music of Turkey. The Turkish Folk Dance group will be performing during the event, along with craftsmen demonstrating various ancient art forms. Admission is free.

Master Gardener Plant Faire - The annual Master Gardener Plant Faire, sponsored by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE), will be on Saturday, May 19, from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The location will be the UNCE Washoe County office at 4955 Energy Way in Reno. This fund-raising event will feature around 7,000 plants for sale, including fruits, vegetables, annuals, perennials, herbs, and grasses. Don't miss this event if you are looking for bargains and a big selection of plants raised by UNCE Master Gardeners.

Reno Aces Baseball - The Reno Aces will start an eight game home stand in Aces Ballpark on Thursday, May 17. The first four games are vs. the Oklahoma City RedHawks and the final four are vs. the New Orleans Zephyrs. There is something special going on at almost every game, including fireworks after Friday's contest. Take a look at Reno Aces 2012 Season Promotions to learn more.

Tiffany at the Nevada Museum of Art - The Tiffany exhibit at the Nevada Museum of Art ends this weekend. If you haven't enjoyed these three distinct yet related exhibits, visit the NMA before it's too late. There are plenty of other exhibits and activities to enjoy at the NMA as well.

King Tut at the May Museum - The King Tut: "Wonderful Things" from the Pharaoh's Tomb exhibit features over 130 hand-crafted replicas of one the greatest archaeological treasures ever discovered - the artifacts found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922. This exhibit ends on Wednesday, May 23, so don't miss your chance to enjoy it. Hours Wednesday through Saturday are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. For additional information, call Washoe County Parks at (775) 823-6500.

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Reno is almost dead center in the path of an annular solar eclipse that will pass over the southwestern U.S. on May 20, 2012. The maximum eclipse will be from 6:28 p.m. to 6:33 p.m.

If you are in Reno (or elsewhere near the center of the eclipse path) you will be able to observe a spectacular celestial event that hasn't occurred over North America since 1994, and won't happen again until 2045. Needless to say, this is a must-see happening. There will be a big, and free, eclipse viewing party sponsored by the Fleischmann Planetarium and others. It will be in south Reno on Sunday afternoon from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the MacLean Observatory on the Redfield Campus of the University of Nevada. Get more information about this event and eclipse viewing from my Annular Solar Eclipse Watching in Reno article. This piece also has information for those planning on visiting Reno for a solar eclipse weekend of activities.

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Big changes are coming to Washoe County's two most prominent institutions of education.

At the Washoe County School District, Superintendent Heath Morrison will be stepping down on July 1. Since taking the job in 2009, Morrison has brought significant changes and improvements of the District despite having to deal with a steadily shrinking budget. For example, the high school graduation rate has gone from 56 to 70 percent and he is credited with setting the District on a course designed to continue making system-wide improvements over the next few years. Morrison is leaving to become superintendent of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District in North Carolina.

Over at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), Provost Marc Johnson had been serving as interim president since the sudden death of President Milton Glick in April of 2011. Glick was a popular man on campus and widely regarded as an excellent administrator. Following a search by the Nevada Board of Regents for a permanent replacement, Johnson was selected as the new head of UNR in April, 2012.

Get more Reno / Tahoe information:

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