Families & Children

Be in Reno, Nevada, to see an eclipse of the sun on May 20, 2012. Reno is almost in the center of the path of this annular solar eclipse.

Egg hunts and other Easter activities for kids and families in the Lake Tahoe area.

Christmas and the holidays around Reno are full of events and activities for everyone in the family.

Take a Christmas holidays train ride near Reno on one of these special holiday trains. Holiday-themed train rides are a great family activity.

Marlette-Hobart Backcountry, part of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, offers a wide variety of non-motorized recreation and is designated as a state primitive area.

Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is close to Reno, making it an ideal place for family fun at Lake Tahoe.

Here are some safety tips to help you have a safe holiday season while at home in Reno, out shopping, or traveling to visit family and friends for the holidays.

Public parks in Reno, Nevada, offer many ways for you and your family to enjoy getting outdoors. Here are some ways to make use of Reno's parks for enjoyable outdoor activities.

Enjoy family ice skating at one of these rinks in the Reno / Lake Tahoe area.

State and local government offices are closed on Nevada Day, which commemorates Nevada's admission to the union in 1864. Nevada Day is celebrated annually on the last Friday in October.

The Kokanee Salmon Festival at the Lake Tahoe Taylor Creek Visitor Center is an annual event focused on the fall spawning run of these unique fish. Taylor Creek Visitor Center has educational exhibits, events, and activities related to the Lake Tahoe Basin and is a great destination for outdoor family fun.

The Taylor Creek Visitor Center at Lake Tahoe is operated by Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Taylor Creek Visitor Center has educational exhibits, events, and activities related to the Lake Tahoe Basin and is a great destination for family fun in the great outdoors.

The lists here are the top 10 boy and girl names chosen by Nevada parents in 2010. The information is compiled by the Social Security Administration (SSA) from Social Security Card applications.

What name was given to your child or grandchild born in Nevada? Is it one the most popular? A family name? Why did you choose it?

Galena Creek Visitor Center in south Reno is a great place for kids and families to enjoy learning about nature in the Reno / Lake Tahoe area.

The Ranch Disc Golf Course is Reno's first public disc golf course. It opened to the public in May, 2011, and is located in Rancho San Rafael Regional Park.

Children and their families around Reno / Tahoe have a variety of both church-sponsored and non-denominational Easter egg hunts and events from which to choose.

Where to enjoy Easter Sunday brunch with family and friends in the Reno and Sparks area of Nevada.

Places to enjoy Easter Sunday brunch in the Lake Tahoe area.

If you are interested in learning skiing or snowboarding, check out the lessons offered at ski areas and resorts in the Sierra Nevada near Reno and around Lake Tahoe.

If you are interested in learning to cross country ski or skate, check out the lessons offered at ski areas and resorts in the Sierra Nevada near Reno and around Lake Tahoe.

Learn about enjoying the outdoors during winter at Winter Trails Day, a free family activity sponsored by the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, Lake Tahoe area ski resorts, and other public and private organizations.

Get out with the family to enjoy the Christmas holiday lights in the Reno area and up at Lake Tahoe.

Enjoy these free Christmas and holiday activities, events, and shows in the Reno area.

Enjoy a family outing by getting your own Christmas tree. Christmas tree cutting permits are available from the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service for areas in the Reno / Tahoe region.

The Mt. Rose trail has something for the whole family. The well-graded and maintained trail is suitable for children and open to your well-behaved and controlled pet*. You will enjoy a rewarding hiking experience whether you trek all the way to the summit of Mt. Rose or just meander partway.

Reno community health centers and clinics provide services to Reno / Tahoe area residents who are medically uninsured and underinsured.

Remember when you were a kid and gross was good? The grosser the better, especially when it came to teasing other kids or making your parents squirm. You can relive those fun days and introduce your children to the joys of gross stuff at the Animal Grossology exhibit in the Wilbur May Museum at Reno's Rancho San Rafael Regional Park.

Chinese New Year events and celebrations around the Reno / Tahoe region celebrating the Asian custom of bringing in what is also called the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. 2010 is the Year of the Tiger.

Here are some ideas for Reno / Tahoe outdoor winter family fun. There are numerous outdoor activities during winter around the Reno / Tahoe region to keep children and families entertained - ice skating, sledding, snow tubing and snow play. When snow is on the ground, take the kids out to enjoy our snow country activities.

Here are some ideas for Reno / Tahoe winter family fun that don't involve snow and cold. There are numerous indoor activities during winter around the Reno / Tahoe region to keep children and families entertained when the weather outside is frightful.

Reno charter schools are public schools that give students options not available in regular public schools. Charter schools are taxpayer funded and operate under supervision from the state public school system.

Reno Halloween activities for children at our Washoe County Library is fun, safe, and free. Select library branches will be having Halloween events suitable for just about every age group, including pumpkin carving, costume contests, games, parades, and trick-or-treating. Find a Washoe County Library near you and bring the kids for some...

Reno's Idlewild Park is a beautiful open space just west of downtown. The park hugs a curve along the south bank of the Truckee River and is a wonderful place for family activities and just plain relaxing.

Reno's Idlewild Park is a beautiful open space just west of downtown. The park hugs a curve along the south bank of the Truckee River and features mature trees, large expanses of grass, two rentable picnic shelters, playgrounds, ball fields, a municipal pool, walking and biking paths, a train ride, Reno's Municipal Rose Garden, and small lakes for fishing and feeding waterfowl.

Reno's variety of free art exhibits, public art installations, and other forms of freely available artistic expression are a wonderful part of the Reno / Lake Tahoe region.

Reno's back to school time is one filled with excitement, trepidation, and uncertainty for both students and parents. With the Washoe County School District on a 12 month schedule, it's hard to know which public schools open when, and even where children in a particular neighborhood are supposed to attend classes.

Rock Park in Sparks was seriously showing its age in 2008, 30 years after it was first established on the banks of the Truckee River. After a complete overhaul, it reopened in May of 2009 with a new Whitewater Park at Rock Park. Riverbank modifications provide for safe water play areas for children and great places for families to enjoy a day at...

Rock Park in Sparks was seriously showing its age in 2008, 30 years after it was first established on the banks of the Truckee River. After a complete overhaul, it reopened in May of 2009 with a new Whitewater Park at Rock Park, consisting of over 1,000 feet of fun - five drop pools for kayaking, tubing, and rafting. Riverbank modifications provide for safe water play areas for children.

Free movies in Reno, Nevada, show at several places during the summer. Free movies are family friendly entertainment events. Bring the children and enjoy these free movies at different venues around Reno and Lake Tahoe.

These places for family activities in the Reno area include options for things to do both indoors and outside.

Reno and Sparks are mostly flat, making getting around on a bicycle a relatively easy proposition. Those who find peddling a pleasant way to get around will find an increasing number of fellow travelers. You will also find more accommodations along the roadways for bike riders, including new bike lanes and the colorful public art bicycle racks...

Children and their families around Reno / Tahoe have a variety of both church-sponsored and non-denominational Easter egg hunts and events from which to choose.

Safe Place in Reno is part of a nationwide program that provides a first step for youth at risk or in crisis. Various community organizations, government agencies, and businesses collaborate to provide places where immediate safety and help is available, and offer support services to both young people and their families.

The 2009 Exploring Nevada Series consists of free presentations about Nevada history and some of the people involved with Nevada's colorful past. Featured presentations include guest speakers, photography, and video. They are sure to be entertaining and educational for those who attend.

The 2009 Nevada Cultural Heritage Series consists of free presentations about the cultural and natural heritage of northern Nevada. Featured speakers are among northern Nevada experts in their respective fields and are sure to give their audiences entertaining and educational presentations.

When it's freezing outside and the budget has taken a holiday beating, free family entertainment sounds pretty good, and Reno's "Come in from the Cold" Family Entertainment Series could be just what you're looking for.

Ice skating family fun in downtown Reno, next to the Truckee River.

Pictures of winter ice skating fun at Rink on the River in downtown Reno, right next to the Truckee River. Rink on the River is a place for families to have fun during the winter season.

Here are numerous ways to enjoy family and friends on Thanksgiving Day and weekend around the Reno / Lake Tahoe region.

The Reno / Lake Tahoe region has a wide variety of top cross-country ski resorts and ski areas. Sprinkled around the Lake Tahoe area, these nordic skiing areas are also blessed with abundant snow, excellent accommodations, and easy access from Reno, Sacramento, and the Bay Area. Many of these ski areas also offer other winter sports...

Snow play areas and sno-parks abound near Reno and up around Lake Tahoe. Snow play areas in Nevada are somewhat informal, while over in California there is a Sno-Park program run by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, with the assistance of several other agencies. Many of the Lake Tahoe ski resorts also have snow play areas.

The Reno / Lake Tahoe region has one of the largest concentrations of top downhill ski resorts in the world. Perched on the slopes around Lake Tahoe, these skiing areas are also blessed with abundant snow, excellent accommodations, and easy access from Reno, Sacramento, and the Bay Area.

Reno's fall season is a great time to be out and about, enjoying the pleasures of living in the Reno / Tahoe region. Numerous activities compete for your attention, from organized events to quiet hikes through aspen groves of golden fall color at Lake Tahoe. Many of my suggestions are suitable for everyone, so take the family on a fall outing to...

Reno and Sparks have numerous things to do within a two gallon radius of the Truckee Meadows. Save gas, save money, and enjoy activities in Reno and Sparks.

Great stuff for kids, like games and homework help.

Lots of library programs designed just for teens.

The City of Reno has several skate parks around town, suitable for skaters and trick bikers of all abilities.

There's probably something of interest to every kid. Offered through Reno Parks, Recreation, and Community Services.

For young people 12 - 20, programs provide opportunities to explore recreational and educational interests, and develop life skills.

This is the only place in Northern Nevada to see exotic animals up close. It is mostly staffed by volunteers.

Animal Ark provides a home for non-releasable wildlife and has a nature center for the public to view and learn about the animals. There is a gift shop, picnic area, and educational programs. Season is April through October.

Wild Island in Sparks has a water park, family entertainment center, bowling alley, and can be booked for events like birthday parties.

From the website: "Roller Kingdom is Reno's hottest spot for family fun. If it's good clean fun you are looking for let Roller Kingdom be your destination. Check our Session Schedule to find a time that you can come join us."

Museum is a non-profit organization providing education and entertainment for children and their families. Located in Carson City.

Here's a good list of childcare providers around the Reno / Sparks area.

Scheduled to open in September, 2011. Dedicated to providing learning experiences for children from birth to age 12.