Merrill Gardens-Gardnerville

The Cactus Creek Southwestern Steakhouse is worth the effort it takes to find it, although you might have passed it or may be close to it without even realizing it! The restaurant is in the Bonanza Casino just north of downtown, and both the casino and eatery are local favorites that tourists may not find right away. The steaks are plentiful slabs of beef, and the side dishes are just as delectable. Add in great service, no-hassle parking and a usually short wait for a table and you've found a real jewel of a restaurant.

Roller Kingdom is so much more than just a roller rink! The family will love not only the big skating area, hi-tech light show and sound system, but there's also the very popular Laserstorm Laser Tag and the latest in video games. Every Thursday is family night at this attraction.

If whitewater rafting is your choice recreation activity, then bring the whole family or your rafting buddies for a great afternoon on the water courtesy of the pros at Sierra Adventures. Your adventure begins on the scenic and challenging Truckee River and in addition to taking on the challenge of whitewater rafting, you'll also be able to enjoy some of the most picturesque areas of the river.

More of nature's wondrous creatures are on display at the Sierra Safari Zoo. Open from April to the first day of November, this surprisingly vivid collection of some of the world's most amazing animals offers you a chance to reach out and touch, feed and play with these exotic creatures. There are more than two hundred animals to see including wallabys, big cats, monkeys, deer and zebras.