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Virginia Lake Park provides a great place to catch your breath and enjoy some of the simple pleasures of Reno's outdoor environment and natural beauty. Clear, easily accessible walking paths and picnic areas offer you a chance to either take the family out for a nice afternoon in the sun, or spend a little time by yourself and enjoy a brisk walk before heading back to the reality of your day.

The Sierra Arts Foundation has a very simple mission: to nurture, teach and support by giving back to the local community. Sierra Arts offers various education programs, music seminars and lessons, and presents their very own ElderCare Concert Series that is designed to continue to bring music to the lives of the elderly in the area. The gallery also features nationally renown artists with various rotating exhibitions that continue to help support this organization's noble mission of community-minded service.

Sometimes, science and nature can put on a better show than any Hollywood movie. That is always the case at the Fleishmann Planetarium and Science Center at the University of Nevada in Reno. Through the technology of wide-screen film presentations, you can experience what it feels like to be caught in a hurricane on the bayou, go on a cosmic safari through the solar system and even brave the mysteries of the Nile. There's always a full schedule of exhibits and special presentations, and the kids will love the multidimensional, interactive activities. And don't forget, the planetarium is open until 9 so you can get up close to the planets and the stars through the high-powered telescopes that are housed in this showcase of natural, interplanetary wonder. If you crave and appreciate knowledge of planet Earth, this is the attraction for you.

Reno's downtown area is rife with historic buildings and architecture; to enjoy it while staying relatively cool, take a walk along the historic The River Walk District. The walkway winds through downtown and is not only scenic in its own right, it highlights the whole downtown area giving it an added touch of natural beauty amid the busy commercial landscape.