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.
Reno Open Studios offers a unique opportunity to tour local artists' studios to watch them create their different work using different mediums. See examples of painting, printmaking, pottery, weaving and jewelry making and maybe even try your hand at creating a masterpiece of your own. This tour also includes a visit to the Nevada Museum of Art.
The Bartley Ranch Regional Park not only offers a unique, natural environment to take in the area's gorgeous scenery and indigenous animal life, it also affords you the chance to get on horseback and take a ride through the open fields and grassy expanses of this outdoor oasis. The park has drawn rave reviews for how well the staff keeps the horses, grounds and other amenities in top shape, ready for any visitor to enjoy.
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.