Fun meets science at Reno's Discovery museum

Papi and his little buddy launch parachutes into the air at
The Discovery in Reno.

Just about the time we were packing up and moving to France, The Discovery museum in Reno was opening its doors. My kids weren't exactly kids anymore in 2011, so it's taken a decade to have the chance to check it out. With a requisite 3-year-old and her Papi in tow, we recently spent a most enjoyable day playing and exploring at The Discovery. 

Let's see if Papi can get out of these handcuffs at
The Discovery in Reno.

Large foam blocks can form a bridge at The Discovery in Reno.

The Discovery calls itself, "the home for informal science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) learning." Visitors of all ages can certainly learn a whole lot during their visit, but mostly — especially if you're a curious and energetic young child — it's all about the fun. The museum's official name is the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, named for its primary funder. In addition to being a hands-on museum, The Discovery hosts camps, school field trips, birthday parties, and loads of workshops. You can even have a slumber party at The Discovery, which sounds both awesome (if you're a kid) and exhausting (if you're a chaperone).

 

Visitors to The Discovery in Reno get a jump start
on car maintenance.

Upon arrival, my little friend, (or ma petite amie, whom I will refer to here as MPA), heads directly for the auto repair shop. Here she can change tires, add fluids, and tinker with the engine. Everything can be fiddled with, in fact, there's no "hands off" at The Discovery.

 

Flashlights illuminate this tunnel of shapes and colors at
The Discovery in Reno.

An area that MPA especially enjoys is a crawl space that illustrates the way eyes perceive color. With flashlights in hand, MPA has decided instead that this is a forest, and she is Little Red Riding Hood. Papi is, naturally, the Wolf. And I'm Granny. When her "forest" is invaded by a gang of boys, MPA is a little annoyed, and she's relieved when they move on to another exhibit.

Visitors to The Discovery in Reno see what they can make with
wooden sticks. 

Feel free to draw on this glass wall at The Discovery in Reno.

In the art area, MPA draws on glass with bright markers. In another area she braids ropes. The lower level is dominated by a vast recreation of the water systems of the Reno-Tahoe area. She's not interested in climbing the netted ramps above the lakes and rivers below (thank goodness), but she's happy to splash about in Pyramid Lake.

Ropes that can be twisted and braided illustrate the basics of
basket weaving at The Discovery in Reno.

The waterways of the Reno-Tahoe area are recreated in a
vast splash-and-climb section at The Discovery in Reno.

By the time we hit the dark Outer Space room, Papi and I are happy to sit back on some comfy sofas while MPA explores the galaxy. She carries around what appears to be an iPad and thoughtfully considers what she imagines is on the screen.

"Ah ha!," I think. "She's going to work at NASA some day!"

Instead, she tells me it's my turn for a haircut. 

Engineer, hairdresser, astronaut, automobile mechanic: Whatever! — as long as she's happy. (Although I'm holding out for Mission Control Flight Director.)

The large Electrosketch entertains The Discovery's older visitors.

The Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum is located at 490 Center Street in Reno. Visit The Discovery website nvdm.com  for hours and admission prices.

A couple of hikes and a snowy ride

Our last full day in the U.S. features a spectacular train ride
through the snowy Sierra Nevada.

We enjoy gorgeous weather during the first half of our late autumn visit to Nevada. We spend as much time as possible outdoors at some favorite hiking places, and we discover a couple of new ones. Three weeks in, and the snow arrives. Our last full day in the U.S. is spent on the California Zephyr, Amtrak's daily train that starts in Chicago, crosses the Midwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada before terminating in Emeryville, Calif., just across the bay from San Francisco. 

Not far from our apartment in Sparks, Nev., we discover this
beautiful park and enjoy several hikes here during our recent trip.

Eager to spend time outside while our apartment is undergoing some remodeling, we come across a couple of new (to us) places to hike. I use the term "hike" loosely, as our outings are more leisurely strolls than hikes. 

Sage brush and red-hued rocks adorn Wedekind Regional Park
in Sparks, Nev.

We've passed Wedekind Regional Park numerous times without knowing it was there. The hills alongside Pyramid Highway contain easy trails through sagebrush and red rocks. There are two trailheads and ample parking. Even though we're there on weekdays, we're kind of surprised that we run into just a few other people. 

Wedekind Regional Park is an urban park, just off Pyramid
Highway but far enough away from downtown Reno/Sparks.

The trails are designated by difficulty, but I wouldn't call even the most challenging too tough. There are very few steep places, and so the park is a good place to take young kids. From the top of the hills, we can see the downtown casino towers in the distance.

A number of these rock monuments are found at Wedekind
Regional Park, some built with rocks that once lined the trails.

Instead of our usual catch-up over dinner, I meet my friend
Chris for a hike through the hills of Caughlin Ranch in Reno.

I join my dear old friend Chris for a hike along the Caughlin Ranch trail, another gem that I was previously unaware of. Caughlin Ranch is an upscale neighborhood in Reno. We meet a lot of fellow walkers (most of whom are with their dogs). I'd be a little worried to bring along a toddler here, as there are some steep drops along parts of the trail.

Caughlin Ranch Trails in Reno offer 4.8 miles of out-and-back
walking and biking trails.

A stream splashes along near the trails of
Caughlin Ranch in Reno.

We aren't at all sure that we'll make our train to the Bay Area the day before our flight back to France. Yesterday's storm dumped about 15 feet of snow in the mountains and the California Zephyr trains  between Reno and Emeryville (and visa versa) had been cancelled. We arrive at the Amtrak station early and are told we can't check our bags until they're sure the train will run that day. An hour later, we're called to check our luggage — a good sign. However the train is way overbooked with passengers who had been stuck in Reno the day before. We anticipate a mad rush to board, but the Amtrak staff takes charge and threatens to "boot" those passengers who step onto the platform before their names are called. Because we're holding tickets to the last stop, our names are called sooner, and we comfortably settle into our seats. After an hour or so, after seats have been found for everyone, we're off.

Our train sits in Truckee, Calif., as dozens of stranded passengers
board, and we wait for snow-clearing equipment.

Although we had some snow-driving fun in Nevada, at least
we hadn't had to dig out our car.

In Truckee, we sit for another hour, waiting for snow removal equipment to show up and lead us through the mountains. We're kept entertained by watching people dig out their cars. Eventually, about four hours late, we arrive in Emeryville and are greeted by my big brother. This new itinerary — traveling to California the day before we fly out of SFO — has its advantages: one fewer flight, a bit less expensive, and best of all, time spent with Mike.

The train's snail pace allows us plenty of time to enjoy the
snowy scenery.