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.

Autumn snaps

This reservoir can be seen from the Huffaker Hills trail in Reno, Nev.

Each year we visit family and friends in the U.S., timing our trip to coincide with Thanksgiving — my favorite holiday. With the birth of our granddaughter in 2018, these trips have a new focus: to spend as much time as possible with her. Although I don't share photos of her on this blog or on social media (with a few exceptions), trust me — she's adorable and bright and is the apple of our eye.

Kids try their hand at panning for gold at Apple Ridge Farms near Placerville, Calif.

Speaking of apples, I accompanied Sweet Baby Vi and her parents on an outing to Apple Hill, a place I never got around to visiting when I lived in Nevada. It's an annual pilgrimage for many residents of northern Nevada and northern California, especially in the fall when the aforementioned apples are being harvested.

Our lunch stop at Bodhaine Ranch near Placerville, Calif., included
a slice of pie, of course.

Autumn flowers were in bloom at Delfino Farms in
Camino, Calif., on the day of our Apple Hill excursion. 

Families may enjoy picking a basket or two of apples in one of the many orchards that dot the hills near Placerville, Calif. Others will just want to browse the country-store-style shops and pay a bit too much for jars of yummy apple butter, donuts, or cans of (I swear this is true) alligator or snake bits to serve up on crackers. For us, it was a day to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, have a pleasant lunch alfresco (brisket sandwiches seem to be popular). Yeah, all that was great, but truthfully, I was mostly there for the pie.

Framed by sagebrush, Ken shows how much he enjoyed our first hike at
Huffaker Hills in Reno, Nev.

When we weren't babysitting, Ken and I took advantage of the gorgeous weather by taking some short hikes. We went to Huffaker Hills, in the heart of Reno, a couple of times. Named for Granville W. Huffaker, one of the area's original settlers, the open space provides rocky paths bordered by sagebrush and grand views of the Reno skyline.

Despite being colder, we still had blue skies for our second hike at Huffaker Hills
in Reno, Nev.

Our U.S. trip coincided with an appearance by a friend at the Pioneer Center in Reno. We met César Lozano at an English-language school at which we volunteered last winter. Right off the bat, Ken and I found César to be a very charming man. During our many hours of intimate conversations, he made each of us feel like we were the most important person in the world. We eventually found out that he is a big celebrity in Latin America and throughout the Spanish-language community in the U.S. Doctor/author/motivational speaker, César may be the most charismatic person I know.

We wish we could have spent more time with our friend César Lozano
after his appearance at the Pioneer Center in Reno, Nev., but there was
a line of fans waiting to meet him.

We stopped by before his show to say hi, and he insisted we stay for the whole evening. Although Ken and I couldn't understand most of what he was saying since it was in Spanish, the audience was enraptured, laughing and sighing and cheering throughout the evening. When we said good-bye afterward, a line of several hundred people were waiting to meet César and have him sign the books, DVDs, and tee-shirts they had bought. They had to wait a bit longer, because he was chatting with us, once again making us feel like we were the most special VIPs there.

Gray skies add to the atmosphere at the Emeryville (Calif.) Marina.

Our trip back to France began with a ride on the California Zephyr, the Amtrak train that runs from Chicago to San Francisco. We got to spend time with my brother before our plane left the next day. The weather was not so great, but we enjoyed a walk around the Emeryville Marina, a tranquil spot on the San Francisco Bay.

Seemingly deep in conversation at the Emeryville (Calif.) Marina,
Mike and Ken were probably talking about sports.

San Francisco can nearly be seen through the mist across the bay from the
Emeryville (Calif.) Marina.

We had the Emeryville (Calif.) Marina to ourselves on this cool misty morning.

Although our next trip is right around the corner, we are already looking forward to the following trip, and the one after that, and the one after that. Somewhere in there will be another trip or two to the U.S. After all, Sweet Baby Vi misses her grandparents.
 

Our U.S. trip always includes a few back and forths between Reno
and the Bay Area on I-80.

This is the Impossible Whopper from Burger King. Not too shabby!

Winter arrived during the last week of our U.S. trip. We pose along the
Truckee River in Reno, Nev., before seeing a movie, complete with
butter-soaked popcorn.

Explore the footsteps of pioneers

The Pioneer Memorial at Donner Memorial State Park in
Truckee, Calif., honors the Donner Party and other
pioneers who crossed the Sierra Nevada to California.

In the winter of 1846-1847, a group of pioneer families bound for California were stranded in the Sierra Nevada — the mountain range between Nevada and California. The Donner Party, or the Donner-Reed Party, are infamously (and unfairly) known for cannibalism. While it is true that some of the 87 people who were trapped in the snowy mountains resorted to eating the dead in order to not starve, the true story of these pioneers is more nuanced. A thorough and entertaining account of the Donner Party was written by Frank Mullen, a former colleague of mine. His book, "Donner Party Chronicles" is a day-by-day account of the tragic journey of these emigrants to the West.

The Visitor Center at Donner Memorial State Park houses a museum
dedicated to emigrants, Native Americans and others who lived in or
passed through this part of the Sierra. 

Although I lived in Reno, Nev., for a dozen years before moving to France, it was only on my recent visit there this past fall that I finally visited Donner Memorial State Park. I've passed the exit off I-80 countless times, and never bothered to stop. On this day, we decide to make it our destination.

An exhibit at the Donner Visitor Center/Museum includes
items brought West by pioneers.

The dreams and fate of the Donner Party are explained via exhibits and a
film at Donner Memorial State Park. 

The exhibitions at the Visitor Center/Museum honor the people who lived in this part of the Sierra including Native Americans, the Chinese builders of the transcontinental railroad, as well as the Donner Party and other pioneers. A film provides a solid overview of the Donner Party story, and there is, of course, a nice gift shop.

Less than a half-mile long, a walk along the Donner Camp Trail
allows us to stretch our legs.

After about an hour exploring the museum, we are ready for some sunshine and we take a leisurely walk along the short Donner Camp Trail, a pretty path that starts and ends at the Pioneer Monument. Unveiled in 1918, the statue was a gift of the Native Sons of the Golden West and honors "the strength and grit of early settlers," according to its plaque.

The autumn weather is glorious on the day of our visit, and my camera gets a workout.

Donner Camp Trail, Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee, Calif.

Donner Camp Trail, Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee, Calif.

Donner Camp Trail, Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee, Calif.

Donner Camp Trail, Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee, Calif.

Our visit focuses on the Visitor Center/Museum, but Donner Memorial State Park is a vast recreational area that offers camping, water sports, fishing, and hiking in the summer, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. The Visitor Center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the park is open sunrise to sunset, every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. The modest fee to park gives us parking privileges at other California State Parks today, and in order to get our money's worth, we stop at Kings Beach on the north shore of Lake Tahoe on the way back to Reno.

Kings Beach, on the northern shore of Lake Tahoe, is located
16 miles from Donner Memorial State Park.

Nevada's autumn colors

Red berries frame the sky on an autumn day at Rancho
San Rafael Regional Park in Reno, Nev.

Important family matters enticed us back to Northern Nevada this fall. We stayed twice as long as usual, allowing us to see the leaves change from green to gold, and our politicians change from red to blue.

With the promise of writing in more detail soon, here are some visual highlights of autumn in Nevada.

Although it's been years since it's been our home, Reno is still home
to our most precious loved ones.

Mount Rose can be seen through the trees at Galena Creek Park.

A fisherman passes time at a Galena Creek Park pond.

On this mid-October day, the leaves are beginning
to change at Galena Creek Park in Reno, Nev.

A few days later, the autumn colors are radiant at Wilbur May
Arboretum in Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Reno, Nev. 

This bench in Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Reno, Nev.,
offers a colorful place to rest.

As any former band parent knows, no autumn weekend is complete
without a marching band competition. Here Galena High School Band
takes the field at the University of Nevada, Reno.