Kids & Family

Editors' Picks

Best indoor summer camp

Arts for All Nevada Art Camp

Kids are all about summer vacation for about the first two weeks that school's out of session, then before long they're whining about how there's nothing to do. If you've got a youngster between the ages of 6 and 10, perhaps you may consider immersing him or her in the arts to get out of the summertime doldrums. Arts for All Nevada (formerly VSA arts) offers camps during school breaks throughout the year. A half-day, four-class session costs $75 and kids get exposure to visual, musical and performing arts through hands-on activities and projects. Arts for All Nevada offers classes at the Lake Mansion, 250 Court St., as well as off-site locations in Sparks including the Alf Sorensen Community Center, 1400 Baring Blvd. and Larry D. Johnson Community Center, 1200 12th St. Call 826-6100 or visit www.artsforallnevada.org.

Best use of a flatbed truck

El Rancho Drive-In

The drive-in movie theater is such a weird, old-fashioned pleasure that it can be easy to take for granted or forget about entirely. But El Rancho Drive-In is a jewel. It's cheaper than the regular ol' indoor movie theater, and you almost always get a double feature. The kids love it, and they can run around a little bit. It's the best parts of camping—snuggling up with your loved ones beneath an open sky—combined with the pleasures of the cinema: watching movies and stuffing face with popcorn and candy. Plus, the facility hosts a great, surreal, multicultural swap meet on weekend days. Pro tips for movie nights: Get there early to get a good spot and avoid the long, badly managed wait to get inside. And bring a good battery-powered portable radio, because there's nothing worse than sleeping through the back half of a double feature and then waking up to discover a dead car battery.

Readers' Picks

Most kid-friendly restaurant

1. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

4999 Kietzke Lane, 825-7246

2. Chuck E. Cheese's

5000 Smithridge Drive, 827-5100

3. Famous Dave's

4925 Kietzke Lane, 826-7427

Best weeknight activity

1. Food Truck Fridays

2. Coconut Bowl

Wild Island Family Adventure Park, 250 Wild Island Court, Sparks, 359-2927

3. Reno Aces game

250 Evans Ave., 334-4700

Best weekend activity

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum

490 S. Center St., 786-1000

3. Wild Island Family Adventure Park

250 Wild Island Court, Sparks, 359-2927

Best toy store

1. Toys R Us

5000 Smithridge Drive, 827-8697

2. Happy Happy Joy Joy

955 S. Virginia St., 562-1113

3. Learning Express Toys

197 Damonte Ranch Parkway, 853-7884

5110 Mae Anne Ave., 787-5646

Best things to do on a Friday night

1. Food Truck Fridays

2. Reno Street Food

Idlewild Park, 1900 Idlewild Drive, www.facebook.com/RenoStreetFood

3. West Wind El Rancho Drive In

555 El Rancho Drive, Sparks, 358-6920

Best place to take the kids

1. Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum

490 S. Center St., 786-1000

2. Wild Island Family Adventure Park

250 Wild Island Court, Sparks, 359-2927

3. Lake Tahoe

Best picnic spot

1. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

1595 N. Sierra St.

2. Idlewild Park

1900 Idlewild Drive

3. Lake Tahoe

Best place to introduce kids to nature

1. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

1595 N. Sierra St.

2. Lake Tahoe

3. Galena Creek Park

18250 Mt. Rose Highway

Best arcade games

1. Arcade Xtreme at Peppermill Resort Spa Casino

2707 S. Virginia St., (866) 821-9996

2. Fun Quest at Grand Sierra Resort

2500 E. Second St., 789-2439

3. Atlantis Family Entertainment Fun Center

3800 S. Virginia St., 825-4700

Best park

1. Rancho San Rafael Regional park

1595 N. Sierra St.

2. Idlewild Park

1900 Idlewild Drive

3. Pah Rah Mountain Park

1750 Shadow Lane, Sparks

Best local library

1. Downtown Reno Library

301 S. Center St., 327-8312

2. South Valleys Library

15650 A. Wedge Pkwy., 851-5190

3. Northwest Reno Library

2325 Robb Drive, 787-4100

Best family outing

1. Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum

490 S. Center St., 786-1000

2. Lake Tahoe

3. Reno Aces Ballpark

250 Evans Ave., 334-4700

Best charter school

1. Rainshadow Community Charter High School

121 Vesta St., 322-5566

2. Coral Academy of Science Charter School

1701 Valley Road, 322-1328

3. High Desert Montessori

2590 Orovada St., 624-2800