Kids & Family

Best family outing

Animal Ark

1265 Deerlodge Road, 970-3111

Animal Ark is a preserve for animals that have been injured or abandoned or, for some other reason, would not survive in the wild. It’s a good place to bring just about any type of family member. At 38 acres, it’s spacious but not exhausting—a good outing for a grandparent or toddler who’d like a hilly desert stroll but not a full-on hike. And it’s spot-on for kids or adults who like to see cute foxes napping, cute wolves playing, or an unusually friendly tiger that lets the staff members pet it through the fence. For armchair travelers, the website is full of appealing pictures and stories—or your kids can read it to get to know each animal by name and backstory before you visit.

Best indoor activitty for kids

Classic Series at Cinemark

Cinemark has a classic film series it keeps trying to kill off by not promoting it and not giving it a regular, predictable schedule. But keep an eye out, and you will spot showings from the days when story trumped special effects that children will love and should see on the big screen. The current series, for instance, included Young Frankenstein, Wrath of Khan, and American Graffiti. Earlier series included titles like The Wizard of Oz, How the West was Won, Singin’ in the Rain, and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Showings are on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. and Wednesday and Sunday evenings at 7 p.m.

Readers’ choices

Best arcade games

1. Carnival Midway & XP Arcade

Circus Circus Hotel Casino, 500 N. Sierra St., 329-0711

2. Fun Quest

Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E. Second St., 789-1127

3. Press Start Bar & Arcade

1413 S. Virginia St., 786-2550

Best elementary school

1. Mount Rose School

915 Lander St., 333-5030

2. Roy Gomm Elementary School

4000 Mayberry Drive, 333-5000

3. Jessie Beck Elementary School

1900 Sharon Way, 689-2520

Best family outing

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Food Truck Fridays

Idlewild Park, 2055 Idlewild Drive

3. Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum

490 S. Center St., 786-1000

Best high school

1. Reno High School

395 Booth St., 333-5050

2. Robert McQueen High School

6055 Lancer St., 746-5880

3. Galena High School

3600 Butch Cassidy Drive, 851-5630

Best indoor activity for kids

1. Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum

490 S. Center St., 786-1000

2. Fly High Trampoline Park

10 Greg St., Sparks, 856-8131

3. Coconut Bowl at Wild Island

1855 E. Lincoln Way, Sparks, 359-2927

Best local library

1. Downtown Reno Library

301 S. Center St., 327-8300

2. Northwest Reno Library

2325 Robb Drive, 787-4100

3. Sparks Library

1125 12th St., Sparks, 352-3200

Best middle school

1. Darrel C. Swope Middle School

901 Keele Drive, 333-5330

2. B.D. Billinghurst Middle School

6685 Chesterfield Lane, 746-5870

3. Kendyl Depoali Middle School

9300 Wilbur May Pkwy., 852-6700

Best park

1. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

1595 N. Sierra St., 785-4512

2. Idlewild Park

2055 Idlewild Drive, 334-2270

3. Pah Rah Mountain Park

175 Shadow Lane, Sparks, 353-2376

Best toy store

1. Happy Happy Joy Joy

Closed

2. Learning Express Toys

197 Damonte Ranch Pkwy., 853-7884

3. K/D Empire

433 Pyramid Way, Sparks, 409-3508

Best weekend activity

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Camping

3. Hiking

Best weeknight activity

1. Century Theatres $5 movie night

2. Coconut Bowl at Wild Island

1855 E. Lincoln Way, Sparks, 359-2927

3. The Clay Canvas

550 Plumb Lane, 828-4118

Most kid-friendly restaurant

1. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

4999 Kietzke Lane, 825-7246

2. Laughing Planet Cafe

650 Tahoe St., 360-2592