Animal Ark 1265 Deerlodge Rd., Reno. take U.S. Highway 395 north to the Red Rock Road exit, turn north on Red Rock Road and drive 11.5 miles to Deerlodge, turn right and continue for 1 mile. (775) 969-3111 The Ark is open daily from 10 - 4:30 from April 1 to October 31. Admission is charged. Animal Ark is a wildlife sanctuary and nature center that shelters animals that don't have the skills to survive on their own. Disabled and orphaned animals such as gray wolves, bobcats, bears, snow leopards and Arctic foxes live in natural surroundings at the Ark. Aside from the animals, the educational displays scattered around the grounds make it an especially appealing learning experience for children. Although most people can't own a wild animal as a pet, they can do the next best thing by adopting one at the Ark. Through the Ark's adoption program, they can help pay for the care and feeding of such residents as Mignon, the kit fox, or Shere Khan, the tiger, or Whoopi, the peregrine falcon.

Circus Circus Midway Stage 500 N. Sierra St., Reno, Nev. (800) 648-5010 The circus acts are free and can be seen daily throughout the year from 11 AM to midnight. When Circus Circus Hotel/Casino opened in Reno in 1978, casino patrons were astonished to see trapeze artists and high-wire walkers performing right above their heads as they placed their table bets and pulled the handles of slot machines. The age of the total entertainment concept had been born, complete with an enormous clown as a logo and a pink-and-white-striped circus tent enveloping portions of the building. Although structural changes during the years have made the circus acts less visible from the casino floor, they can be optimally viewed from the Midway section of the casino. Young and old alike are drawn to the carnival-style arcade at the Midway where they can win stuffed toy animals and other prizes at the more than 30 games available.

Fleischmann Planetarium 1650 N. Virginia St., Reno, Nev. (775) 784-4812 the telescope of the public observatory is available on clear Friday nights throughout the year from 8:30 to 9:30 PM. Admission to the museum, gift shop and observatory is free. There is a charge at the Theater. The building is open Monday through Friday, except holidays, from 8 - 8 . call for listings and schedule. Located on a knoll overlooking the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno, Fleischmann Planetarium looks like a saucer-shaped spaceship that has just touched down. Its curious shape is actually a hyperbolic paraboloid canopy that covers the elliptical interior of the building. Inside you can see such curiosities as three meteorites found within Nevada, or find out what your real weight would be on the planet Venus, or see how a black hole acts in space. For many visitors, the real space experience takes place in the domed theater on the lower level where you can see spectacular films about nature and the universe. Lean back and relax in the reclining loge chairs while the show unfolds all around you on the Skydome 8/70 screen.

Wild Island Family Adventure Park 250 Wild Island Ct., Sparks, Nev. (775) 359-2927 Wild Island Family Adventure Park has more than enough excitement to keep the family entertained all day long. With eight exciting water adventures, two miniature golf courses and a variety of racetracks in the Formula K Raceway, it's hard to decide which adventure to tackle first.