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The Reno-Lake Tahoe area has experienced plenty of transition since its inception in the 1900s. From a mining and gambling town to the number one area for outdoor recreation, Reno-Lake Tahoe will continue to amaze and entice the more than one million people who visit annually to its lakes, trails, marinas, gardens and hot springs.

At first glance, it is bard to see much else beyond Reno's casinos. According to the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority's 2003 marketing report, there were 53 casinos between Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe, with the majority coming from Reno (24). The archway, which was originally a steel structure with lights built to welcome out-of-town guests, has been updated to a glitzier version to match the other colorful nightscapes along downtown Reno's main thoroughfare, Virginia Street.

But there is more to Reno and its neighbors than poker chips and slot machines. There is a reason why the travel company, Rand McNally, named Reno the number one area for outdoor recreation. "The world knows that we have built a better Reno," said Reno City Manager Charles McNeely at a 2003 city council meeting. 'American Economic Review' says we're fifth in the nation for urban quality of life, and AAA's 'Via Magazine' calls us the Paris of Northern Nevada--that's thanks to Artown."

Practically every week in the calendar year there are events, festivals and a slew of entertainment choices in Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe. The summer season provides a myriad of outdoor options such as boating, fishing, hang gliding, hiking and horseback riding. Additionally, there is a nationally renowned Shakespeare festival in Lake Tahoe, multi-week art festival in downtown Reno and a professional wakeboard tour in Sparks. The fall brings the Best-in-the-West Nugget Rib Cook-off in Sparks, the Great Reno Balloon Race in Reno and the Great Italian Festival in downtown Reno (which occurs the opening weekend of Congress, Oct. 9-10).

While Congress may be the excuse to come to Reno, there are simply no excuses for not partaking in some of the dozens of activities available for your down time. To help sift through the items, the staff at Parks & Recreation magazine have done all the work and given you the top 10 places to visit during your stay in Nevada. Explore, enjoy and engage yourselves in the delights of "The Biggest Little City in the World."

(1) Sierra Ice and Sportsplex

600 Spice Island Drive, Sparks

(775) 356-6644

This Reno-Sparks ice rink offers hockey leagues and figure skating. Public skating hours are 9-10:50 a.m.. Monday through Friday; 1-2:50 p.m. Evening hours subject to change due to hockey games. Weekend hours subject to change as well. The cost is $6 for adults, $2.50 for skate rentals. The 70,000-square-foot complex features an indoor ice rink, inline rink, two soccer fields, basketball, volleyball and a 3,500-square-foot fitness area.

Distance 6 miles *

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(2) Truckee River Whitewater Park

Arlington Street and First Street, Reno

(775) 334-2414

Downtown Reno has more to otter than its glittering archway leading into the casino quarter. Riverside Drive slinks along the 24-mile Truckee River, which now includes the newly opened Truckee River Whitewater Park. The $1.5 million-dollar, publicly funded water park opened last year and features a whitewater and kayak area that is one-half mile in length in the middle of downtown Reno. There are 11 drop pools in a variety of skill levels, with water that never gets below 50 degrees. There is also the nearby Wingfield Park, which features grassy knolls for picnicking, festivals, outdoor sports and recreation and an amphitheater for concerts.

Distance: 3.4 miles *

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(3) River Walk Wine Walk

Riverside Drive and Virginia Street, Reno

For a drier way to experience downtown Reno, walk along Riverside Drive, which snakes through the middle of the city and borders the Truckee River, and enjoy the spirits. Every Saturday is the monthly River Walk Wine Walk. From 2 to 5 p.m., enjoy glasses of wine while you meander along the drive, stopping into various art shops and other Reno businesses to sample their wines.

Distance: 3.8 miles *

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(4) National Bowling Museum

300 N. Center Street, Reno

(775) 334-2600

Reno isn't only about outdoor activities, and the indoor ways to idle your time do not have to include card games or craps. With a city population of less than 200,000, Reno is home to the world's largest bowling arena, the National Bowling Stadium. With 78 bowling lanes equipped with the latest technology to showcase the sport, the stadium is the perfect alternative to relaxing after a day of educational sessions and vendor calls. It also hosts the national American Bowling Conference Men's and Women's International Bowling Congress tournaments. Additionally, the 363,000-square-foot facility houses a four-story-high screen for films and presentations.

Distance: 3.4 miles *

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(5) Nevada Museum of Art

160 W. Liberty Street, Reno

(775) 329-3333

And if knocking around pins is not your idea of indoor relaxation, try visiting the Nevada Museum of Art, which is featuring multi-media sculptor Robert Morrison during the week of Congress. Founded in 19:31, the Nevada Museum of Art is the oldest arts organization in Nevada and it remains the only nationally accredited art museum in the state. It is recognized as a leader among museums for its innovation in reaching out to new audiences and developing unique partnerships throughout its community. The Morrison exhibit is a good example of the progressive nature of the museum. One of the showcases of his exhibition, "Tongues: The half-life of Morphine," occupies nearly 4,000 feet of gallery space, and consists of 30 steel and fiberglass cots organized on a grid--a scene suggestive of a hospital ward. Each unit is wired to generate noise, creating an anxious atmosphere of jittery, random sound patterns. Morrison conceived the work when he was recuperating from a bone graft operation to repair a seriously broken leg.

Divided into five focus areas, the permanent collection of the Nevada Museum of Art consists of more than 1900 works of art organized around the general themes of land and environment.

Distance: 2.9 miles *

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(6) Rancho San Rafael Park and Wilbur D. May Museum and Arboretum

1595 N. Sierra Street, Reno

(775) 785-4319

At Rancho San Rafael Park, the 600-acre destination boasts trails, pathways, doggie parks and the must-see Wilbur D. May Museum and Arboretum--an oasis in Nevada's desert. The museum is named alter Wilbur May, who was an early 20th century wealthy traveler, adventurer, pilot, rancher and philanthropist who spent the latter half of his life in Reno. A cascading waterfall and indoor garden invite you into the museum and adjoining exhibit halls, which house an eclectic array of artifacts and collectibles May acquired during his many trips. The arboretum has 12 acres covered with groves of trees, wetland habitats, outdoor courtyards and secluded gardens. Its main purpose is to be an experiment of what kind of plants and flowers can survive in desert climate. There is also a labyrinth garden near the arboretum that is currently in between phases of being built, but is active for walking and exploring. The final labyrinth will have seven concentric circles, 50 feet in diameter with a total of one-quarter-mile walking distance where visitors can explore.

Distance: 6.9 miles *

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(7) Sparks Marina

180 at North McCarran Boulevard, Sparks

(775) 353-2376

Sparks Marina used to be an old gravel pit, but has been renovated into an extensive water destination, with a stocked lake, dog park, lighted walking trail, scuba facilities, volleyball courts, swimming facilities and a marina. The Sparks Marina Park contains an estimated one billion gallons of water. With an average depth of 60 feet, and the deepest part of the marina reaching 120 feet, the marina is usually stocked with Rainbow Trout and German Brown Trout.

Distance: 9.8 miles *

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(8) Bartley Ranch

6000 Bartley Ranch Road, Reno

(775) 828-6612

Within two miles of the Convention Center is Bartley Ranch. Consisting of 56 acres of scenic pasture, walking trails, a regulation-size horse arena and warm-up arena, the 400-seat Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater, the Western Heritage Interpretive Center and the newly restored Old Huffaker School, this is perhaps the last really rural area in Reno. It is the closest you will get to the "Wild, Wild West." When the park opened in 1995, it's master plan envisioned placing historic buildings to give a feel for the ranch life in the Truckee Meadows. In addition to an active corn maize, just this past summer, five historic buildings dating back to the 1890s were placed on the ranch to help further the master plan.

Distance: 1.8 miles *

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(9) Windy Hill (a.k.a. Audrey Harris Park)

Del Monte Lane at Lakeside Drive near Bartley Ranch, Reno

(775) 828-6642

And for the $1 million scenic view; walk around the ranch to Windy Hill, also called Lover's Lane by the locals for the number of engagements that inevitably get proposed due to its perch overlooking Reno--day or night. A tiny turnout along Lakeside Drive, Windy Hill also connects to Bartley Ranch's many hiking and horse trails through the hilltops of Reno.

Distance: 1.3 miles *

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(10) Sand Harbor State Park Beach

Highway 28 on the north shore of incline Village, Lake Tahoe

(775) 831-0494

A good day trip during Congress is the Sand Harbor State Park on Lake Tahoe's North Shore. Known for its Shakespeare festival in the summer months, the park is an ideal location to view the beauty Lake Tahoe has to offer no matter the season. The locals take much pride in this area, as it is one of the most pristine bodies of water in Nevada and California, with clear blue water that can show objects as deep as 75 feet. The self-guided nature trail opens the park's picturesque beaches with moutainscapes to any visitor. Sand Harbor is located in the Lake Tahoe Basin, which is surrounded by mountains, and sits in a valley at an elevation of 6,229 feet. It is the highest lake of its size in the United States. It is the third deepest lake in North America and the 10th deepest lake in the world. While the beach is ideal in the summer for scuba diving, there is diving available in the October, but a dry suit is recommended because the temperatures dip to 42 degrees.

Distance: 31.3 miles *

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Dig in to some of the coolest places to eat in Reno.

Bertha Miranda's Mexican Restaurant (downtown south)

336 Mill St, (775) 786-9697

3.1 miles *

Family-run casual Mexican restaurant that serves Tex-Mex and traditional food. Their salsa gets top recommendations from new visitors and regulars.

Blue Heron (downtown)

1091 South Virginia St.

(775) 786-4110

2.1 miles *

Good choice for those seeking a lighter, healthier alternative. Restaurant specializes in organic, all-natural food including variations on tofu and tempeh dishes.

Gatsby Cafe (Ramada Inn) (downtown)

200 East 6th St., 2nd floor

3.7 miles *

Softly lit cafe has a good cup of coffee, with substantial portions at a reasonable price. Choose from a nice selection of traditional breakfast favorites, as well as an array of salads, specialty sandwiches and burgers for lunch or dinner.

Nugget Diner (downtown)

233 N. Virginia St.

(775) 323-0716

3.2 miles *

Authentic Western diner with a famous specialty. The Awful Awful Burger attracts droves of people to this small care in the back of the Nugget Casino. Another popular menu item is the prime rib.

Oyster Bar on the Sky Terrace (in Atlantis Hotel)

3800 S. Virginia St.

(775) 825-4700

.4 miles *

Reno nightspot is also popular in the day for its view of the city while eating lunch or dinner. Specials include fresh oysters, clams and shrimp entrees, chowders, cioppino and pan roasts.

The Blue Plate (downtown)

236 California Ave.

(775) 786-3463

2.9 miles *

Intimate diner features an eclectic menu of Greek and Chinese items. Choices include Szechwan dumplings, potstickers, pasticio and Greek vegetarian salads. Dine at one of the wrought-iron tables on the brick patio lined with flowers and shaded by canopy decorated with twinkling lights.

The Brew Brothers (Eldorado Hotel and Casino) (downtown)

345 N. Virginia St.

(775) 786-5700

3.3 miles *

Popular microbrewery features eight original brews, which help name the Brew Brothers the "Best Microbrewery" by the Best of Reno poll. Menu items include burgers, salads and gourmet pizza.

Toucan Charlie's Buffet (Clarion Hotel and Casino)

3800 S. Virginia Ave.

(775) 825-4700

.4 miles *

Much better than the chain buffet bars, this quality restaurant offers specialty salads and dinners made to order. The Mongolian barbecue stir-fried on-site is a popular dish.

Steakhouse at Red Hawk

6295 Wingfield Springs Rd., Sparks

(775) 626-1000

10 miles *

Newly re-opened, this steakhouse at The Resort At Red Hawk offers patrons an upscale ranch restaurant ambiance with the menu of a big city steakhouse. Using only certified angus beef, chef Al Karsok cooks items like filet, top sirloin, steak Diane and prime rib. The restaurant boasts an extensive wine list that was recently mentioned in "Wine Spectator" magazine. (Closed Monday and Tuesday)

Romanza (Peppermill Hotel and Casino)

2707 South Virginia Street

(866) 621-9996

1.1 miles *

Feel like having a relaxing meal amid the stars? Then check out this Italian restaurant, where diners eat under an enchanted skydome. Voted Nevada's Best Themed Restaurant by "Casino Player" magazine, this is the place to visit the old world.

* Distance from Convention Center