# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Reno: the parent guide

> Reno has a strong kids’ science museum downtown and a park museum with gardens a few minutes north.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 4 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/reno/guide/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/reno/index.md
- Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/reno/visiting/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/reno/llms.txt

## Indoor play and rainy days

### Washoe County Library (Branches across Reno and Sparks)

- Free storytimes all week, plus weekend programs like SaturYay! and Sunday Funday at Northwest Reno.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: Free weekend mornings.
- Skip if: you need something late in the day.
- Website: https://events.washoecountylibrary.us/calendar

## Parks and outdoor play

### Wilbur D. May Arboretum & Botanical Garden (Rancho San Rafael Regional Park)

- Garden paths next to the May Museum that work well for a stroller loop.
- Good for: A walk after the museum.
- Skip if: you want posted hours; check the site first.
- Website: https://www.washoecounty.gov/parks/maycenterhome/index.php

## Museums, zoos and big outings

### The Discovery (Downtown Reno, 490 S. Center St.)

- A hands-on science museum with spaces made for kids under 6.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 1–5 $13.95; adults $17.95; under 1
- Hours: Tue and Thu–Sun 10am–5pm; Wed 10am–8pm
- Good for: Cold or windy days.
- Skip if: it’s Monday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://nvdm.org/visit/hours-admission-location/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- Website: https://nvdm.org/visit/hours-admission-location/

### Wilbur D. May Museum (Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra St.)

- A small museum of travel finds and local history, an easy first museum for little kids.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids 3–17 $5; adults $7; under 3
- Hours: Wed–Sat 10am–4pm; Sun noon–4pm
- Good for: A short indoor stop before the gardens.
- Skip if: it’s Monday or Tuesday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://www.washoecounty.gov/parks/maycenterhome/museum/hours_and_directions.php (checked 2026-10-30)
- Website: https://www.washoecounty.gov/parks/maycenterhome/museum/hours_and_directions.php

## Free things to do

- Washoe County Library

## Best for under 3s

- **The Discovery**: Toddler play areas.
- **Washoe County Library**: Baby and toddler storytimes.

## Things to do with a baby or a 1-year-old

### Babies get in free

- **The Discovery**: under 1. https://nvdm.org/visit/hours-admission-location/
- **Wilbur D. May Museum**: under 3. https://www.washoecounty.gov/parks/maycenterhome/museum/hours_and_directions.php

## Library storytimes

- **Washoe County Library**: Storytimes through the week; SaturYay! and Sunday Funday at Northwest Reno. Branches across Reno and Sparks run storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. https://events.washoecountylibrary.us/calendar


## Happening this week

- **Halloween Family Story Time and Party (Sierra View)** (Sat 10:30am–12:30pm) at Sierra View Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/reno/#e-halloween_family_story_time_and_party_si
- **Trick-or-Treat at Reno Public Market** (Sat 4–7pm) at Reno Public Market. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/reno/#e-trick_or_treat_at_reno_public_market
- **Open Build: Last Minute Halloween at The Discovery** (Sat 10:30am–4:30pm) at The Discovery. Included with admission: ages 1–5 $13.95, adults $17.95, under 1 free. https://littlesweekly.com/reno/#e-open_build_last_minute_halloween_at_the

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/reno/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in Reno: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/reno/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Reno for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/reno/christmas-lights/index.md)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Is Reno good for toddlers?
Yes. The Discovery has play spaces for the youngest kids, and the library runs free weekend programs.

### What’s free?
Library programs, the arboretum and seasonal events like the Reno Public Market trick-or-treat.

### What can we do in Reno on a rainy or cold day with a toddler?
Go indoors: Washoe County Library. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.

### What can we do with a baby, 1-year-old or 2-year-old in Reno?
The Discovery: Toddler play areas. Washoe County Library: Baby and toddler storytimes. Free for the littlest: Wilbur D. May Museum (under 3). See [best for under 3s](https://littlesweekly.com/reno/guide/#under3).

### Where are the free storytimes in Reno?
Washoe County Library: Storytimes through the week; SaturYay! and Sunday Funday at Northwest Reno. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/reno/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Reno weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/reno/).

### How do you choose the places in the Reno guide?
Every one of the 4 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 2 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 30, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).