Things to Do in Susanville

The many stigmas surrounding the sluggishness and spitball susceptibility of school buses and public transit are rendered inane by the sleek comforts of Blue Groundways' buses. Each Blue Groundways bus is an indulgence-vessel on six wheels, offering the musicality of Sirius satellite radio, the connection of on-board WiFi, five-star service from friendly attendants, beverages to hydrate your journey, and the most recent movie releases played on a slick video system. Scheduled routes include a Friday ride that starts in Santa Rosa and travels along Route 42 to Petaluma and Sacramento before arriving in Lake Tahoe and then later in Reno, returning back home on Sundays. The San Francisco to Reno route leaves on Fridays and Sundays with return trips on Saturdays and Sundays, making stops in both Lake Tahoe and Sacramento. Check out the route map for pick-up locations.

The Ballroom of Reno champions dance as the art of human connection rather than the art of winning medals. As a nonprofit organization, its lessons and proceeds aim to benefit the community rather than training competitors. Its focus on choreography's social side has led to a schedule rife with free beginner's seminars, fundraisers, and weekly themed parties, during which the 3,400-square-foot studio boasts an ethereal display of mini lights.

While cavorting on the springy floor, pupils who range from novices to experts might rehearse moves from a variety of Latin, ballroom, and contemporary styles, including swing, tango, rumba, and foxtrot. Private sessions hone in on specific techniques, whereas group classes enable guests to twirl, jive, and stare awkwardly without ceasing with various partners. The staff encourages regulars to combine both types of education during the Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday parties designed to help them reap maximum enjoyment and poise from their practice.

With whirling colorful lights and a top-40 playlist, Roller Kingdom could give visitors the illusion that they're in a nightclub. But instead of dancing on the floor, guests strap on rollerblades or roller skates to glide across it. Novice skaters can improve their form during lessons or trade in their skates for laser-tag equipment and duel it out with friends in order to win prize tickets and the right to wear a homemade laser-tag championship belt made out of tinfoil. Outside the rink and laser-tag den, guests can play arcade games or belt out their favorite songs on the karaoke stage.

For students of The Studio, flying is not only possible—it's therapeutic. Instructors in beginners’ acro-yoga classes lead guests through the basics of gravity-defying poses and partner work, helping them balance upside down and infuse their yoga practice with trust and playfulness. During these and all classes at The Studio, the emphasis is on acceptance. The staff maintains a judgment-free atmosphere, where burgeoning yogis can feel comfortable attempting new postures without making everyone nearby crawl headfirst into a sleeping bag. The two classrooms—one heated for intense Vinyasa sequences and one kept at a standard temperature—are as calming and open as the minds within them, bordered by walls of large, panoramic windows. Under the supervision of certified teachers, most of whom have undergone hundreds of hours of yoga training, pupils hone their sense of body and breath awareness.

This welcoming ambiance helped The Studio earn the 2012 award for Best Yoga Classes in the Reno News & Review. However, the center is not solely focused on classes and views them instead as one component of a total-wellness regimen. Backing up the sessions, massage therapists untangle muscular knots in two private rooms with Thai stretching techniques or other classic modalities. In the lounge, plush floor cushions support patrons as they sip complimentary tea and peel clementines. Owner Rachelle often stands behind the raw-food and juice bar, prepping wholesome meals for lunch and keeping fruit from getting too full of itself.

High above the rink at Roller Kingdom sits a DJ booth where record spinners select new hits and 80s-night tracks to send through the thunderous sound system. The melodies fill the rink and sync up with lighting effects that glisten on the sleek surface of the skating floor. During roller-derby bouts, the announcer's voice booms through the speakers to call out point tallies or impressive hits. Roller Kingdom keeps its vinyl rotating and music libraries whirring throughout the week, with special events such as haunted attractions during Halloween and extra-spooky Armistice Days.

Located inside of the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Atlantis Family Fun Center is stocked to the gills with games and entertainment suitable for players of all ages. Games such as Fruit Ninja, Super Bikes 2, and Big Bass Wheel come to life with vivid graphics and sound effects, and air hockey tables invite twosomes to pick up a mallet and battle for placement of a floating puck. The center also features classic arcade games such as Galaga and Ms. Pacman, which imbue thumb-twiddling fun with a vintage retro aesthetic.