Sounds more than likely that the city you have in mind is called Novosibirsk. Almost the midpoint btwn East and West Russia quite south. Giant industrial city, but quite a good one. You can fly there from Moscow or St. Petersburg, or take the train if you prefer sitting in a compartment staring out the window for several days. The thing about Russia is that much of the wilderness is similar for hundreds, if not thousands of miles - northern forest with pine, birch and oaks etc.. 'Siberia' has a more romantic ring though you can find similar forest and wilderness around St. Petersburg or Moscow. Many Russians have 'dachas' which are country homes or cabins in the forests around all cities. I recommend that you search on-line for a suitable home-stay family who own or have access to a dacha that you can rent or stay in. Dachas range from modern bungalows with all mod-cons to basic wooden cabins with outside toilets (trench, not chemical) and water collected from a nearby spring etc. They usually have natural steam rooms. There will be large natural lakes, rivers and streams close-by and a forest that goes on forever! Most locals love to forage for wild mushrooms, but only the fittest and hardiest search deep into the forest where the best mushrooms are to be found. If you want more adventure, simply walk further into the forest. I'm going to my wife's dacha again this summer! If you don't have a local to guide you, take a GPS and make sure it will work in Russia.
