Las Vegas is the first thing you think of when you decide to travel to Nevada. And there’s certainly many great things to do and see there! But in addition to Las Vegas, don’t miss out on other Nevada sites that may fly under the radar. Here are our 7 favorite things to do during your trip.
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Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam is an engineering marvel created to control flooding along the Colorado River and create hydroelectric powered electricity for the region. The dam impounds water from the Colorado River creating Lake Mead. Located about 30 miles away from Las Vegas, it is on the border with Arizona.
Visitors have several different ways to tour the dam. The most comprehensive package costs $30 per person and includes a tour of the inspection tunnels, viewing the Colorado River through a ventilation shaft, riding an elevator to the top of the dam, and a guided powerplant tour. Or you can opt to just do the powerplant tour for $15 per person. You can enter the Hoover Dam Visitor’s Center and Museum for free.
If you aren’t super interested in how the dam works, you can simply walk across the top of the dam on the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge Walkway. The bridge is the world’s tallest concrete arch and provides specular views of the dam, Lake Mead, and Black Canyon. This free activity is a great way to admire the dam’s Art Deco architecture and the natural beauty of the surrounding area.
If you enjoy water sports and the great outdoors, make plans to spend time in Lake Mead Recreation Area. Here you can boat, swim, fish, hike, hunt, bike, and camp all in view of the iconic dam that created the lake.
There are many great places to stay in Boulder City. And there are other fun things to see and do while in the area.
Reno
If the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas isn’t for you, Reno’s smaller size and laid-back vibe might appeal. Like Vegas, Reno offers casinos with a wide variety of gaming options. Popular casinos include the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, and the Eldorado Resort Casino.
Outside of the casinos, explore the Riverwalk District located downtown. It is chockful of restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries. You might even catch an outdoor concert or another event in Wingfield. Park. Another important area of town is the Midtown District. This is the trendy up-and-coming part of town where you can sample craft beers at local breweries, shop in vintage clothing stores, and enjoy gourmet cuisine in award-winning restaurants.
There are some great museums to visit. The National Automobile Museum features more than 200 vintage cars spanning from the 18th century to today. It is known as one of the top auto museums in the U.S. Art lovers shouldn’t miss the Nevada Museum of Art featuring a diverse collection of contemporary and historical art. If you are in Reno with kids, make sure to visit the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum. This science and cultural museum features interactive exhibits on geology, natural history, space, and technology.
Reno is surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains making it a great place for recreational pursuits. Hiking, biking, and horseback riding are all popular activities. In the winter, hit the slopes at one of the nearby ski resorts.
There are many great places to stay in Reno. And there are other fun things to see and do while in the area.
Great Basin National Park
Located in eastern Nevada near the Utah border, Great Basin National Park is a lovely place to visit to get away from the din of casinos and nightlife in Reno or Vegas. Instead, enjoy stunning views of mountains, pine forests, and wildlife as you drive or hike through the park and tour underground caves. Then enjoy your evenings gazing at stars in one of the darkest night skies in the U.S.
Take the Wheeler Park Scenic Drive to discover the unique diversity of the park. This 12 mile drive winds through the South Snake Range mountains through sagebrush flats and various tree species as you ascend 10,000 feet above sea level. Keep an eye out for mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, golden eagles, marmots, coyotes, and jackrabbits.
There are a many hiking trails ranging from easy nature walks to challenging mountain treks. If you really want a challenge, take the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail. This 8.8 mile out-and-back trail allows you to summit Nevada’s highest peak. Another popular option is the 3.7 mile out-and-back Bristlecone Trail that guides you through a grove of the world’s oldest trees.
Make sure to tour Lehman Caves on a guided tour. There are two tour options in the summer, Lodge Room or the Grand Palace. In the winter, only the Lodge Room tour is available. No matter which tour you choose, you will marvel at the limestone formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and draperies.
Camping is available in the park, or there are other places to stay nearby. There are other fun things to see and do while in the area as well.
Lake Tahoe
Located on the border between Nevada and California, Lake Tahoe is a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by mountains and forests. Lake Tahoe is a year-round destination. In the summer, enjoy swimming, boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing in the crystal clear waters. Visitors also benefit from numerous hiking and biking trails through the mountains. Come winter, nearby world-class ski resorts offer some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the U.S.
Start your visit with the Lake Tahoe Scenic Drive which circles the lake. This 28 mile loop provides opportunities for breathtaking viewpoints and stunning photo opportunities. Then relax on one of the lake’s many beaches. On the Nevada side of the lake, enjoy Sand Harbor. Sunbathe on soft sand on the Main Beach or visit Diver’s Cove for scuba diving and snorkeling. Or enjoy a boat cruise on the lake!
Golfing is a serious sport in Tahoe. A popular course on the Nevada side is Edgewood Tahoe. While the golfers are teeing up in gorgeous scenery, the rest of us can enjoy the shopping and dining opportunities of the charming towns surrounding the lake.
You can find great places to stay in Lake Tahoe. There are also several other fun things to see and do while in the area.
Pioche
Go back in time when you visit Pioche, known as “Nevada’s Liveliest Ghost Town.” This historic mining town features well-persevered historic buildings offering a glimpse of the history of the Wild West. Start at the Lincoln County Museum to learn about the town’s history and lore. Then take self-guided walking tour of the town’s historic district to admire the many buildings dating from the 19th century. Notable sites in town include Thompson’s Opera House, Million Dollar Courthouse, and Boot Hill Cemetery.
Dangling overhead is the Pioche Aerial Tramway. This gravity powered tramway was in use from 1891 to the 1930s. It was used to haul gold and silver ore from mine sites in the mountains to processing mills. Aerial tramways were common in mining towns, but the Pioche Tramway is the only one remaining in the state.
While you are in the area, you may want to add an extra day (or five) to explore the state parks in the area! There’s Beaver Dam State Park, Cathedral Gorge State Park, Echo Canyon State Park, Kershaw-Ryan State Park, and Spring Valley State Park. Each feature unique landscapes and recreation activities.
Despite being a ghost town, there are several great places to stay. There are also several other fun things to see and do in the area.
Valley of Fire State Park
There are many state parks in Nevada, but one of the most impressive is Valley of Fire State Park. Here you will see 40,000 acres of red rock formations nestled among limestone mountains. Located in the Mojave Desert, the park is about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
A great way to explore the park is by taking the 23.3 mile Valley of Fire Scenic Byway drive. You can also explore by foot on a variety of hiking trails. Fortunately, the two most popular hikes are also considered easy. The 1.3 mile out-and-back Fire Wave Trail allows you to view swirling red, white, and pink sandstone patterns resembling an ocean wave. The 1.1 mile loop White Domes Trail is a great way to see slot canyons, sandstone domes, and ancient rock formations.
Another impressive site in the park is Elephant Rock, a sandstone formation that looks like an elephant raising it’s trunk. And don’t miss seeing the petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock and Petroglyph Canyon. These ancient rock carvings were created by indigenous people and depict wildlife, hunting scenes, and tribal symbols.
Camping is available in the park, or there are other places to stay nearby. There are other fun things to see and do while in the area as well.
Las Vegas
No list of sensational sites in Nevada would be complete without mentioning Las Vegas. This “Sin City” is one of the most famous places in the world for gambling, bars, and nightlife. But it also has a ton of things to do for the non-party crowd. There’s honestly something for everyone in Vegas!
All travelers to Las Vegas should take time to walk down the Strip and check out the iconic hotels and casinos. You don’t have to gamble to enter – simply walk in and wander around. You will be amazed at the incredible theming of the various resorts. From the gondolas at the Venetian to the erupting volcano at the Mirage to the singing fountains at the Bellagio, there are truly amazing things to see.
Once you have had your fill of the Strip, take time to visit some of the interesting museums in the city. The Atomic Museum explores the history of nuclear testing and it’s impact on pop culture. The Neon Museum features more than 250 iconic neon signs from old casinos and other businesses. And if you are a collector, don’t miss the Office of Collecting & Design. This quirky museum is known as a collection of collections, the more obscure, the better!
There are many great places to stay in Las Vegas. There are also several other fun things to see and do while in the area.
What’s on your Nevada itinerary?
These are just 7 of the sensational sites to see in Nevada. But the state is full of many more incredible destinations that are worth exploring. Tell us below where you plan to visit!
We hope you have enjoyed this installment on our 7 Sensational Sites in Each State of the USA series. Tell us what you think in the comments below. You can also contact us and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest so you never miss a post.
