From the gambling and entertainment of Las Vegas and Reno to the Old West flair of Virginia City and Elko, Nevada offers visitors with the time to explore a lot more than slots on the Strip. There is amazing skiing and alpine scenery in the north and loads of red rock desert adventure in the south. Take a helicopter cruise over the Hoover Dam or a boat cruise down Lake Tahoe. Nevada is full of surprises.
Las Vegas
Sin City is easily the top draw in Nevada. Party people, A-listers and gamblers head to the Strip all year long to try their luck in the dozens of casinos and over-the-top themed resorts. But there is a lot more to do in Las Vegas than gambling. The evening entertainment is among the best on the planet, the dining scene lined with celebrity chefs and the clubbing world class. If you don’t want to spend wads of cash, Vegas can be done very cheaply as there are many free shows and family attractions and good hotel rates can always be found off-season.
Address: Southern Nevada
Phone: n/a
Website: http://www.visitlasvegas.com/
Lake Tahoe
The main mountain resort area of Nevada is in the northern corner of the state that borders California. Reno is just one base for exploring the natural beauty and outdoor recreation of Lake Tahoe along with smaller towns like Incline Village. This massive alpine lake is a buzz in summer with boating, hiking and mountain biking. In winter, the slopes fill with snow and the 18 resorts rev to life. Plenty of posh lodges and great dining make Tahoe one of the American West’s most popular snow destinations.
Address: Northern Nevada
Phone: n/a
Website: http://www.visitinglaketahoe.com/
Virginia City
Outside of Las Vegas's neon lights, the rest of Nevada is pure Wild West. The state has always been a land of cowboys, ranchers and pioneers. Most of the mining towns up north have a heavy western atmosphere, and many retain their cool Victorian-era look and feel. Virginia City is the best old-time town to explore with a slew of oddball museums like the Bullette Red Light Museum devoted to brothels and a great historic downtown. The city is as quirky as it gets, and a lot of fun to visit for a day or two.
Address: Northern Nevada
Phone: n/a
Website: http://www.visitvirginiacitynv.com/
Great Basin National Park
This beauty of a national park is as pretty as anything in the West, but no one seems to know it’s here, which is fantastic for outdoorsy types who want to hike, camp, rock climb and summit peaks in near solitude. Great Basin is home to Nevada’s highest point at Wheeler Peak (13,063 feet) with pristine little lakes like Stella and Teresa hugging its base. The hiking is magnificent, and below ground the Lehman Caves are well worth arranging the two-hour guided tour.
Address: 100 Great Basin National Park, Baker, NV 89311
Phone: +1-775-234-7517
Website: http://www.nps.gov/grba/index.htm
Reno
Las Vegas’ little brother lives in the northern corner of the state next to Lake Tahoe. Reno is a severely calmer version of Vegas, but still has all the casino resorts and gambling fun found in Sin City. To make up for the absence of high-powered glitz and star-studded entertainment, Reno offers visitors the beauty of its natural surroundings. Lake Tahoe is just minutes away, with outdoor fun for every season. The Truckee River runs right through town, popular with tubers and kayakers. There are also several interesting museums devoted to the wild silver and gold mining era of the 19th century.
Address: Northern Nevada
Phone: n/a
Website: http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/
Elko
Another great western town in northern Nevada is Elko. Popular with cowboys and outdoor lovers who have discovered the majesty of the Ruby Mountains, Elko makes a great stopover for a few days. The Wild West spirit is on full display in this historic railroad town, especially each January when the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering convenes. The Ruby Mountains, known as the Alps of Nevada, are right on their doorstep offering winter heli-skiing and comprehensive summer recreation both motorized and man-powered.
Address: North Central Nevada
Phone: n/a
Website: http://www.exploreelko.com/
Hoover Dam
America’s largest and most impressive dam is located right outside of Las Vegas. It makes a great daytrip away from the hustle of the Strip, and is much more interesting than you might think. Built in the 1930s, the Hoover Dam was a marvel of engineering and provides all the power that lights up Las Vegas. Visitors can tour the power plant or the entire facility. Another memorable way to see the Hoover Dam is from air on a 30-minute helicopter ride.
Address: Boulder City, NV 89005
Phone: +1-702-494-2516
Website: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/index.htm...