There are so many exciting things to do in Nevada, that when planning your vacation, you may consider taking one of the many Nevada tours. How do you decide what type of tour to take? What’s your pleasure? There are Nevada tours for all tastes and all budgets.

If you are an independent traveler, you might choose one of the self guided Nevada tours. However, if you want the guidance of an expert on the area, you may want to consider one of the guided group Nevada tours. Another thing to consider is the type of vehicle you want to use when touring Nevada. You can explore by car, horseback, and bicycle or even by foot. If you want to travel back in time, some companies offer horse and buggy Nevada tours.

What is it about Nevada that you find interesting? Many people come for the landscape and unique desert geology. Others are drawn to the lure of the casinos. However, if you have always harbored a fascination for nuclear energy, you may want to check out the Nevada test site tour. The Nevada test site is a United States Department of Energy reservation. When it was established on January 11, 1951, it was known as the Nevada Proving Grounds. Located in Nye County, Nevada the Nevada test site is composed of close to 1,350 square miles of desert and mountains. Between the years 1951 and 1992, there were a total of 925 tests that were conducted at the Nevada test site. Throughout the 1950s, the mushroom clouds that occurred because of these tests could be seen for 100 miles in either direction of the test site. Ironically, the clouds themselves became major tourist attractions.

Today, it is possible to take a Nevada test site tour. If you are interested in the history of nuclear testing, this can well be the highlight of your Nevada vacation. The Nevada test site tour usually begins at the Atomic Testing Museum. The tour is conducted on a rest room equipped chartered bus. Keep in mind that you entering a restricted access government reservation. So you will need to apply in advance for your Nevada test site tour. You will need to supply your social security number, date and place of birth, hone address, employer and citizenship. Cell phones, cameras, firearms and laptops are not permitted during the Nevada test site tour.

If the Nevada test site tour sounds a bit too intellectual for a Nevada vacation, you may want to consider one of the exciting Las Vegas tours. Why would anyone be interested in Las Vegas tours? There are so many clubs, hotels and shows in Las Vegas, that it’s sometimes difficult to figure out which ones are worth visiting. Perhaps you are excited about the Vegas club life, but not too excited about the lines at the clubs. There are some Las Vegas tours that feature VIP hosts who will walk you past the lines!

Since you are close enough to Arizona, you should think about taking an exciting Las Vegas Grand Canyon tour. Some of these tours even include the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. You can take a Las Vegas Grand Canyon tour by helicopter, hummer or bus.

When planning Nevada travel, you will discover that there are a wide variety of options for Nevada tourism. At 110, 540 square miles, Nevada is the seventh largest state in the U.S. It is a state of contrasts and contradictions. While being one of the most mountainous states in America, Nevada is also one of the most urban states, with 80% of its population residing in either Las Vegas or Reno. Some people spend their Nevada vacations enjoying the state’s natural environment, while others enjoy the man-made glitz and splendor of Las Vegas. Due to its diversity of geography and culture, Nevada tourism can center on a number of activities. Whether you enjoy the bright lights of the stars or the colored lights of Vegas, your travels in Nevada will never fail to amuse you.

If you decide to travel by road, you will be able to sample the infinite variety of the State of Nevada attractions. Because of the majestic panoramas created by Nevada’s natural landscapes, the state’s official scenic byways make Nevada travel by road an absolute delight. In some cases, the roads themselves are the highlights of Nevada tourism. For example, Angel Lake Road is referred to as the “highway to heaven.” This beautiful road gains several thousand feet of elevation prior to reaching the spectacular Angel Lake. It’s truly a great way to travel Nevada.

Highway 50 in Nevada is known as The Loneliest Road in America. It parallels the Pony Express Trail, which goes from Silver Springs through the farming town of Fallon. Remnants of the original Pony Express Trail can be seen along the way. In his book Blue Highways, William Least Moon states that “for the unhurried, this little- known highway is the best national road across the middle of the United States.”

While historical sites and natural beauty are excellent reasons for Nevada travel, there are also some odd State of Nevada attractions that add to its appeal. These uniquely bizarre places actually attract a significant amount of Nevada tourism. For example, Groom Lake, also known as Area 51 is a secret military facility 90 miles North of Las Vegas. The site was developed in the 1950s for the testing of the U-2 Spy Plane. Of course, the secrecy of the project was the catalyst for a number of UFO conspiracy theories. As a result, the highway that runs near Area 51 is known as The Extraterrestrial Highway. Apparently, it is one of the most “visited” roads in the United States. If you and your significant other are into the Sculley and Mulder thing, a trip down the Extraterrestrial Road might be a fun way to travel Nevada. Stop in at the A-L-Inn Bar, where you can enjoy specialty drinks such as the “Beam Me Up Scotty,” consisting of Jim Beam and 7UP and Scotch.

While the sites that instigated conspiracy theories are fun to visit, keep in mind that some of the State of Nevada’s attractions have an eeriness that stems from natural causes. If you plan to travel Nevada along the Valley of Fire State Park Roadway, you will see purple, white and deep red rock formations. The rocks are particularly luminous during sunrise and sunset, when the light of the sun gives them a fiery red glow. Colored rock formations and petroglyphs are common throughout Nevada. They represent just one of the exciting State of Nevada attractions.