Travel to Nevada
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.
Nevada Vacation Destination
Nevada Vacation Spots #1:Nevada vacation spots for you NASCAR racing fans must include a stop at the Neon Garage. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway has built the Neon Garage as a new way for fans to enjoy the sport. In the center of the LVMS infield are four buildings where the NASCAR Nextel Cup teams come to prep their cars.
The Winner’s Circle is also located here. In the center of it all is an area that is open to all you race fans so you can get a view of racing that you could never get before. You can also watch the on-track action, on the big screen TVs at the sports bar. Sounds like a great way to rev up your next vacation.
Nevada Vacation Spots #2:Enjoy a first-class air show at The National Championship Air Races and Air Show just outside Reno, Nevada. Besides the air show, this annual event features multiple classes of air races such as Unlimited, Sport, T-6, Formula One, Biplane, and Jet. You can also see a variety of other civil and military aircraft on display.
Nevada Vacation Ideas #3:A must see if you are in Nevada is the Hoover Dam the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. You can drive across the dam. Take a guided tour or a self-guided tour. This National Historic Landmark is one of the greatest engineering feats ever. Just below the dam is a site where you can launch your personal paddle craft for a trip down the river.
Nevada Vacation Ideas#4:Death Valley National Park is the hottest place in North America. You can also find spectacular wildflower displays, snow covered peaks, beautiful sand dunes, abandoned mines and a number of ghost towns. Despite the extreme environment there is ample opportunity for hiking, biking, backpacking, and camping. As long as you are properly prepared the park can be a wonderful experience.
Nevada Vacation Spots #5:Go back to 1849 Virginia City, Nevada. Share the rush of excitement that drove tens of thousands of people to Comstock Lode’s $400 million cache of gold and silver. There are lots of historical sites like the underground mines at the Chollar Mine, the Bucket of Blood Saloon, The Fourth Ward School Museum or the Virginia & Truckee Railroad.
Nevada Vacation Spots #6:The Truckee River, in Nevada, is a great place to enjoy white water rafting on your next vacation. It is located near Reno and North Lake Tahoe. White Water Tours will guide you on an exhilarating rafting trip down 7 miles of river white water. There are many Class 2-3 rapids and one exciting Class 3+ rapids. With their expert guides and some instruction this makes an excellent vacation activity for the whole family.
Nevada Vacation Spots #7:Take the family for a ranch vacation at Cottonwood Ranch in Elko County, Nevada. This is a working ranch where you can signup to help out and have fun. How much you do is up to you but there are cattle to round up and horses to drive along the trail to pasture. The big push comes in June with the six day horse drive. But its a fun experience and kids as young as 8 can participate. Along with the work there is the beautiful Nevada countryside and fresh air. And don’t forget about the hayrides, cookouts and sing-alongs.

