Through this blog post, get to know all the important places to see in Nevada, United States.
If someone says he is going to visit Nevada in the United States, you can assume he is heading to Las Vegas, the perpetual city of entertainment in the world. Even they may not be aware that Las Vegas is not the capital city of Nevada State but it is Carson City.
So, a tour of Nevada invariably means:
- Visiting Las Vegas
- Blow all your money in the casinos located in the famous Las Vegas Strip
- Party till 4 am and return bleary-eyed
- Enjoy gourmet food in the unlimited buffets in the themed restaurants. The pizza buffet is highly popular in Las Vegas restaurants.
- Return home with a thin wallet and bloated ego
Look at how the Las Vegas Strip appears during the night:
However, Nevada, the western state of America doesn’t end with Las Vegas alone.
The terrain for Nevada is mainly desert and hence the climate is hot and arid. There are also canyons and rapidly flowing rivers.
Here is a view of the Mojave Desert in Nevada:
Lake Tahoe, a freshwater lake occupies a large area of Sierra Nevada Mountain range.
17 Places of Attractions in Nevada, United States
Let us explore other places of attractions to see in Nevada State
1. Unicorn- Used Books Store, Las Vegas
Though I promised you I will take you to various attractions in Nevada State, I am starting the list with a very large used book store in Las Vegas.
Amber Unicorn Books
The store specializes in selling used books for a very cheap price. You’ll find every type of genre imaginable within the store, both fiction and non-fiction. Open all days of the week from 9 to 6, it is located at 2101 South Decatur Blvd. Suite # 14, in the Trader Joe’s Plaza, near Sahara Boulevard, Las Vegas.
It is a fantastic treasure as far as I am concerned. You can find used books of just about every genre. You can come across hundreds of passionate book lovers browsing and skimming through the books.
2. Black Canyon and River Rafting, Nevada
First, watch this short video clip showing a river rafting expedition on River Colorado.
Popularly known in Nevada as Black Canyon River Adventures, you can see the awesome and imposing canyon walls reaching up to nearly 2000 feet! When you look up the canyon walls from the Colorado River bed, you will feel a slight dizziness.
To enjoy a stint of adventurous water sport, you only need to travel less than an hour only (43 km ) from Las Vegas to Black Canyon, a very important and impressive sightseeing place in Nevada.
Your destination should be Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Boulder City, Nevada.
The black canyon is believed to have been in existence for over 2000 years ago and was formed because of volcanic activity.
During your ride on a barge in the Colorado River, you will see enchanting scenes of striking natural beauty, eerie silence, and some caves.
If you are lucky, you can spot a few species of birds such as Great Blue Heron and Osprey Eagles.
Your river rafting will last for nearly three hours with a brief stop at a convenient beach. Never miss this attraction when you are in Nevada.
3. Fly Geyser
Tell me, would you dare to bypass this stunning natural geyser in Nevada near Gerlach? I must admit you have to allocate a full day to spend just a few minutes to watch the natural hot water fountain situated on a rock as it is located nearly 800 km from Las Vegas.
Fly Geyser is located inside a large privately owned farmland measuring 3800 acres and is called Fly Ranch. With prior permission, you can walk around the farm and also look at the hot water gushing out of the Earth at 200 degrees. Incredible geothermal wonder!
4. Seven Magic Mountains, Nevada
Oh, what a beautiful multi-colored rock piled on top of one other! No, it is certainly not a natural wonder but a manmade desert art.
Drive for 15 minutes from Las Vegas to reach this colorful place. Located near Dry Jean Lake, I wonder whether this sightseeing attraction in Nevada still exists. I wish the creator left this alone for years to come. Isn’t the Seven magic Mountains, a photogenic attraction!
5. Valley of Fire State Park, Overton, Nevada
Overton is a small town in Nevada, located about 100 km from Las Vegas. It is the site of another extraordinary geological wonder called “Valley of Fire”, a natural of deposit of red sandstone.
Valley of Fire State Park comprises approximately 46,000 acres. Once you reach Overton town, you need to travel a further 26 km south to reach the natural attraction of Nevada.
The red sandstone is called Aztec Sandstone.
6. U.S Route #50
An eerie stretch of highway, stretching far off into nothing and through nothing! No vegetation, no habitat, and no water body in sight. So, what else is there to see as an attraction of Nevada?
The ‘nothingness’ is the attraction because you don’t come across such a wilderness often-right?
Aptly named the “Loneliest Road in America” this entire stretch is barren except when small villages cross your path where you see some buildings and chances of buying some refreshments.
U.S. Route 50 highway starts from Sacramento, California and passes through Nevada.
What will you call this drive and the terrain? Desolate? Serene? Scary?
I would say desolate, especially the stretch of road between Silver Springs and Ely, Nevada, measuring nearly 450 km!
7. Black Rock Desert
It seems Nevada’s geography is full of natural wonders. Here is one more geological phenomenon called “Black Rock Desert”. From wherever you stand, you can experience fantastic vistas of mountains.
In addition, if your trip coincides with a music festival called “Burning Man”, a festival of music and art, you join nearly 60k tourists that visit the place to enjoy great fun and frolic.
Black Rock City will be destroyed after the Burning Man festival. The place is 160 km from Reno, near Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
8. Carson City, Nevada
Carson City is the capital of Nevada State. After your weekend in Las Vegas, head straight to this lovely city that is located on the banks of Lake Tahoe and surrounded by Sierra Nevada Mountains. From Las Vegas, Carson City is located at about 700 km.
9. Virginia City, Nevada
Your trip to Nevada won’t be completed if you don’t take time off to see some of the old towns and villages that belong to the era of Wild Wild West. Virginia City is all west and rustic. It can be a memorable stop for you in Nevada. It rose to prominence during the Gold Rush of 1800s.
10. Lavenders of Nevada
The beautiful Lavender in an arid place like Nevada? Yes, it is true. In fact, there is even an annual Lavender and Honey Festival conducted in Nevada during the spring season.
If you happened to be in Nevada during that time, you can buy authentic and pure honey lavender essential oil directly from the farmers.
Have you ever heard about or tasted a beer that is honey or lavender flavored? It is an exotic beverage that you can try in Nevada during the Lavender and Honey festival.
On June 23rd this year, the 3rd annual Sierra Nevada Lavender and Honey Festival will take place.
11. Great Basin National Park, Nevada
You have to travel nearly 5 hours from your Las Vegas hotel to reach this beautiful national park with a fantastic range of fauna. The distance is 470 km from Las Vegas.
Great Basin National Park is located in the mountainous area between the Sierra Nevada Mountain range and the Wasatch Mountains bordering Utah State.
The national park comprises approximately 77,000 acres! That is a vast area really!
Attractions to see around the Great Basin National park:
- Great Basin Desert
- South Snake mountains
- Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive and Wheeler Peak
- Lehman Caves
- Bristlecone Pine Trail
Fauna in Great Basin National Park, Nevada.
- Bighorn sheep
- Pygmy Rabbits
- Jackrabbits
- Chipmunks (common squirrels)
- Mountain Cottontails
- Pronghorns
- Badgers
- Cougars
- Coyotes
- Marmots
- Elk
- Shrew-a mice species
- Stoat(weasel) (ermine)
Avian Species (Birds)
- Hawks
- Tundra Swan
- Snow Geese
- Sparrow
- Swallow
- Mallards
- Golden Eagles
- Roadrunner
- Horned Owls
- Magpie Robin
- Raven
12. Reno, Nevada
Reno is just like Las Vegas. Intuitive gamblers resign to play in the casinos of Reno if they kept losing money in the Las Vegas spinning wheels. I don’t know if they experienced a change in fortune.
Reno City is found at the Sierra Nevada Mountains’ foot. Similar to Las Vegas, Reno’s nightlife can be addictive to compulsive party mongers.
In Reno also, connoisseurs throng the pizza buffets and other places to taste authentic Spanish cuisine.
I think you have to make a separate trip to Reno as you cannot combine your Las Vegas dream with Reno because Reno is 700 km away from Las Vegas.
Well, Las Vegas and Reno have undergone a sea of change since the time when Irwin Wallace wrote “Carpet Baggers” novel-right?
13. Lake Tahoe, Nevada
A visit to Lake Tahoe in Nevada at the outset might even make you turn a blind eye towards Las Vegas. If you love natural attractions, Lake Tahoe will not allow you to part ways with it. Hey, that’s how I feel looking at its image.
Lake Tahoe is an alpine lake situated at an elevation of 6300 feet. It has a scary 1000 feet average depth. Lake Tahoe is one of the biggest sightseeing attractions in North America and in Nevada State.
It’s a freshwater lake that also spreads to the California State of America, on the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Due to its high elevation, the nearby mountains become snow-clad thus making it a skiing resort.
Nearby attractions of Lake Tahoe:
- Emerald Bay State Park
- Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
- Sand Harbor Beach
- Spooner Lake
- Tahoe Rim Trail
- Ride a gondola on the lake
Water Sports in Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Such a large freshwater lake is not devoid of any adventurous water sports that include:
- Jet Skiing
- Parasailing
- Kayaking
- Paddleboarding
Reaching Lake Tahoe, Nevada
To visit Lake Tahoe and stay overnight in lakefront cottages, you need to be based at Reno that is just an hour drive away.
If you are starting your Lake Tahoe vacation from Sacramento, California, your drive will take two hours or so.
However, the nearest city for Lake Tahoe is Carson City, the capital of Nevada.
14. World’s tallest ferry wheel, Nevada
Do you have any idea how many passengers can enjoy this ferry wheel at a time?
It is over 1000 people, man! This ferry wheel is called “High Roller”.
Its diameter itself measures a whopping 520 feet and its height is almost equal at 550 feet.
It is located on the famous Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas.
15. Pioneer Saloon, Nevada
If you want to set your feet in a true and original wild west setting, go to Goodsprings, some 60+ km away from Las Vegas.
The inside of the bar as well as outside is wood and looks rustic as ever. I wonder whether the wooden steps to the first floor creaks to give you a feeling of being in an authentic wild west saloon where customers smoke thick cigars and wear large cowboy hats.
16. Republic of Molassia, Nevada
Located some 675 km from Las Vegas, a micronation called the Republic of Molassia exists. It is located inside the United States but not part of it legally.
Don’t you believe me?
Here, see a video clip below:
Do a Google, buddy you will find this micro nation owned by an individual. It comprises just an acre of land with its own currency!
Interesting place to see in Nevada! A country within Nevada! Who knows, you may even be invited to be a citizen of Molassia!
17. Flamingoes in Las Vegas
Can you believe a flock of Flamingoes that are cared for by a hotel right in the center of Las Vegas Strip? Las Vegas is arid and hot. It is so cool to see several species of aquatic birds living happily in a lush green atmosphere created and maintained by the Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas.
Not only can you see the friendly Flamingoes there but also a variety of birds that include:
- Pelicans
- Swans
- Parrots
- Ibis
- Teals
Don’t forget to pay a visit to the exotic flamingoes at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat.
I am sure there are many more places to see in Nevada State but to see them all, you will have to spend two weeks in Las Vegas or Reno.
