When most people think of Nevada, they think of Las Vegas. And while Las Vegas is great, Nevada also has some incredible history and beautiful landscapes that are worth visiting as well.
Here are 7 places to visit to make the most of your time in Nevada:
1) Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a 22-mile long lake with beautiful views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. To get to the north shore from Reno, it is just about 45 minutes by car. If you are visiting during the warmer months you can enjoy water activities, camping, relaxing time by the like, hiking, and more. And during the colder months, you can enjoy winter sports and taking in the beauty of the snow-capped mountains.
2) Valley of Fire State Park
The rock formations at Valley of Fire State Park are well worth the trip out for a visit. Many people find that along with spending some time in Las Vegas, the hour or so drive out to Valley of Fire makes for the perfect trip. You can hike, visit the slot canyons, and even just drive through or spend an afternoon for a picnic here to take in the landscapes.
3) Hoover Dam
An important and essential landmark in Nevada today, the Hoover Dam’s history dates back to the Great Depression, when the construction project of the dam came on to help supply jobs. Today, Hoover Dam contains Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States.
4) Cathedral Gorge State Park
Cathedral Gorge State Park is located in southeastern Nevada and is one of those unique places that makes you feel like you are in a different world with its drastic landscapes. For a beautiful view that overlooks the park and takes you through a canyon so you can take it all in from different elevations, take a hike through Miller Point Trail.
5) Great Basin National Park
To take in the beautiful outdoors while in Nevada, head to Great Basin National Park. Located near the border of Nevada and Utah, you can see a glacier, beautiful Bristlecone Pine trees, and the historic Lehman Caves that run for 2 miles. The National Park was established here because of how beautifully it exemplifies the landscapes of the Great Basin region, something that any nature lover and really anyone can appreciate.
6) Tonopah
With significantly less light pollution than many other places across Nevada, Tonopah is a place to go to take in the desert landscape and enjoy some beautiful stargazing.
7) Black Rock Desert
While not everyone has heard of Black Rock Desert, most people have heard of Burning Man, the music and arts festival. And the Black Rock Desert is where it happens. Located in the northeast part of Nevada, the sprawling desert here has mountain views so whether you are going to Burning Man or want to see a unique Nevada landscape, this is a place worth a visit.
There’s a lot to see in Nevada, with these just being some of the beautiful sites here, but another place to spend some time in while here in Reno. While it is a great place to fly in and out of and use as a hub for traveling from, you can also time your trip around one of the many annual events here such as the Great Reno Balloon Race and the National Championship Air Races.