Places to vacation in nevada
Are you ready to get away from it all?
Well then, Nevada is your place!
In addition to the gorgeous scenery and beautiful weather, Nevada also has tons of great things to do. Whether you want to learn about the history of gambling or see some mind-blowing architecture, there’s something for everyone in Nevada. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite activities:
Hoover Dam
Built during the Great Depression as a way to provide jobs, Hoover Dam is a marvel of modern engineering. The 726-foot-high dam contains Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, and provides hydroelectric power to much of Nevada, Arizona, and California.
Built on the Nevada and Arizona state line, the dam is just a 45-minute drive from the center of Las Vegas, or a short helicopter flight. You can walk out onto the dam for vertigo inducing views over the edge, or look out over Lake Mead. Tours of the Hoover Dam Power Plant are also available; note that some tours can only be purchased at the dam itself.
Lake Tahoe
The sparkling blue water of Lake Tahoe, surrounded by often snow-capped mountains, is one of the most beautiful sites in Nevada. This 22-mile-long freshwater lake, high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the Nevada and California border, is a popular year-round destination.
In summer, most visitors come here to enjoy the beautiful beaches, hit some of the spectacular hiking trails, or camp at one of the many campgrounds in the area. In winter, families and powder hounds from across the US come here to hit the slopes at the ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area. Any time of year, you can enjoy the scenery on a lake-side scenic drive.
Several towns around the lake provide good bases for exploring the region. Lake Tahoe is about a three-hour drive from San Francisco, and under five hours from Yosemite National Park. From Reno, you can reach the north end of the lake in about 45 minutes.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
On the shores of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, Lake Mead National Recreation Area encompasses some spectacular scenery and offers convenient access points and a variety of services for enjoying the lake and surroundings.
This huge area, encompassing approximately 1.5 million acres, provides opportunities for beaching, boating, hiking, camping, and much more on the shorelines and in the surrounding mountains and canyons.
The most popular section is Boulder Basin on Lake Mead, just north of Hoover Dam. Boulder Beach is a popular place for a swim or to set up a lawn chair on a hot day. Campgrounds in this area offer a beautiful setting for both tents and RVs.
Also in this area is the Historic Railroad Trail, where hikers can walk along the old railway bed and through the old tunnels. If you are looking for information, stop by the Alan Bible Visitor Center in this area, about 40 minutes from Las Vegas.
Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire State Park is one of the most striking natural areas in the state. Dramatic rock formations and sweeping vistas of colorful stone waves create some of Nevada’s most dynamic landscapes. Just an hour’s drive northeast of Las Vegas, it’s worth making the trip out here.
If you are only interested in a scenic drive, roads through the park provide stunning views of the landscape. However, one of the best ways to experience the park is from the hiking trails. These hikes are generally short and easy, but take you through some incredible scenery, including slot canyons, rock walls covered in petroglyphs, old filming locations, and other spectacular sites. You’re also likely to spot some wildlife.
Camping is popular at Valley of Fire, and the campgrounds are strategically placed in beautiful settings among the rock formations.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Located just outside of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is one Nevada’s most popular hiking areas. The massive red rock formations jutting high above the Mojave Desert are the most striking feature, but the area covers a diverse range of sites and geological formations. Box canyons, mountains, and a look at the Keystone Thrust are some of the highlights.
A 13-mile scenic drive through the park offers a look at some of the sites, but hiking trails in Red Rock Canyon offer the best access to all of the major sites. Rock climbing, road biking, mountain biking, horseback riding, picnicking, and wildlife viewing are also popular activities here.
The conservation area has one developed campground with primitive facilities.
Reno
Reno is the second largest city in Nevada after Las Vegas in terms of population, but is still relatively small and home to only approximately 250,000 residents. However, for a small city, it has a surprising number of impressive attractions and events for tourists.
Reno hosts the annual National Championship Air Races, The Great Reno Balloon Race, and the Hot August Nights car convention, along with a number of other popular annual celebrations. Reno is also home to the National Automobile Museum and several other interesting museums.
If you have time for a day trip or excursion, Lake Tahoe is less than an hour away.
Great Basin National Park
In east-central Nevada, near the border with the state of Utah, Great Basin National Park protects nearly 80,000 acres of basin and range landscape. The park is dominated by the 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak and underlain by the Lehman Caves.
It also protects Bristlecone Pines that are nearly 5,000 years old. The park offers a number of developed camping sites and a wide range of backpacking opportunities. The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is a must do as is the Baker Creek Road – but not in the winter. The park lies next to the massive Highland Ridge Wilderness area.
Burning Man
This pop-up city in the desert is a community based, annual event held in the Black Rock Desert, about three hours north of Reno. This unique event focuses on art and self-expression in many forms, and attendees are expected to be involved rather than merely spectators. The people and the atmosphere of sharing and community are what make the experience.
Held in late August and early September, Burning Man began in 1986 and has grown considerably over the years. Today, tens of thousands of people attend. Attendance levels are capped each year, and tickets sell out.
The Burning Man Festival purchased the Fly Geyser Ranch in 2016. On this property is the Fly Geyser.
Lamoille Canyon
Lamoille Canyon lies at the heart of Nevada’s Ruby Mountains in Elko Country. The Lamoille Canyon Road is an officially designated National Forest Road that winds around the base of the 11,387-foot Ruby Dome.
The road climbs up into a spectacular 8,800-foot-high canyon that was carved long ago by glaciers. During the summer, the alpine meadows explode with wildflowers. The area is also known for its waterfalls and wildlife, with bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and a variety of birdlife frequenting the hills and meadows.
The lower region of Lamoille Canyon is open year-round, but the upper section is buried under snow for several months in the winter. Popular things to do here, apart from the scenic drive, include camping, fishing, hiking, and in the winter, heli-skiing.