I spent 18 years of my life in Reno, Nevada. It was my hometown, the place of my birth. After living in the Battle Born state, I have come to love certain parts of the state. There are some truly beautiful aspects of the desert. It is a place of both beauty and death. And Nevada is so much more than Las Vegas and its strip.
1. Lake Tahoe:
One of the cleanest, bluest and deepest lakes in the nation, Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place to visit. Sure, the water is cold as all get out, but the beauty is worth the icy temperatures. It's a wonderful place to spend the day and be with friends. Plus, you get to stare at the Sierra Nevadas all afternoon. Just make sure to bring your sunblock!
2. Pyramid Lake:
There are quite a few stories about this lake. The water is naturally salty and the pyramids are also natural. Of course, the pyramids are covered in spiders, but make for some of the most incredible photos. It's often less crowded than Lake Tahoe and a fun place to jet ski and boat. But beware of the water babies!
3. Fly Geyser:
Basically, this geyser is the result of man royally messing up. It's man-made, created after a well-drilling incident went awry. Now, I haven't seen this sight in person yet, but it can shoot up to five feet in the air (my height) and the colors are extraordinary. I bet it's a great place to fly by!
4. Mt. Rose:
Now, it's kind of cheesy to put a mountain on this list, but Nevada has over 300 mountain ranges and Mt. Rose is a beautiful place to ski, hike and visit. It's the highest peak in Washoe County and the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Just don't go climb it in the dead of the winter... you might wind up eating your friends (sorry, Donner Party jokes).
5. Virginia City:
The old mining town where Mark Twain got his start has to be included. It's now a cool little place to explore and go to for Halloween. It's the location of the first major silver deposit (Nevada is the Silver State after all), the Comstock Lode. Be wary, though, if you travel here. The town is said to be haunted by the ghosts of miners.
6. Burning Man:
If you only know two things about Nevada, they're probably Vegas and Burning Man. Once a year, thousands of people flock to the middle of the desert from all over the world and create art, get drunk and have the time of their lives burning down a giant man-made man. It's generated some of the most incredible art that the city of Reno has. Side note: naked people do travel about... so, leave the kids at home.
7. The Reno Sign:
The second Reno sign is fairly well-known (the old one is retired). It's in the center of downtown with a spot under it for people to take photos. It matches the other parts of the city with all the bright lights and of course has the motto: "The Biggest Little City in the World." If you want to see it from a different angle, rock climb up the side of the hotel Whitney and see it from above.
8. Lamoille Canyon:
A little canyon/valley area in Elko! It's at the base of the Ruby Mountains and it's the largest valley in that mountain range and ends at Lamoille Lake. Filled with trees, flowers and waterfalls, Lamoille is a neat place to hike and visit. It is also a great spot for wedding photos and to see the beauty of Northern Nevada.
9. Hoover Dam:
The Hoover Dam is an interesting part of Nevada history with an even more intriguing story. It was dedicated to FDR but named after Herbert Hoover and cost over 100 peoples' lives. The dam created Lake Mead and borders Arizona. It's really, really high up, but a cool place to visit while in Nevada. However, there is a myth that says the bodies of some of the dead are in the rock face.
10. Valley of Fire:
It's the oldest state park in Nevada and is a National Natural Landmark. The name comes from the Aztec Sandstone and can appear to be on fire when the sun hits it just right. It's almost 42,000 acres and the dunes are 150 million years old!
11. Bristlecone Pines of Great Basin:
A bunch of old trees sounds boring, right? They have a twisted shape and are known for surviving in harsh climates and even thriving in them. You may have called the trees Prometheus trees at one point, but seeing them in person is really different and unique.
12. Sand Mountain:
The singing sand dune of Nevada! It's two miles long and 60 feet high. Ever heard of Lake Lahontan? Probably not, but it dried up and created the dunes and is home to the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly!
13. US Route 50:
I know it's strange to have a highway on a list of go-see places, but it's actually pretty cool. It's commonly called the loneliest road in America and when driving it, you probably won't see anyone for hundreds of miles. It can get pretty lonely on the road, but this highway makes it even harder and creepier.
14. Sedan Crater:
One of the largest man-made craters...ever! It's the result of nuclear testing in Nevada and can be seen from earth's orbit with an unaided eye. It's 1,280 feet across and 320 feet deep. It's a pretty cool place to see!
15. Shoe Tree of Middlegate:
Right alone the loneliest road in America is the shoe tree. In the background is the barren desert, but the tree is covered in shoes and other various items. It's kind of a tradition to throw your shoes, gun, underwear or whatever onto the tree. It's one of the best places to stop and often leaves me in awe.
