Get a Little Out There

Present your passport and enter a Nevada micronation that boasts its own railroad, navy, and National Park Service. Just be sure you ditch any contraband onions, incandescent bulbs, or walruses at the border.

An accredited zoo with a focus on desert animal conservation, Camel Safari’s guided tours will introduce you to sand cats, singing dogs, alpacas, camels (of course), and more.

Explore the triumphs and tragedies experienced by pioneers who trekked west at this fascinating (and free) interpretive center. Here, history comes to life through life-size dioramas, interactive displays, and outdoor elements.

Standing proudly as a symbol of what people can accomplish during the toughest of times, Hoover Dam serves more than seven million visitors each year and is one of Nevada’s most popular tourist attractions.

Pack plenty of quarters for the Pinball Hall of Fame, a 25,000-square-foot museum that’s home to hundreds of playable pinball games. The collection ranges from working 1950s machines to arcade classics from the 1990s.

Featuring colossal sculptures that include a ghostly, life-size version of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” a 25-foot woman constructed from pink cinder blocks, and a 24-foot steel prospector and his penguin companion, the Goldwell Open Air Museum is certainly no average art experience.

Wander through this unconventional, automotive art installation featuring dozens of cars, vans, and trucks—stacked precariously high or driven into the ground—transformed into colorful canvases.

Situated in the heart of Carson City, the Nevada State Railroad Museum is home to an extraordinary collection of working locomotives, railroad equipment, and artifacts. Train rides are available on select weekends and holidays, too.

Located on the site of the original mining claims that launched the rush to the Queen of the Silver Camps, this 100-acre park features free exhibits and self-guided tours around original equipment, buildings, and shafts dug deep beneath this famous high-desert town.

Next time you’re in downtown Reno, motor over to the National Automobile Museum and fuel up on some gorgeous Americana. Cars from 1897 to 2003 are presented in gleaming style, revealing the beautiful craftsmanship of days past.

Gone are the days when buckaroo prospector Harry Wilson would uncover glimmering stones and trade them for shots of whiskey at Nevada saloons. Now, present-day visitors to the Royal Peacock can hunt for opals via bank digging or raking through mine tailings in search of undiscovered bounties.

Produced nearly 14 million years ago when volcanic activity occurred in the region, opals found at Rainbow Ridge come in a variety of colors, including pink, white, moss, lemon, and the all-in-one kaleidoscopic color scheme that helped the Virgin Valley black fire opal earn its status as Nevada’s official state gemstone.

Bonanza Opal Mines invites rockhounds to dig through opal mine tailings amidst the rugged beauty of northern Nevada’s Virgin Valley.

It’s not just a clever name: Hefty red gemstones (which originally fooled prospectors into thinking they were rubies) can be found on the ground or buried beneath the surface at Garnet Hill.

For one of the best (and only) turquoise rockhounding experiences in Nevada, head straight to the source with Otteson Brothers Turquoise.

Pack your rock pick and have fun with 500-million-year-old fossils at Oak Springs Trilobite Area. This fascinating site is laden with remains of six types of trilobites—including species considered to be the oldest in history.

Gemfield stands out in this mineral-rich state thanks to its spectacular diversity within a small area. Discover deposits of turquoise, obsidian, agate, jasper, crystal, lithium, borax, gold, silver, and six types of chalcedony all in one place.

Follow the route Burners take each August on their journey “home” to Black Rock City. Start in Reno—where Burning Man sculptures have a year-round home—then visit the quiet, sunset-splashing shores of Pyramid Lake before venturing onward to delightfully eccentric Gerlach, the fabled Black Rock Desert playa, and the wilderness beyond.

Welcome to the Biggest Little City in the World, where visitors revel in public art, bohemian shops, unbeatable outdoor action, all-the-time events, and a local-centric food landscape—all spread across several distinct, walkable neighborhoods.

From some of the most legendary trophy fishing in the West to unmatched birdwatching, boating, and camping, Pyramid Lake beckons the outdoorsman in all of us to experience this northwestern Nevada jewel.

Gerlach is one of Nevada’s tiniest towns, but plan for more than just a pit stop here. The community is home to public art, famed raviolis, and the Friends of Black Rock-High Rock visitor center. Visit this go-to hub for advice and inspiration before venturing into the Black Rock Desert, which is home to the famous Fly Geyser, numerous natural hot springs, and 800,000 acres of wilderness.

From remote off-roading past historic sites and natural hot springs to rockhounding and camping under some of the most star-studded skies in the country, expect the unexpected in this wild, far-flung corner of the Silver State.

Denio serves as a gateway to incomparable outdoor destinations like Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Soldier Meadows, and the Black Rock Desert. The Denio area is also home to three Virgin Valley black fire opal mines that offer public digging for a fee. This is one of just two spots on Earth where these incredibly rare gems are formed.

Massacre Rim is one of the few designated Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world. Head for this northwestern corner of Nevada to witness star-studded skies unlike any other—in fact, it gets so dark out here that, during a moonless night, even the stars can cast shadows.

Go jet skiing on the Colorado River with Rocky River Adventure Center, located right on the water in Laughlin.

Climb aboard Laughlin River Tours and tour the scenic Colorado River in style. Options include a two-hour dinner cruise at sunset or a leisurely 90-minute ride.

Board the tri-level Desert Princess paddle wheeler and embark on voyages that’ll take you to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. A sunset dinner cruise adds to the magic.

Take in awe-inspiring Hoover Dam and Black Canyon views on a day trip down the Colorado River with Hoover Dam Rafting Adventures.

Cruise the Great Basin Highway to this 32-acre gem for swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, or simply lounging among tree-studded scenery tucked miles away from crowds.

Paddle across the top of Lake Tahoe’s crystal-clear waters in a completely transparent kayak during a guided tour with Clearly Tahoe. Suitable for all ages and skill levels, tour options include LED glow shows at dusk and stargazing excursions.

Boat, fish, and camp surrounded by the beauty of Nevada’s Carson Valley at Topaz Lake. Dry campsites and RV hookup sites are available by reservation.

Outdoor recreation opportunities at Pyramid Lake are abundant, ranging from swimming and boating to birdwatching and angling for record-setting Lahontan cutthroat trout.

Looking for a high-elevation escape into some gorgeous Nevada countryside? Brimming with winter adventures and summertime delights, this state park wows in every season.

Take to the sapphire waters of Lake Tahoe aboard an iconic vessel. Watch the paddle wheels of the M.S. Dixie II go to work as you cruise around one of the most strikingly scenic places in the world.