Photo: Clearly Tahoe
Photo: Clearly Tahoe
Nevada Gift Guide: Uncommon Experiences
Sometimes the best gifts aren’t things you can put in a box. If your ideal present involves making memories, Nevada is here to deliver any and every kind of adventure you’re after. Take to the skies, make a splash, or hit the road for only-in-Nevada experiences your lucky gift recipient(s) will never forget.
There’s no chance of these gifts collecting dust on a shelf
Hot Spring Retreats
Carson Hot Springs
Carson City
Established in 1880, Carson Hot Springs offers both outdoor pools and private rooms, all of which are filled with mineral water that comes from 35,000 feet below the Earth’s surface. Make a day of it and complete what locals call “The Triathlon:” a soak at Carson Hot Springs, a meal from next-door Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint, and a locally-made beer from next-next-door Shoe Tree Brewing Company.
Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa
Reno
The oldest hot spring resort in the entire state—soaked in since 1857—enticed wagon-weary pioneers and Virginia City residents with hot, pure, mineral-packed water. Today, Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa offers dreamy soaks in both outdoor and private-room tubs, steam baths, and a whole menu of massage therapy services on a historic property at the southern edge of Reno.
Rockhounding Excursions
Gemfield
Goldfield
Considered one of the best chalcedony claims in the world, rockhounders routinely discover a spectrum of colorful souvenirs—including jasper, obsidian, quartz, and more—at Gemfield. If you strike out in the field, peruse the rock shop and bookstore for ready-to-take-home treasures.
Otteson Brothers Turquoise Mining Tours
Tonopah
Sink your pickaxe into turquoise-laden tailings (chunks of rock containing pure turquoise veins) at Otteson Brothers Turquoise. With gems spanning a color spectrum of every blue and teal imaginable, all you’ve gotta do is pick your favorite hues and work to load up your dig bucket.
Food & Drink Tours
Lip Smacking Foodie Tours
Las Vegas
With the award-winning Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, you’ll visit up to four of the top restaurants on The Strip or distinct Las Vegas neighborhoods. Guests get VIP treatment with immediate seating, 3-4 signature dishes at every eatery, and a guided walking tour between stops that highlights local sights along the way.
Finger Licking Foodie Tours
Las Vegas
Go the self-guided route with Finger Licking Foodie Tours. Diners visit three stops with a virtual guide and taste a total of 10 signature dishes. In addition to downtown and the Las Vegas Arts District, tour options include Tivoli Village and Green Valley Ranch Resort.
City Brew Tours Reno-Tahoe
Reno
Let City Brew Tours Reno-Tahoe drive while you go behind the scenes at three Reno breweries and sample beers. Your knowledgeable guide will transport you between locations while educating you about the craft.
Taste Buzz Food Tours
Las Vegas
From big-name restaurants to on-and-off-The-Strip secrets, treat a pal to Taste Buzz Food Tours, packed with history, sightseeing, and all kinds of flavor (with line-skipping privileges, to boot).
Reno Food Tours
Reno
Take a bite outta the Biggest Little City’s local culinary scene with Reno Food Tours. Marvel at murals and funky boutiques as you stroll through the blossoming MidTown District or dig into downtown Reno’s mouthwatering history while sampling different tastings from locally loved eateries.
Art Outings
Travel Pineapple Pedicab Tours
Reno
With Travel Pineapple, you can travel by foot, pedicab, brew bike, or Burning Man art car and experience the Biggest Little City like a local. Tours range from murals and sculptures to breweries and iconic landmarks.
18B Arts District Walking Tour
Las Vegas
Immerse yourself in one of Las Vegas’ most decorated neighborhoods with Another Side of Las Vegas Tours. Their 18B Arts District Walking Tour showcases murals, galleries, unique boutiques, and more creative spaces.
Atelier in Reno
Reno
Share the gift of creativity with Atelier in Reno, where you can find workshops and classes in fiber arts, wood working, cookie decorating, soap making, and many others. The space also hosts meet-ups for folks to work on individual projects together.
Copper Cat Studio
Sparks
With a packed schedule of workshops, Copper Cat Studio will teach you just about any craft you’re interested in. Make pressed flower suncatchers, mosaic pendants, glass fused projects, and Dutch pour paintings. Plus, the studio has a sizeable gift shop full of locally made goods and stained/mosaic glass supplies.
Eye of Rie Tintype Portraits
Gardnerville
Treat yourself to a tintype portrait session, just like Abraham Lincoln sat for back in the day. Eye of Rie has mastered this process that dates back to the 1850s, and your resulting, one-of-a-kind photograph is certain to become a family heirloom.
Air Adventures
Balloon Nevada
Carson Valley
Ever dreamt of taking a ride in a hot air balloon? Bring the fantasy to life with Balloon Nevada, and experience spectacular sunrise views high above the idyllic Carson Valley.
Soaring NV
Minden
Take to the skies and pilot a glider over beautiful Carson Valley with Soaring NV. The silence is magical, and the bird’s eye views of Lake Tahoe are unbeatable.
Skydive Lake Tahoe
Minden
If you think someone would rather jump out of a plane than fly in one, have them link up with Skydive Lake Tahoe and partake in a tandem free-fall with a pro, followed by five minutes of parachute-powered serenity and probably the most heart-pounding glimpses of Big Blue you can possibly have.
Skydive Las Vegas
Boulder City
Millions of sightseers come from all over the world to gaze at Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, and Mount Charleston. But only Skydive Las Vegas can show you all of those places all at once.
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours
Boulder City
Climb aboard Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters and take in new points of view (and striking photo ops) of Hoover Dam, the Colorado River, and the Las Vegas Strip. You can also book tours that’ll take you over the Grand Canyon.
On-The-Water Experiences
Clearly Tahoe Kayak Tours
Lake Tahoe
Skim 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.
Lake Mead Cruises
Boulder City
Board the tri-level Desert Princess paddle wheeler and embark on a Lake Mead Cruises voyage that’ll take you to Hoover Dam, giving you a memory-making opportunity to see this modern marvel in a way most people only dream of.
M.S. Dixie II Paddle Wheeler Cruises
South Lake Tahoe
Take to the sapphire waters of Lake Tahoe on one 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. The Sunset Dinner Cruise feels practically magical.
Hoover Dam Rafting Adventures
Boulder City
Guests of all ages and experience levels are welcome with Hoover Dam Rafting Adventures, which takes folks down the Black Canyon Water Trail. Expect to see sheer cliffs rising nearly 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, wildlife, and Hoover Dam construction features.
Colorado River Tours
Laughlin
Book a London Bridge Jet Boat Tour to see the landmark that formerly spanned England’s River Thames from the 1830s to the 1960s before being rebuilt here in the U.S. Or, enjoy a fully narrated cruise on the USS Riverside, which details the history of the region while taking you under the Laughlin Bridge and up to Davis Dam.
Lake Las Vegas Water Sports
Henderson
What can’t you do with Lake Las Vegas Water Sports? Enjoy this epic watering hole that offers paddleboard, kayak, and electric boat rentals, plus e-foil lessons.
Desert Adventures
Boulder City
Set your kayak downstream and give the gift of an epic trip on the Colorado River. Desert Adventures will take you past historic trailheads, wildlife in natural habitats, and spectacular views.
Land Expeditions
Buck’n Bronco Off-Road Adventures
Henderson
Climb into an iconic Ford Bronco and get ready for a day of adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned off-roader or have never been behind the wheel on a dirt road, Buck’n Bronco Off-Road Adventures will take you on an untamed excursion while exploring Lake Mead.
Tahoe Star Tours
North Lake Tahoe
Experience the majesty of Nevada’s famously dark skies with Tahoe Star Tours. Docent-led explorations of the cosmos—accompanied by high-powered telescopes—bring distant planets, galaxies, and nebulae into crystal-clear focus.
SledNV
Elko
In the wintertime, Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway transforms into a snowmobile superhighway. To get in on the action, dial up SledNV to book a guided, personalized pow rip through the Ruby Mountains.
Vegas Off-Road Tours
Las Vegas
Blast out of the city and into the heart of the Mojave with Vegas Off-Road Tours. Half-day guided side-by-side tours include an option to explore the ghost town of Goodsprings and grab grub and libations at the historic Pioneer Saloon.
Tahoe Sleigh & Carriage Rides
North & South Lake Tahoe
Dash through the snow (or sand) on a multi-horse open sleigh during private, narrated, one-hour tours along the stunning edge of Lake Tahoe. Book a Tahoe Sleigh & Carriage Rides trip for you and someone special, or give a friend a gift certificate for some future fun.
BaseCamp Climbing Gym
Reno
Inside Whitney Peak Hotel, BaseCamp boasts a 7,000 sq. ft. indoor bouldering park, the world’s tallest artificial climbing wall, and a range of climbing classes suited for both beginners and experienced athletes. Give the gift of membership to a climber friend in your life—it’ll really rock their world.
Tahoe Snowshoe Tours
Incline Village
Treat your family and friends to a leisurely, 1-to-3-mile guided romp into pristine Lake Tahoe wilderness with Tahoe Snowshoe Tours. Wild birds abound and incredible lake views are abundant. You can also make it a celestial experience on a sunset or full moon tour.
Go Mt. Charleston Snowshoe Tours
North Las Vegas
Go from neon to nature in southern Nevada’s Spring Mountains, just about 45 minutes from Downtown Las Vegas. Once the heavy snow hits, Go Mt. Charleston leads snowshoe hikes for groups of up to 20 people. Snowshoes and poles are included in the $20 price.
Tahoe Snowmobiling Experience
South Lake Tahoe
Sled and shred on a Tahoe Snowmobiling Experience tour up to 9,000 feet on over 45 miles of trails among Lake Tahoe’s backcountry winter wonderland.
