Perhaps best known for the glitzy casino resort-filled city of Las Vegas, Nevada is a state that often gets overlooked for its array of natural wonders and other sights in favour of Sin City, but there’s a lot more to see and do besides.
Nicknamed The Silver State due to the discovery of the major silver deposit, the Comstock Lode, in 1859, which helped contribute to the expansion of the state, Nevada boasts a range of weird and wonderful sights to see along with some stunning natural landscapes that will leave visitors in awe. Below, we are going to take a look at some of the highlights of this interesting state, so you can plan your next trip with ease.
Las Vegas
The entertainment capital of the U.S., Las Vegas is the place you go when you want to let loose and have some fun. It may not be everyone’s first choice destination, but it’s worth experiencing at least once in your lifetime as the opulent hotels, ritzy casinos, fabulous food destinations, parties, clubs, shows and more are designed with the words grand and fun in mind.
If you are looking forward to getting involved in a poker game, enjoying a spin on the roulette wheel or a shake of the dice at a craps table, then those in the know at Vegas Betting are here to guide you with their top casino picks. They said: “Wynn Las Vegas Casino is always a winner for its cleanliness, service and, of course, the range of games to play in the stunning surroundings. The opulence of the Casino at Bellagio is always a pleasure to experience once those famous fountains have been admired, and the Casino at the Venetian always delights with its tribute to Italian opulence.” All three also offer an impressive range of rooms and upscale suites to stay in for a sophisticated stay.
Lake Tahoe
Straddling the state line of Nevada and California, Lake Tahoe is an expansive freshwater alpine lake known for its ski resorts, beaches and blue stretch of sublime natural beauty. At Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, along the body of water’s northeast side, you’ll find Spooner Lake, Sand Harbour Beach and a gateway to the Tahoe Rim Trail – a 170-mile-long hiking trail that loops around the lake in the Sierra Nevada, reaching a height of 10,338 feet at Relay Peak in Nevada. Fishing, boating, windsurfing and swimming is popular here in summer, while skiing and snowboarding nearby are undertaken in winter.
For lake views and an array of amenities, stay at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in the north and enjoy seven bars and restaurants, a ski shuttle and chic rooms to reside in or the five-star Edgewood Tahoe in the south for golf, a spa, restaurant and refined rooms.
Area 51
The highly secretive Area 51 is a U.S. Air Force military facility that has intrigued UFO and alien enthusiasts ever since Bob Lazar claimed, in 1989, that he saw flying saucers there while working on the site. The area is heavily guarded and so no-one will ever get to see what goes on inside, but it doesn’t stop visitors the world over trying to catch a glimpse of something intriguing beyond the fences. Nevertheless, there are tours, shops and eateries all playing up to the rumours of alien life and UFOs nearby, so a visit here will still be worth it for extra-terrestrial enthusiasts. Taking a trip on the Extraterrestrial Highway is a must.
Natural spaces
Nevada is blessed with some outstanding outside spaces, in addition to Lake Tahoe, to enjoy hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and many more outdoor activities. The state is made up of around two thirds of desert and the Mojave Desert is the largest in Nevada and is a sight to behold. Within the desert lies the Valley of Fire State Park, the oldest and largest state park in Nevada spanning 40,000 acres and featuring some stunning rock formations, red sandstone cliffs, 300 species of birds, and petroglyphs that are thousands of years old.
For stargazing and exploring the natural beauty of desert, alpine forests and mountain ranges, Great Basin National Park is the place to go. Covering over 77,000 acres and also featuring the 200,000 square-mile Great Basin that drains inwards as well as the highest point, Wheeler Peak, at over 13,000 feet, this is the place to view the finest of nature.
Hoover Dam
It would be remiss to visit Nevada and not pop over to the Hoover Dam in Black Canyon for a tour, which takes you inside to show you many of the parts in action. An impressive engineering feat built in the 1930s, the concrete arch-gravity dam was the largest dam in the world at the time of completion and remains the highest concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere today.
