I’ve been to Nevada six times now, including four trips to Las Vegas, three trips to Lake Tahoe, and several stops during road trips. Only on my last two trips did I do any real photography, when I revisited Vegas and Lake Tahoe. Nevada is a great state to visit for its natural beauty, skiing, desert landscapes, and of course the casinos and nightlife of Las Vegas and Reno. For the most part I feel like I’ve conquered Nevada, but there’s always more to see. Maybe next time I’ll return to Lake Tahoe in the winter, or explore some of the mountains and canyons farther north for some real backcountry hiking and camping.
Explore Las Vegas
In less than a century, Las Vegas grew from a small railroad town in the Nevada desert into one of the world’s most famous entertainment destinations. Visitors come for the enormous casino resorts, spectacular shows, restaurants, nightlife, and seemingly endless entertainment. Las Vegas is one of those rare cities where many of the biggest attractions are the hotels themselves. You can stay at some of the most extravagant resorts in the world while shopping, gambling, dining, drinking, and finding countless other things to do without ever leaving the property.
Explore Reno
Known as “The Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno was one of America’s most famous gambling destinations long before Las Vegas became the giant it is today. Reno may no longer be the king of Nevada’s casinos and shows, but there’s still plenty of entertainment and nightlife throughout the city. Many casinos, restaurants, and bars stay open late into the night, while during the day the Truckee River and downtown Riverwalk provide a completely different side of Reno.
Explore Boundary Peak
Boundary Peak is located in Nevada’s White Mountains and is the highest point in the state. Although this is one of the driest mountain ranges in the United States, winter can still bring plenty of snow and harsh weather to the high elevations. Boundary Peak rises just above 13,000 feet, or about 4,000 meters, and the large elevation gain from the surrounding desert makes climbing it a serious wilderness adventure.
Explore Carson City
Nevada’s small capital of Carson City sits near the state’s western border with California. With places like Reno and Las Vegas in the same state, Carson City might seem quiet in comparison, but it offers a much different look at Nevada. You can learn about the state’s history at the Nevada State Museum, explore its historic downtown, and use the city as a base for visiting the surrounding mountains and Lake Tahoe. Reno is also close enough that Carson City is easy to combine with a larger trip through western Nevada.
Explore Lake Tahoe
Split between Nevada and California, high-altitude Lake Tahoe offers outdoor adventures throughout the year. The lake is famous for its incredibly clear blue water and the mountains surrounding it, with plenty of hiking during the warmer months and some of the best skiing in the country during winter. Around the lake you’ll also find restaurants, bars, casinos, and nightlife, making it easy to spend the day outdoors and still have plenty to do after the sun goes down.
Explore Valley of Fire
Valley of Fire is located about an hour from Las Vegas and is filled with brilliantly colored sandstone formations surrounded by the Mojave Desert. The park gets its name from the intense red and orange rock that can appear to glow when illuminated by the sun. With scenic drives, hiking trails, unusual rock formations, and wide-open desert views, Valley of Fire is an easy way to experience some of Nevada’s natural scenery without traveling far from Las Vegas.
