Feature

A wet winter in the Great Basin is pretty much always a good thing. Most Nevadans will gladly sit through their third April snowstorm if that means babbling brooks and green hillsides into July. But it’s not only grass, sage, and alfalfa that reap the rewards of strong runoff: Snowcapped peaks in spring means a bumper crop of beautiful wildflowers.

Batman and Robin. Simon and Garfunkle. Peanut butter and jelly. Synergy occurs when two equally exceptional sides join to form a whole; the result is a new creation more than just the sum of two parts. Minden and Gardnerville are separate, unique, and rich towns right next to one another. So close in fact, even locals can be uncertain where one ends and the other begins. Whichever you’re in, however, you’ll find it all adds up to one perfect experience.

In 1987, a year before shooting his magnum opus (1988’s cult film “Miracle Mile”), De Jarnatt helmed his first feature film, “Cherry 2000”—a strange, post-apocalyptic piece that melded the ‘80s surfer vibe of Southern California with a “Road Warrior”-esque female tracker. This fusion was wrapped in a campy sensibility that played out across the deserts, towns, and industrial ruins of rural Nevada. 

Our desire to unplug and find some solitude is real. A heavy emphasis on the solitude part has been trending of late; venturing out solo is an increasingly popular way to travel. I’ve been following a few social media groups devoted to solo travel, and specifically, solo travel for women. The idea is appealing for many reasons, but it’s also a bit scary. As writer and philosopher George Addair once said, “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” So, with that in mind, I decided to take a solo camping trip to southern Nevada. 

I’ll never forget the first time I spotted a roadrunner in southern Nevada during a trip to Laughlin. Born and raised in the northern part of the state, I’d never seen these awesome birds before, and it was a great reminder that the critters we see every day might be brand new to someone else. To that end, we’ve gathered some of the best places you might glimpse a view of some new-to-you or favorite creatures. We make no guarantees you’ll see anything—for some reason Nevada’s wildlife won't adhere to our wishes. Good luck!

These days, coffee shops aren’t just for mornings: Most offer iced or blended drinks, teas, smoothies, and everything from breakfast treats to lunchtime meals. In addition, many host events and provide opportunities to support artists and other community causes. Every town has a memorable spot to sip gourmet brew amid local color, but here are a few of my favorites to consider on your travels around the Silver State.

Nevada is known for many things: Las Vegas, mining, and wide-open spaces, for example. While some people may be aware, it’s perhaps less known that the state is home to more ghost towns than currently populated ones. Many states have ghost towns, but here, there are more than 600 spread across the desert landscape. That figure outnumbers populated towns almost five-to-one, based on the approximately 175 zip-coded locales in the state. So just how did Nevada end up with so many places no one wanted to call home any longer? And what is a ghost town, exactly? Are there really “living” ghost towns? Read on for the answers to these questions and more.