City Limits

The annual Burning Man festival, held in the Black Rock Desert north of Reno, is an iconic event where creativity, radical self-expression, and community thrive. But the weeklong gathering leaves a lasting imprint on Nevada that extends far beyond the event itself. 

With its perfect-weather days and stunning vistas of Lake Tahoe, this road trip features the very best of northwestern Nevada. You’ll enjoy all manner of outdoor activities, hip neighborhoods, charming countryside, and Wild West towns—as well as great food and treasure-packed shopping.

There’s something about retro, vintage, and chic that’s practically irresistible. Maybe it’s the way they stir up nostalgia—or maybe people just had better taste back then. And sure, while you could don a pant suit and aviators for your retro revelry, why not go all in with an immersive stay at some of Nevada’s coolest overnighters?

Picture it: You walk into a museum and pick up an artifact. No sirens sound. No one asks you to leave. You’re encouraged to touch more things. Passersby watch and (possibly) cheer. Like the music genre and subculture scene that inspired it, The Punk Rock Museum is all about getting hands-on and pushing the envelope. It’s a love letter to lifelong fans and an invite to anyone curious about the influence punk has had on music, fashion, and society.

The quiet campus of the Stewart Indian School stands as a memorial to a traumatic—and lingering—chapter in American history. But while the school’s early years were marked by cruelty and abuse, it ultimately transformed into a place of pride, community, and healing. Today, the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum archives the seldom-taught history behind Indian boarding schools. However, the center also lives in the present as a place of gathering that allows visitors to discover northern Nevada’s rich Native culture.

One of Nevada’s oldest communities, Ely was founded in 1870 as a humble service hub for nearby mining towns. But thanks to a bit of luck and some good timing, Ely soon found itself standing on a figurative gold mine, which just happened to be copper. Ely blossomed into eastern Nevada’s largest and busiest town—a title it still holds. Visit Ely today and you’ll find plenty of its history on display. You’ll also be surrounded by some of the prettiest and most diverse country in the Silver State.

Nevadans take great pride in things that might seem a bit odd to non-dwellers. For example, we celebrate the anniversary of our statehood—Nevada Day—as an official public holiday, complete with an old-fashioned parade in Carson City. We will brag about the unsinkable battleship USS Nevada, the only vessel to get under way during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Mark Twain’s first byline was in a Nevada newspaper, and we have more named mountain ranges than any other state.

Are you a fan of small-town vacations? Are you interested in soaking in the sights and sounds of a quiet desert community? Perhaps you just want to outrun winter weather for a few more weeks. If so, Beatty might just be your perfect autumn destination. 

Silver, saloons, mining lore, the Comstock, and Mark Twain: It's likely some or all of these words come to mind at the mention of Virginia City. The history of this northern Nevada gem is as wild, deep, and important as they come, and it also makes for a seriously fun destination.

Casino magnate Bill Harrah had a bit of an obsession. The man who launched the Harrah’s gaming empire in 1937 also had a penchant for collecting cars, which led to him eventually owning around 1,400 vehicles. During his lifetime, his collection—often referred to as the most significant assemblage of vintage and one-of-a-kind cars ever—was housed in Sparks and open to the public.

Located halfway between Las Vegas and Reno, Tonopah is a welcome stop for road-weary travelers. But this old mountain town is no mere rest stop. Tonopah is the perfect weekend getaway to wander Sahara-like dunes, dine in luxurious haunted hotels, and take in some of the darkest skies around.

Founded in 1868, Elko began life as a station on the Union Pacific line. Thanks to its prime location near the railroad and the Humboldt River, the northeastern Nevada town became a busy community surrounded by a sprawl of farms and ranches.

Las Vegas is in the middle of an urban cultural renaissance. A well-timed combination of affordable living, supportive city policies, and grassroots community planning has made the city a stronghold for creative expression. At the heart of this movement sits the Las Vegas Arts District and its 18-plus blocks of colorful shops, novel restaurants, and endless entertainment.  

Ready to give your camera a workout? With the Free-Range Art Highway as your canvas, the photo-op stops are countless. Whether you’re a newbie photographer just learning the definition of aperture or a veteran documentarian seeking new stories, you’ll find plenty of odd and awesome vistas to ogle along this Reno-to-Vegas road trip. 

Self-guided walking tours are a free and fun way to explore a community at your own pace—and a good excuse to get your steps in. It’s as easy as picking up your map and brochure at the locations listed below, so get walking!

The Clown Motel in Tonopah boasts what’s got to be the largest collection of clown figurines and memorabilia under the sun. Some 3,200 clowns call the motel’s lobby home, with more pouring in weekly as donations from around the world. It’s a sight to behold and one that you won’t find anywhere else. 

In late 1928, President Coolidge signed the Boulder Canyon Project Act. Its intent was simple: the US would build the world’s then-largest dam and tame the Colorado River.

The best locations for the dam were along the Nevada-Arizona border. Initially, the idea was to place it in Boulder Canyon—hence the name of the act—but surveyors later identified nearby Black Canyon as a superior site. Although the project was officially renamed Hoover Dam in 1931, people continued to call it Boulder Dam for at least another decade. 

Making a trip to see a Broadway play in a large city often comes with jaw-dropping sticker shock. First are the ticket prices themselves, the cost of which could rival the gross national product of a healthy micronation. Then you’ll need to factor in transportation, parking, dinner/drinks, and hotel stays. Bottom line: You might need to take out a small loan to enjoy “Hadestown” or “Hamilton” in New York City or San Francisco. And this is one of the many reasons Nevada is becoming an alternate—and sometimes, far more enticing—destination for a Broadway experience.

The Old Spanish Trail was—by 1800s standards—a superhighway for traders, settlers, and explorers. Rather than being one route, the trail was a network of roads stringing together far-flung communities of the American Southwest from Santa Fe to Los Angeles. However, no matter which direction folks traveled, all paths converged in the verdant Virgin River Valley through what is now Mesquite.

While Nevada is home to serious outdoor splendor, not all recreation is found on hiking trails and mountain tops. For those looking for something with a little more gas, there are racetrack adventures waiting to be found. 

Vacations can get easily crammed full of activities and things to see and do. While there’s a time for doing the mad dash, there’s also room for slowing things down and spending a little quality time with that most important person: you. There are as many spas in Nevada as there are colors in our sunsets, so consider these mentions as just a taste of what awaits. 

Whether you’ve got the whole fam in tow or have your sights set on a romantic getaway for two, embark on a boating tour along some of the country’s most famous waterways.

Human fascination with Mother Nature’s fauna existed long before recorded history. We can’t get enough of the animals with whom we share the planet, and while the question of man’s impact on other creatures is widely debated, there are a number of organizations in Nevada that raise the art of caretaking to a whole new level. 

For many of us, the days of maps and travel brochures sprawled across the table while we scribble on a notepad are gone. Replaced by websites, mobile maps, and travel apps, a new selection of on-the-go providers are ready to pave the way to your next adventure. 

A birdcage of freedom. A grand literary conundrum, it’s true. Maya Angelou’s great poem may spring to mind, but I mean Yeats and his Byzantium, a place of spiritual fulfillment where what’s crucial to your soul sings out to you from a golden bough of what you need, what will get you there, and what awaits your arrival. Such a place exists at The Writer’s Block, a bookstore in Downtown Las Vegas.

“If you build it, they will come.” Lifting a line from the 1989 baseball film classic “Field of Dreams” is fitting when talking about Downtown Las Vegas these days. Especially when it comes to sports-loving Derek Stevens, a Fremont Street titan who in October 2020 opened Circa Resort & Casino, an adults-only resort and the first newly constructed property to be built in Downtown Las Vegas in four decades. 

Ah, the joys of flying. Beautiful airports with luxurious lounges for all boarding passengers. Communing with fellow passengers over travel tips and the excitement of that long-distance flight. Elegantly dressed passengers dine on sumptuous meals, served by attentive stewardesses catering to their every need. Stretching out, enjoying a comfortable and spacious seat, fluffy pillow, and soft blanket so you can rest before you reach your destination.

Wake up!

Going to Las Vegas to visit a museum might have once sounded as foolish as trying to sell ice cubes to Eskimos. It’s not that the town is culturally bereft; far from it. From sunken objects recovered from the Titanic to Carroll Shelby’s gleaming machines—not to mention the wealth of historical, cultural, and incredible artifacts at the state museums—Las Vegas has long had its fair share of educational diversions.

The city also had its share of historical diversions during its growth, and none has been quite so infamous as Las Vegas’ connection to the mob.

A bit of a bold statement was made by a “New York Times” architecture and design blogger when she stated “The shipping container could be the 21st century’s brick.” Bold perhaps, but not without merit. The containers are inexpensive, easy to transport and set up, sustainable, and watertight, to name just a few attributes. 

Need further proof? Container parks dot the planet, and in the last decade or so, industrial structures inviting shopping, dining, recreation, and more have sprung up everywhere from California to Dubai. In Nevada, there are three alone, each with its own vibe and intention, but all distinctly engaging. 

Anyone traveling through Nevada may have noticed a common occurrence beyond the majestic mountains, stunning views, and neon lights. For frequent travelers of the Silver State, there’s another sign you’re in Nevada: seeing a casino with the word nugget in the name.

Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, known for its clear, crystal-blue waters created by snow melt from the surrounding mountains. Pyramid Lake is an endorheic salt lake—a prehistoric vestige of the once great Lake Lahontan—that sits in the desert about 100 miles northeast of Tahoe. These two disparate bodies of water are joined by a common thread—the Truckee River. The Truckee is the only outlet of Lake Tahoe, flowing northeast for 121 miles from Tahoe City, California, through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range into Nevada where it ends its journey at Pyramid Lake.

Mushroom clouds marked the end of the deadliest conflict in world history, though mankind was just getting started testing the limits of its newfound deadly technology. The development of the atomic bomb is one of the most important factors that caused World War II to come to an end in 1945, though Nevada’s role in the atomic process would continue for decades to come.

What do surfing and casino games have in common? They’re both a gamble. Ask any surfer if they’re guaranteed to get waves during any session and most will tell you that it’s always a bit of a crapshoot. First, nature needs to provide surfable waves and surfable conditions. Then, when there are waves and the action is pumping, other surfers, surfing rules, and etiquette can inhibit getting waves.

Getting married in Las Vegas—if Hollywood is to be believed—is for the young, the foolish, the headstrong, or the inebriated. In the really far-out tales, those qualities are all rolled up in one impatient, lovestruck couple who have just met and take their new-found passion all the way to the altar.

The 80th session of the Nevada Legislature is now underway, and the state’s 63 senate and assembly members meet in the building just south of the State Capitol complex in Carson City. Nevada is one of just three states where its legislature is separate from its Capitol, but once upon a time, our lawmakers crowded the hallowed halls of the Capitol building.

Today, the State Capitol provides the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary of state, among others, and is also home to one of the state’s best and often overlooked tours. Not only is the building’s history available to visitors, but so is a deep and personal look at Nevada’s governmental history from its very beginning.

The image of a cowboy is synonymous with the west. Of course there were cowboys around the world long before the Wild West was settled, but if you mention cowboys, it’s the west that springs to mind. Romantic images of hardscrabble men (and yes, some women) who lived on the land, rode majestic horses, drove cattle across landscapes covered with brush, and camped beneath endless starlit skies…that’s a cowboy. Nevada has always celebrated and honored their contributions and the new Cowboy Arts & Gear Museum in Elko is the latest venue to pay homage.

  RENO: 150 Years in the making The Biggest Little City in the World looks ahead to its sesquicentennial celebration. BY MATTHEW B. BROWN I’ll never forget when I told a relative in 2003 that my then-fiance and I were moving to Reno. “Are you going to ride your horse to work?” he asked, mockingly. […]

Magic Casts a Spell over Las Vegas Seeing is believing as illusionists and magicians reappear all over The Strip By Megg Mueller Merriam-Webster defines magic as “the use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces.” I appreciate the need for a concise definition, but magic exists in […]

PLAN YOUR VACATION BACK IN TIME Nevada Northern Railway is a real trip. BY MARK S. BASSETT Nevada is home to many distinct opportunities, but there’s one that sets itself apart from the other myriad reasons to visit. In the small eastern town of Ely, you can take a vacation back in time. The Nevada […]

Pinball Hall Of Fame Museum of arcade games supplies all the bells and whistles for a trip back in time. STORY & PHOTOS BY J. TYGE O’DONNELL Two miles east of the Las Vegas Strip, there’s a place one can hear the clink of coins along with the bells and whistles of machines eager for […]

Learn to shoot the Silver State through the eyes of professional photographers. NEVADA PHOTO TOURS: SERIES COMPILED BY KIPPY S. SPILKER The bacon wave at Valley of Fire State Park. A sunset at Lake Tahoe’s Bonsai rock. The International Car Forest of the Last Church in Goldfield. Iconic images are everywhere in Nevada, but capturing […]

NEVADA PHOTO TOUR GUIDES Nevada Magazine staff embarks on educational photography escapade. The bacon wave at Valley of Fire State Park. A sunset at Lake Tahoe’s Bonsai rock. The International Car Forest of the Last Church in Goldfield. Iconic images are everywhere in Nevada, but capturing them in photos can be tricky. Taking a photo […]

  Literacy Caches Hunting for Treasures in Nevada’s Hidden Bookstores BY ANNIE FLANZRAICH Remnants of treasure hunts punctuate Nevada’s arid landscape. The state’s ghost towns—oblique wooden structures, crumbling under the weight of history—stand as a testament to lodes of ore. While the Silver State’s eponymous cache may be less accessible nowadays, there’s a more abundant […]

  Donald Heldoorn, in his own words I’m a wildlife, landscape, and sports photographer with published photos in several magazines and books. Nevada Exploration Photo Tour is my company, and through that I offer a 1-3 person private wildlife tour of the Carson Valley and surrounding area for professional photographers and experienced enthusiast photographers. I […]

Las Vegas History Finds Its Way Home Preserving mid-century neighborhoods strengthens community at large. STORY BY CHRIS LEWIS PHOTOS BY MARK DUNTON “What history?” That’s the common reply when history and Las Vegas are used in the same sentence. It’s a city that places a value on newness; a town that doesn’t hesitate to level a […]

Nevada Photo Tour Guides Learn to shoot the Silver State through the eyes of professional photographers. NEVADA PHOTO TOURS: SERIES COMPILED BY KIPPY S. SPILKER The bacon wave at Valley of Fire State Park. A sunset at Lake Tahoe’s Bonsai rock. The International Car Forest of the Last Church in Goldfield. Iconic images are everywhere […]

HOW SHEER ADVENTURE SOARS Reno disc golf park blends beauty and altitude. BY JOHN DELELLO As I trot down the concrete runway, I plant my feet consciously and precisely, taking care not to tumble down the mountain. Quickly yet fervently I let the neon-yellow disc fly with all my strength. My target—a steel disc catcher […]

Swinging For The Fence STEP UP TO THE PLATE FOR A FUN (AND HOPEFULLY FREE) NIGHT IN RENO. BY DAVE ZOOK The game plan is simple: have fun and don’t spend much money. With a little luck, spend no money at all. The idea is to book a room, eat dinner, go to a baseball […]

  What’s Old is New Again VINTAGE LAS VEGAS GETS NEW LIFE FROM NOSTALGIC ENTHUSIASTS. BY DAVE CLARK “If these walls could talk” is an overused cliché, but at Champagne’s Cafe in Las Vegas the 50-year-old gold-and-red velvet wallpaper is one of this dive bar’s star relics—whispering of a history strewn with mobsters, mistresses, and […]

Through The Lens: Midtown Mural Tour RENO ART MURALS INSPIRE AND INVIGORATE AREA AND ARTISTS BY MEGG MUELLER   When we’re young, many of us play with a jack-in-the-box; with just a little persistence, we are continually delighted by the surprise that pops up. Reno’s Midtown Mural Tour is a bit like that; the payoff […]

Gold & Silver Pawn Shop RICK HARRISON MAKES PAWNING THE STAR OF VEGAS. BY MEGG MUELLER Not all reality TV stars are the same. While some become household names due to poor behavior or their dating and fashion choices, others become famous for being genuinely entertaining. Rick Harrison falls into the latter category. He is […]

DO AS THE PAHRUMPIANS DO THE MISSION IS PURE FUN 60 MILES WEST OF LAS VEGAS. BY ERIC CACHINERO Pahrump: the only city in Nevada that will turn you into James Bond after a single visit. OK… while that statement is mostly a silly hyperbole, there is a bit of truth to it. When I first […]

Like a Rolling Stone EIGHT GREAT THINGS TO DO IN BOULDER CITY THAT AREN’T JUST SOME DAM JOKE. BY ERIC CACHINERO I must admit that I knew very little about Boulder City before visiting—an inexcusable realization considering the town’s importance to United States and Nevada history. Boulder City was once at the heart of one […]

Splendiferous Spring Festivals NEVADA COVERS THE GAMUT OF CELEBRATORY HAPPENINGS. BY ERIC CACHINERO There’s many charming words in Nevada’s arsenal of descriptive adjectives, festive being one of them. So it’s no surprise that the Silver State contains a separate arsenal for its superb spring festivals. Because if staring up at multicolored hot air balloons in […]

New Year, New Vegas Exciting changes reenergize the north Strip. BY JOANNA HAUGEN Almost everyone has a story about Las Vegas’ iconic Sahara Hotel. Abbott and Costello appeared together for the very last time on Sahara’s lounge stage in 1956, and The Beatles stayed at the hotel in 1964 when they first performed in Las Vegas. […]

Discovering the truth behind Nevada legends. BY MEGG MUELLER Researching a story on Nevada’s biggest, smallest, largest, shortest, oldest, etc., facts was a scavenger hunt, and proof that one day a new adage will be noted: Just because it’s on the Internet, doesn’t make it true. While some of the information I found had a […]

Innovative social hub and retail space supports Las Vegas entrepreneurs. BY JOANNA HAUGEN Before they happen upon the outdoor dining tables or quirky play area made of a maze of slides, visitors to Downtown Container Park in Las Vegas are greeted by the Mantis—a 40-foot-long, fire-breathing art project that debuted at Burning Man two years […]

Live, Laughlin, Love 10 things we learned about this Southern Nevada gem of a town during a recent visit. BY ERIC CACHINERO CLEAR? CRYSTAL Move over Lake Tahoe, Laughlin is giving you a run for your money. We were absolutely astonished by the clarity of the Colorado River—the impressive water source flowing alongside the Laughlin […]

 The Linq – Open-air retail, dining, and entertainment district aims to create a new type of visitor experience on the Las Vegas Strip. BY JOANNA HAUGEN Las Vegas resort-casinos have historically been designed to keep visitors inside, without clocks, windows, or easy access to exits. With several dining options; a variety of entertainment choices, gaming opportunities, […]

A reborn Lady Luck Hotel & Casino is one of many projects changing the face of downtown Las Vegas. BY JOANNA HAUGEN If you haven’t visited downtown Las Vegas lately, it may be time to take a trip. A variety of interesting museums have either opened or received facelifts over the past year. New bike […]

Las Vegas is traditionally known as an adult destination. But when Las Vegan Ted Stringer heard about the new waterpark, Wet ‘n' Wild, opening in late May in southwest Las Vegas, he knew it would fit right in. Stringer received the most votes for his contribution of "Red Rock Bay" in Wet ‘n' Wild Las Vegas' Wave Pool Naming Contest.

The Biggest Little City in the World, America's Adventure Place, A Little West of Center, Far From Expected…Reno has seen its fair share of nicknames and slogans—especially so in the last decade—and few of them have stuck.

Train stations are buildings to revere and remark upon. An exceptional station reminds passengers that sometimes the destination can be as important as the journey. Unlike airports, the great railroad stations embody grandeur, not grandiosity. Their names alone can evoke memories—Grand Central, Waterloo, Gare du Nord. And in Nevada, Reno.

Downtown arts district adds to its eclectic mix of artists and businesses. Las Vegas’ downtown revitalization continues to gain steam. The latest addition by developer, entrepreneur, and longtime downtown advocate Brett Wesley Sperry is Art Square Las Vegas. Art Square comprises three remodeled buildings and an open-air Art Garden. Featuring sustainable woods, brick, exposed high […]

New Children’s Museum set to open soon in downtown Las Vegas. By Charlie Johnston I was quickly won over by Las Vegas’ Lied Discovery Children’s Museum when I visited the facility in late 2011 while researching the feature “Southern Nevada Museums” for the January/February 2012 issue of Nevada Magazine. The exhibits were varied, engaging, and […]