Spring/Summer 2025

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With this issue, we are transitioning to a biannual publication. The next and final issue of 2025 will be the Fall/Winter issue, which will come out in August. You can still have the print version mailed directly to you for free by visiting travelnevada.com/travel-guides . This time around we're sharing our story on the culture of Burning Man across the state, or where to find the 10 oldest historic buildings in the state. We’ve traveled near and far to bring you stories on wildflowers, retro motels, the Punk Rock Museum, where to find some great vegetarian and vegan meals, and even a few ghost towns, to boot. Here's to Spring!

What’s Inside

A Solo Journey

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. ... read more

Find Your Flow

It’s no secret Nevada is a desert. The state’s annual rainfall is, well, minimal, and our wide-open spaces are adorned in hues of brown and—occasionally—green. But lest this description leaves you dry, we also have ample places to get your feet wet. A quick poll of the Travel Nevada staff reveals some great options, so grab a towel and get out there. ... read more

Road Trip To A Future Past

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. ... read more

Hey Ho, Let's Go to the Punk Rock Museum

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. ... read more

Rural Wranglers: Minden & Gardnerville

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. ... read more

Uncommon Overnighters: Retro Motels

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? ... read more

10 Must-Visit Historic Buildings

Despite centuries of fires, busted towns, and urban redevelopment, Nevada is still packed with historic structures. Not only do these buildings stand the test of time, each one also tells a unique part of the state’s story—and all are worth visiting. Note that the structures in this list aren’t necessarily the oldest around, but they are the ones we recommend making a detour for. ... read more

Rural Veggies

As someone who travels around the state frequently, and who is also a vegetarian, I’m always on the lookout for places in Nevada’s smaller communities where I can get my veggie on. What I’ve found is that rural Nevada has some delicious vegetarian fare, including options in a few unlikely places. ... read more

Beyond the Playa

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. ... read more

The Ghost of Nye County

Nye County is a big place. If it were a state, it would be the 42nd largest—twice the size of Massachusetts. In addition to wide-open ranges and countless miles of dirt road, this area has a number of the nearly 600 towns that rose and fell in Nevada before the 1900s even had a chance to stretch its legs. While most towns bore fruit only for short periods, they literally left their mark on the state’s landscape. Many ghost towns have no residents, but they are still full of stories, if you listen carefully. ... read more

Northern Nevada Reservoirs

Northern Nevada is known for quite a few things: buckaroos, gold mining, and Basque culture, to name a few. However, this part of the Silver State is also home to some of the state’s wettest mountains. Fortunately, their winter runoff gets captured into massive reservoirs—many of which are now well-managed state recreation areas (SRAs). If your travels take you along Interstate 80, keep these excellent options in mind for your fishing, boating, and camping adventures. ... read more

Lake Tahoe Loop

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. ... read more

Wildflowers

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. ... read more