Summer 2022

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Someone once said, “When all else fails, take a vacation.” Summer is the season of fun, of carefree days and star-filled nights, so what better time to get away, recharge, and refresh?  If you’re in need of a little inspiration, look no further than this issue. In the pages that follow, we’ll pedal through Boulder City’s famed Bootleg Canyon and head up north to ride the Lake Tahoe Flume Trail. The outdoor adventures continue as we take a road trip to the Ruby Mountains and explore alpine lakes and one seriously lush wildlife refuge. Outdoor adventures lead to big appetites, and we have a seriously dynamic food scene to fill that need. This issue, learn about plant-based cuisine that’s expanding the culinary offerings in Fallon, Las Vegas, and Reno. Plus, read up on a new American Indian-owned coffee shop serving delicious, healthy food and drinks perfectly located along the Free-Range Art Highway. The past comes alive this summer with a stop in Winnemucca—one of the last true cowboy towns—and a stroll through Reno’s historic district. Visit the remains of one of our most-visited ghost towns, then discover how one of America’s most famous writers got his start in Virginia City.
Issue Cover Summer 2022

What’s Inside

Nevada's State Parks

One of the lures of Nevada’s wide-open spaces is the ability to find a bit of solitude in a busy world. Sometimes finding that outdoor quiet requires long treks and dirt roads—not that there’s anything wrong with that! But sometimes, that quiet escape can be found just off the highway. No matter your choice, if you’re looking to go where the crowds aren’t, look no further than these naturally socially-distanced state parks. ... read more

Lip Smacking Foodie Tour

Savvy travelers know that the best way to become truly acquainted with a place is through its cuisine—but which restaurants do you choose? How can you get a comprehensive sampling without a big price tag or exhausting trial and error? In southern Nevada, the answer is simple, thanks to Lip Smacking Foodie Tours.   ... read more

Las Vegas' Westside Story

For five months in 1955, Las Vegas’ Westside District was an unlikely center of African American entertainment, culture, and optimism. The source was the city’s new Moulin Rouge Hotel, which opened at a time when racism was rampant across the nation.    ... read more

Step Into Reno’s Past

So you’re in Reno and want to get acquainted with the city: where should you start? Consider this walking tour a primer for exploring the city. Beginning next to the neon and nightlife of downtown, you’ll end your walk on a bohemian street where locals shop and dine. Along the way, discover a post office-turned-indie mall, a riverside restaurant on Reno’s most historic site, and one of the town’s earliest buildings. We begin just south of the Truckee River right after crossing the bridge on Virginia Street.  ... read more

Spirited Adventures

Nevada’s distinct history is borne by the nearly 600 towns that rose and fell before the 1900s even had a chance to stretch its legs. The gold and silver fever that struck the nation resulted in a clamor that touched nearly every corner of the state. While most towns bore fruit only for short periods, they literally left their mark on the state’s landscape. Many ghost towns have no more residents, but they are still full of stories, if you listen carefully.   ... read more

Legendary Nevadans: Mark Twain

All Nevada is a stage, and cowpokes, artists, activists, and visionaries are the players in a drama centuries in the making. Whether born or raised, these special characters aren’t just Nevadans: they’re Legendary Nevadans.  In 1861, Samuel Clemens was living his childhood dream as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi. The 25-year-old had established himself as a talented, respected navigator and earned a considerable salary of $70 a week (equivalent to about $2,000 today).   But that summer, Clemens knew his days as a pilot were over. The Civil War had just begun, and military blockades were undoing his livelihood. With few prospects in his home state of Missouri, a new opportunity suddenly appeared from his older brother.   ... read more

Ely's Renaissance Village

Tucked into the hills in northeast Nevada, Ely was a thriving, multi-ethnic community for most of the 20th century. After the town entered a recession in the 1990s, a group of citizens embarked on a mission to transform one ruined block of homes into a place of living history. ... read more

The Silver State Scavenger Hunt Official Rules

The 6th Silver State Scavenger Hunt is now underway! Nevada is full of incredible structures built long ago, and now’s your chance to see some.  If you’ve not done the Hunt before, it’s easy! We split the state into two zones—Northern and Southern—with 14 historic buildings in each. Snap a photo of yourself holding the S ... read more

Wildlife Photography

Some of America’s favorite wild creatures thrive in Nevada’s 3-million-plus acres of wilderness. Keep an eye out for animals you know—after all, more than half the nation’s wild horses roam free here—but also species you might not expect like the surface-dwelling desert fish (the world’s rarest). Bring your camera; chances for photography and incredible encounters await. ... read more

Find Your Fresh

Nevada’s desert landscape is well known, so it may surprise some to learn that the state is also home to organic farming operations and a robust farm-to-fresh dining scene. Restaurants all over the state—and increasingly in rural areas—are offering locally grown foods with a focus on vegetarian and/or vegan-oriented menus. Here are a few tasty offerings you’ll find.   ... read more

The Final Word: Allen Metscher

Allen Metscher is a founding member of the Central Nevada Historical Society and the Central Nevada Museum in Tonopah. He has spent a lifetime researching the history of central Nevada.  ... read more

Tahoe Candy Co.

Gardnerville native Mindy Miller always enjoyed crafting sweets, but when she and her husband Larry became unemployed in 2009 during the recession, she decided it was time to become professional confectioners. Mindy began making honeycomb sweets and her signature Nevada-shaped toffees for local businesses during the holidays, but once clients started asking for candy outside of the season, she knew she was on to something.   ... read more

Yesterday: The Orange Rock Down Vegas Way

 In 1924, a San Francisco family relocated to an isolated homestead in remote Nevada. The author remembers the family Studebaker rumbling down cow trails, weekly trips to town for provisions, and a mysterious orange rock behind her home. ... read more

Robbery at Rawhide

One of the West's last stagecoach robberies reads like a good heist novel: the criminal duo, the masked hold up, a posse, good old-fashioned police work, and swift justice. However, this 1907 robbery ends on a mysterious note. ... read more

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