Nevada is one of those destinations best explored with a spirit of adventure and your nose to the ground.
So throw away those guidebooks, talk to the friendly locals, and get ready to explore a “world within a state apart” – after you visit Vegas of course.
Here are five off-the-beaten track Nevada experiences for you to enjoy the next time you make it over to this great American state.
**Don’t forget that Excite Holidays are giving travel agents the chance to win a trip to Nevada. All agents have to do is make a paid booking in Nevada to go into the draw. Visit www.exciteholidays.com/
UFO Hunting.
How’s this for getting off the beaten path? Track down those little green men on the “Extraterrestrial Highway”, also known as State Route 375, which passes through some of the most desolate, moon-like terrain in the USA. This is one of those wacky only-in-Nevada experiences that has the potential to completely change your world view.
The highway runs eerily close to the infamous Area 51 and many drivers on this stretch of road have claimed to see UFOs and other strange lights in the sky.
Top secret military aircraft? Or visitors from outer space…. You be the judge!
Ribs and Brews.
Drive your hire-car to Tonopah Brewing Company and tuck into some smoky BBQ ribs – complete with their original in-house sauces –and a pint (or two) of local brews, including some awesome pale ales, IPAs, Irish reds and pilsners.
Nevada ranks 24th nationally in craft breweries per capita as of 2013 – pretty impressive when you consider the size of the state. So make sure you don’t leave the state without sampling at least a few of the local favourites.
Hunt for Precious Stones.
There is a lot of rock in Nevada. And lots of precious stone too. So why not go opal, turquoise and garnet hunting in rocky Nevada and make yourself a unique souvenir to take back home – that’s right, your own piece of jewellery.
You’ll need to get off the beaten track for this quintessential Nevada experience, and both Royal Peacock Opal Mine and Bonanza Opal Mines in northern Nevada are excellent sites to dig (for around $100 a day).
A free option is Garnet Hill, near Ely.
In Tonopah, you can check out Otteson Turquoise. There is a turquoise jewellery store inside the Mizpah hotel, which is run by Ottesons. They can also take travellers out on a tour to dig for their own turquoise, and then they will set what they find into jewellery!
In any case, make sure you pack some sturdy hiking boots, a willingness to get your hands dirty, and don your prospector hat. You never know what you might find…
Go to a Ghost Town.
Speaking of prospectors, Nevada is home to many deserted mining towns that are completely off the radar.
From Manhattan (no, not the one in NY) in the Big Smoky Valley, to Paradise Valley just a short jaunt north of Winnemucca, these ghost towns are so spooky that you may think you’re on the set of some scary Hollywood thriller.
You won’t be, of course, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be scared.
Cue the tumble weed.
Cycle your way around Nevada.
Get on two wheels and completely immerse yourself in the diverse Nevada landscape, cycling past farms, rocky outcrops, and lakes. You’ll be getting a good dose of exercise too, which is always a bonus, and there are tons of cycle tour companies to choose from.
The landscape is relatively flat, although there are some hills. And you’ll probably feel as if you’re in some Western movie.
Popular routes include Verdi to the Mount Rose Highway in northern Nevada and Bowers Mansion to and around Washoe Lake in southern Nevada.
Visit www.travelnevada.com for more inspiration.
**Remember: You have a chance to win a trip to Nevada courtesy of Excite Holidays by making a paid booking to this destination. Visit www.exciteholidays.com/
Are you ready to get off the beaten track in Nevada? Let us know what you’ll be doing the next time you’re in this part of the world.
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