Nevada Travel Guide

Nevada Travel: General Information

Nevada’s rise as a tourism haven has had to do with the legalization of gambling (it was the first US state to do so) but the state has much, much more for the multitudes flocking to the Mecca of entertainment every year. Beyond the glitz and glamour of places like Las Vegas, Laughlin and Reno, Nevada has a very natural side to it – full of snow-capped mountains, crystalline lakes, magnificent canyons, beautiful valleys and desert scenery. It is entirely your choice whether you would like to get lost in the hedonistic world of casinos, pubs, gourmet restaurants, chic shopping centers, nightclubs and roller-coasters or enjoy Nevada’s natural panorama – you can go nature viewing in any of the state parks or hike among the mountainous trails, fishing is a great attraction in Lake Mead and Lake Tahoe is a skiing/snow-boarding paradise.

Nevada Travel: Key Facts

Capital City: Carson City

Area: 286, 367 sq km

Population: 2,600,167

Monetary Unit: USD

Official Language: English

International Dialing Code: 001

Nevada Travel: Popular Tourist Destinations

• Carson City: Carson City can easily be the first-stop in Nevada not only because it is the capital but also because of its spectacular setting. The special attractions of the old silver-mining town are its curative hot springs and the city has some famous resorts. Among the must-visits are its parks, museums and cultural centers as well as significant state government buildings. Close to sights like the Carson Aquatic Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, Lake Tahoe/Nevada State Park, Washoe Lake State Park, etc., Carson City also promises a lot of adventure activities like biking, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, rafting, sailing and swimming.

• Las Vegas: Las Vegas, known as ‘the Entertainment Capital of the World’, has long surpassed its notoriety as a sin-city. The prime attraction in Las Vegas still continues to be gambling, but now the city is more of a family destination and is full of amusement parks, historical/Nature parks and museums standing alongside its many casinos. Las Vegas art galleries and theaters also give you the feel of the city’s active cultural scenario. If you are looking for some pure gambling experience, guide your steps to the Freemont Street experience or visit the Las Vegas Strip. The Strip has some of the finest hotels and casino resorts in the world like ‘Moulin Rouge’.

• Boulder City: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Boulder City is a desert oasis as much famous for its picturesque setting as for the varied outdoor activities it promises. If Lake Mead presents to you the prospects of varied water-sports, the Bootleg Canyon is famous for mountain-biking; besides, the city has many hiking trails and golf courses. The city’s museums, especially the Hoover Dam Museum, are worth checking out. Aerial tours over the Grand Canyon (Arizona State) are organized from Boulder City.

Nevada Travel: Economy and Infrastructure

Nevada’s economy is based on tourism, which again is primarily dependent on gambling. Post legalization of gambling in 1931, gambling taxes have been the primary source of state revenue and most of the times, gambling-heavens like Las Vegas, Reno bring in about 50% of the state’s income. This has made up for the state’s arid conditions and lack of arable land and Nevada’s economy is one of the strongest in the USA and it has been posting positive annual growth rates quite consistently. Nevada’s other economic activities include cattle/sheep raising, cattle-feed production, mining of minerals like gold, silver and copper.

Nevada has sound infrastructure, which very ably supports tourism as well as trade and industries.

Nevada Travel: Culture

Nevadans share varied ancestry – you will find Native Indians, Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, African-Americans and Asian-Americans apart from the sizable European-descent population – and this has led to a mix-culture, with people speaking different languages and following different traditional mores. Roman Catholicism is followed by the majority but Protestants, Mormons, Jews and Muslims are also found. The shadow of Las Vegan-culture looms large as a considerable section of the population resides in the urban center of Las Vegas. Like gambling, prostitution is legalized in parts of Nevada; nevertheless, Nevada is also the place where various art-forms are admired and followed with great zest.