Nevada is home to a fascinating blend of arid deserts, rugged mountains, and deep lakes, making it one of the most unique states to visit in the entire country. Its rich mining and railroad history has left a legacy of flourishing towns, each brimming with art, culture, and recreational adventures. From Virginia City’s historic mines to Minden’s proximity to Lake Tahoe, Nevada’s towns are filled with marvels waiting to be explored. Read on to discover seven of Nevada’s most underrated towns to inspire your next memorable getaway.
Pahrump
An aerial view of Pahrump, Nevada. Editorial credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com.
Located right between Las Vegas and Death Valley National Park, Pahrump’s perfect location guarantees endless recreational activities. The proximity to the national park is enough of a reason to visit Pahrump, with Death Valley National Park boasting incredible sand dunes, colorful canyons, peaks that rise 11,000 feet above the valley, and all kinds of diverse wildlife species. Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is another gorgeous park to visit that is less known and often less crowded, which consists of crystal clear pools, low-lying valleys, and fascinating wildlife, such as the Devils Hole desert pupfish, with Ash Meadows being the only place on earth where visitors can find this species. Within its city limits, Pahrump also has many interesting shops, museums, and restaurants. The Pahrump Valley Museum and the Coffinwood attraction are two memorable cultural activities that visitors must check out!
Caliente
The historic railroad station in Caliente, Nevada. Editorial credit: Traveller70 / Shutterstock.com
Caliente has historic roots as a railroad town, with much of the history preserved for visitors to appreciate today. The centric, mission-style Caliente Railroad Depot, for example, boasts beautiful architecture. The town also has three calm city parks and a mountain bike trail that takes bikers through the rolling arid hills nearby. Slightly south of Caliente, travelers can spend the day at Rainbow Caynon, one of Nevada’s hidden gems, which consists of steep, 3,000-foot canyon walls rich with iron red rock formations, natural caves, and limestone. Annually, Caliente hosts both a vibrant Fourth of July festival and a mountain biking festival, which draws in visitors from all over the country.
Virginia City
Main Street in Virginia City, Nevada. Editorial credit: M. Vinuesa / Shutterstock.com.
Dating back to 1859, Virginia City has a fascinating and complex past. Today, visitors can step back in time, filling an itinerary by visiting historic locations around the town. To understand the town’s mining history, travelers can tour places such as the Comstock Gold Mill or the Chollar Mine, one of the 19th century’s leading gold and silver producers. Afterward, travelers can hop aboard the Virginia & Truckee Train to embark on a unique, 35-minute ride on the short line. A stroll down Virginia City’s Boardwalk is also a must, with many lining shops and boutiques having operated for more than 150 years. For those in need of a good laugh, The Virginia City Outlaws Comedy Show is a Virginia City classic!
Eureka
Aerial View of the tiny town of Eureka, Nevada, on Highway 50.
Eureka, although small in population with only about 300 inhabitants, is bursting with mining history and old Western charm. Many buildings date back to the 1800s, such as the General Store, Governor’s Mansion, Florio House, and Methodist Church, which visitors can admire on a self-guided walking tour around the city. The Eureka Palisade Train Car is another historic gem, dating back to 1875, and is the only rolling piece remaining from the Eureka & Palisade Railroad. After strolling through the town and appreciating its history, hungry travelers can stop by one of Eureka’s classic restaurants, such as Urban Cowboy Bar and Grill, which serves steaks and Mexican food and is housed in a building dating back to 1880!
Minden
Aerial view of Minden, Nevada. Editorial credit: Gchapel / Shutterstock.com.
Located in Carson Valley, Minden is a scenic town surrounded by panoramic views of mountains. Outdoor adventurers can pack their bags and spend the day out on the Lake Tahoe Loop, consisting of crystal clear, blue waters with lots of places to fish, boat, hike, bike, or just relax. Those seeking pure adrenaline can even go skydiving with Skydive Lake Tahoe, which caters to both skydiving beginners and regulars. The views above the lake while in the air will be unbeatable! Around the Carson Valley, visitors can also birdwatch for incredible species soaring overhead such as the bald eagle! For those who want to learn about the town’s history, the picturesque Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park offers a glimpse into the town’s origins and dives into the story of H.F. Dangberg, who was fundamental in Carson Valley’s establishment.
Ely
Prohibition-era hotel and casino, Hotel Nevada in Ely, Nevada. Editorial credit: Sandra Foyt / Shutterstock.com.
Ely is a remote mountain town in eastern Nevada that has the perfect balance of art, history, and outdoor exploration. In the 1870s, it was established as a stagecoach stop, but it would later become one of the most significant copper mining regions. In this historic district, visitors can appreciate the town’s vibrant culture through its historic architecture, art galleries, murals, and sculpture garden. Just about an hour’s drive from Ely, travelers can also visit Great Basin National Park to see natural marvels such as Lehman Cave or hike on one of the park’s breathtaking trails. Right outside of the park, visitors can stay in Hidden Canyon Retreat, a cozy and rustic inn surrounded by wildlife and nature.
Elko
View of the Chilton Centennial Tower in Elko, Nevada. Editorial credit: E Fehrenbacher / Shutterstock.com.
With a little over 20,000 residents, Elko has a lively town culture brimming with attractions and amenities. The Northeastern Nevada Museum is the perfect museum stop, with history, art, and wildlife exhibits rolled up into one. Curious about what it is like to be a cowboy? The Western Folklife Center has iconic artifacts from midwestern cowboy history. Nature enthusiasts can head out to one of the nearby natural beauties, such as the Ruby Mountains, which feature glaciated peaks towering over 10,000 feet high. The Lamoille Canyon is another natural gem, where travelers can see enormous canyons carved by glaciers millennia ago during the Ice Age.
Final Thoughts
Next time you think about Nevada, consider more than just Las Vegas. The state is bursting with unique experiences, offering a fascinating historical perspective, vibrant art scenes, and lively festivals in many towns. From the scenic beauty of Ely to the rich history of Eureka, each town invites adventurers to the one-in-a-lifetime opportunity of exploring Nevada’s diverse landscape and culture.
Supposed sightings of alien aircraft and extraterrestrial life are synonymous with the state of Nevada. A new group in Southern Nevada hopes to offer a glimpse into the unsolved mysteries of the universe with its first event this weekend.
“I spend a lot of hours out there videotaping and to see that so many people want to come out and join me, it’s like a party,” said local ufologist Joseph De La Torre, better known as the Pahrump Alien Guy.
The Southern Nevada Ufology Group will host its first meeting on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. During the event, attendees will learn how to take photos of UFOs from the Pahrump Alien Guy himself. The meeting will take place at the Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino in the building’s gravel lot near the bowling parking area. Attendees will park in the bowling parking lot.
“I ended up learning to look into the skies here over Pahrump and I read an article where it said that Pahrump is in the Area 51 excursion zone,” the Pahrump Alien Guy told the Pahrump Valley Times.
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Participants are encouraged to arrive with a tripod for their phone in order to properly take photos. Food, beverages and camping chairs are also welcome, but the Southern Nevada Ufology Group asks guests to please clean up after themselves once the event is over. If you’re interested in joining Saturday’s meeting, you must RSVP by contacting southernnevadaufologygroup@gmail.com to confirm your attendance and to receive more information. Children are not allowed at the event.
“I think that it’s going to be very successful,” the Pahrump Alien Guy enthused.
The Pahrump Alien Guy hosted the inaugural Pahrump Alien Conference in October 2025, a gathering that saw a large turnout of locals, visitors from Las Vegas, and other tourists passing through Nye County.
“We didn’t think it was going to be that successful,” the Pahrump Alien Guy shared.
During that event, UFO photos from the Pahrump Alien Guy’s database were showcased, local vendors sold alien-themed goods and featured guests spoke about their work in ufology.
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Two of the event’s featured speakers were Mike Bara, a New York Times best-selling author and frequent guest on the History Channel’s long-standing series “Ancient Aliens,” and Marysol Rezanov of the Nevada chapter of Citizens for Disclosure, a UFO information disclosure advocacy organization.
The Pahrump Alien Guy, his girlfriend Brid’Jette Whaley, Bara and Rezanov then founded the Southern Nevada Ufology Group. The group plans to host future meetings in other locations around Southern Nevada.
The Pahrump Alien Guy further explained that it was Bara and Rezanov’s idea to create a new skywatching group in Southern Nevada. Bara and Rezanov will be at Saturday’s meeting.
“We call it ‘Southern Nevada’ Ufology Group because it’s not just Pahrump,” the Pahrump Alien Guy said. “It’s all over southern Nevada.”
The Pahrump Alien Guy has a YouTube channel where he shows videos and photos he’s taken of UFOs. Watch the Pahrump Alien Guy’s videos on YouTube at youtube.com/@pahrumpalienguy.
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Contact reporter Elijah Dulay at edulay@pvtimes.com
Southern Nevada Ufology Group’s first meeting
■ Saturday, Jan. 31, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
■ Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino located at 681 South Highway 160
■ Attendees will learn how to take photos of UFOs. Guests are are encouraged to bring a tripod for their phone.
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■ To attend you must RSVP by contacting southernnevadaufologygroup@gmail.com
■ No children allowed
■ Park in the bowling parking lot, meeting will be held in neighboring gravel lot
Nevada’s population growth slowed dramatically last year, according to new statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.
New figures from the government agency showed Nevada grew 0.9 percent, which put it in the top 10 states for percentage growth (9th) from July 2024 to July 2025. However, this is down from July 2023 to July 2024 when the state grew by 1.7 percent.
In July 2024, Nevada had 3,253,543 residents, and in July of last year it had 3,282,188. From July 2023 to July 2024, Nevada was the sixth fastest-growing state in the country, which meant it dropped three spots for the time period of July 2024 to July 2025.
Nevada expanded from 3,214,363 residents in July 2023 to 3,267,467 in July 2024, which turned out to be the fastest year-over-year growth rate, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, since before the pandemic in 2019. However, all of these growth rates are below the time frame of 2015 to 2018 when the state saw unprecedented population growth.
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Overall, U.S. population growth slowed “significantly” from July 2024 to July of last year with an increase of only 1.8 million people, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. This was the lowest population growth for the country since the early days of the pandemic when the population grew only 0.2 percent in 2021 year-over-year.
This population slowdown across the country follows a “sizeable” uptick in the growth rate in 2024 when the U.S. added 3.2 million people and grew 1 percent, the fastest annual population growth rate since all the way back in 2006.
“The slowdown in U.S. population growth is largely due to a historic decline in net international migration, which dropped from 2.7 million to 1.3 million in the period from July 2024 through June 2025,” said Christine Hartley, the assistant division chief for Estimates and Projections at the U.S. Census Bureau. “With births and deaths remaining relatively stable compared to the prior year, the sharp decline in net international migration is the main reason for the slower growth rate we see today.”
The population growth drop was felt across the country as all four census regions (West, Midwest, Northeast and the South) and every state except Montana and West Virginia saw growth slow or a decline in acceleration.
Five U.S. states experienced population decline from July 2024 to July 2025: California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont and West Virginia.
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Contact Patrick Blennerhassett at pblennerhassett@reviewjournal.com.
Water and wastewater users in Nevada City could see fee hikes coming down the pipe as the City of Nevada City is currently going through steps needed to do so.
According to the city staff report, water users would see a 25% increase in costs each year for the next 5 years, while wastewater use would result in a 12% increase each year for the next five years.
For example, a water user currently paying $48 bi-monthly in fees, would be paying $198.41 bi-monthly by 2030.
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A current wastewater user paying $159.31 bi-monthly, would be paying $250.67 bi-monthly by 2030.
“It is necessary to periodically review rates to ensure that the City can obtain sufficient funds to develop, construct, operate, maintain, and manage its water and wastewater system on a continuing basis, in full compliance with federal, state, and local requirements,” a staff report prepared by Interim City Manager Joan Phillipe said.
Council and staff will convene on the matter at their next regularly scheduled council meeting this Wednesday January 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Nevada City Hall, 317 Broad Street.
“It is recommended that City Council select a rate option for both water and wastewater and direct staff to initiate the Proposition 218 noticing process. This will involve public engagement and noticing to receive and consider feedback regarding the proposed rates and with public meetings and a hearing as mandated by Proposition 218 for formal adoption of rate adjustments,” the staff report said.
City to look at Enterprise Fleet services
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Also at Wednesday’s meeting, the city of Nevada City will consider approval of an agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management to the tune of up to $400,000 per year.
“To increase fleet efficiency, reliability, and reduce expensive repair and fuel costs, staff has researched leasing options that would be a benefit to the organization,” the city staff report reads. “The City of Nevada City currently purchases all fleet vehicles on a cash basis, meaning the entire cost of each vehicle is paid at the time of purchase. This can be heavily impactful to the city as a whole and difficult to adequately budget for. Utilizing Enterprise Fleet Management would yield moderate savings while simultaneously improving fleet viability, safety, and appearance.”
