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.
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 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.
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, 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!
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 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.
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.
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.
Mojave (Nev.) head football coach Wes Pacheco announced on Sunday morning that he’s stepping down from his position, according to a social media post.
Pacheco announced his resignation after six seasons at the helm of the Rattlers, putting together a 29-22 overall record from 2020-2025.
“I have officially stepped down as Head Coach of the Mojave Football Program,” Pacheco said in his social media post. “Thank you to Principal Cole for giving me the opoortunity make an impact on the lives of Mojave Student-Athletes. I am grateful and blessed to have labored through a 6-year journey of successes, failures, life lessons, character building and growth with the student-athletes myself and my coaching staff have served. I will forever love my Mojave Family, the Mojave Community and believe in the notion that SUCCESS can be attained by showcasing character, treating everyone with respect, and always have the courage to dream big and trust that “ATTACKING THE HARD WORK” & “HIGH MOTORING EVERYTHING” can yield SUCCESS that you want to achieve in life!”
During Pacheco’s half dozen seasons leading Mojave, his best record came in the 2024 season when the Rattlers finished with a 12-1 record. Located out of North Las Vegas, Mojave had to compete against the likes of national high school football powerhouse Bishop Gorman during the regular season.
Mojave ended the last season with a 4-6 record and as the state’s No. 23rd ranked team, according to the final 2025 Nevada High School Football Massey Rankings.
Mojave High School, located in North Las Vegas, NV, is a dynamic public high school that fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and community involvement. Home of the Rattlers, MHS offers a wide range of academic programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities. With a strong commitment to student success, Mojave emphasizes leadership, college and career readiness, and a supportive school culture that prepares students for life beyond graduation.
For Nevada high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Silver State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Nevada.
A recent Review-Journal letter to the editor mischaracterized Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, also known as the Clark County Lands bill. As the former executive director of the Nevada Conservation League, I wholeheartedly support this legislation, so I wanted to set the record straight.
Sen. Cortez Masto has been working on this bill for years in partnership with state and local governments, conservation groups like the NCL and local area tribes. It’s true that the Clark County lands bill would open 25,000 acres to help Las Vegas grow responsibly, while setting aside 2 million acres for conservation. It would also help create more affordable housing throughout the valley while ensuring our treasured public spaces can be preserved for generations to come.
What is not correct is that the money from these land sales would go to the federal government’s coffers. In fact, the opposite is true.
The 1998 Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act is a landmark bill that identified specific public land for future sale and created a special account ensuring all land sale revenues would come back to Nevada. In accordance with that law 5 percent of revenue from land transfers goes to the state of Nevada for general education purposes, 10 percent goes to the Southern Nevada Water Authority for needed water infrastructure and 85 percent supports conservation and environmental mitigation projects in Southern Nevada. This legislation has provided billions to Clark County and will continue to benefit generations of Southern Nevadans. Sen. Cortez Masto’s lands bill builds upon the act’s success.
So here’s the good news: All of the money generated from land made available for sale under Sen. Cortez Masto’s bill would be sent to the special account created by the 1998 law. Rather than going to an unaccountable federal government, the proceeds would continue to help kids in Vegas get a better education, bolster outdoor recreation and modernize Southern Nevada’s infrastructure.
I know how important it is that money generated from the sale of public land in Nevada stay in the hands of Nevadans, and so does the senator. That’s why she opposed a Republican effort last year to sell off 200,000 acres of land in Clark County and other areas of the country that would have sent those dollars directly to Washington.
Public land management in Nevada should benefit Nevadans. We should protect sacred cultural sites and beloved recreation spaces, responsibly transfer land for affordable housing when needed and ensure our state has the resources it needs to grow sustainably. I will continue working with Sen. Cortez Masto to advocate for legislation, such as the Clark County lands bill, that puts the needs of Nevadans first.
Paul Selberg writes from Las Vegas.
click to expand photos
Las Vegas High’s baseball team claimed a 3-2 home win over Coronado on Friday.
Las Vegas (9-13-1) next hosts Rancho at 10 a.m. Saturday. Coronado (13-14) hosts Chaparral at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
Defense dominates, Mensah flashes in Miami’s spring game – The Miami Hurricane
A crowd scientist is helping the Boston Marathon manage a growing field of 30,000-plus runners
Denver Nuggets Altitude broadcasts now being offered in Spanish for first time ever
Need to shred? Free drive-up/ride-up shredding Wednesday at Village Green West Seattle
Game 21: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels
One person injured following early Sunday morning shooting in Milwaukee
Play Fair ATL kicks off ‘The People’s Cup’ in Candler Park
Between Minneapolis And Lake Superior Is The ‘Agate Capital Of The World’ With Cozy Charm And A State Park – Islands