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.
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A string of deadly crashes in and around Pahrump has prompted Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill to push for more safety measures along dark, sidewalk-free roads.
“The worst penalty is death, if you consider that,” McGill said.
The recent deaths include a single-vehicle rollover on State Route 160 during the morning hours of the last Wednesday in January that killed one person and injured another.
Then, into February, two pedestrians were killed in less than three days.
The first was a 7 p.m. crash on Quarter Horse Avenue. Investigators believe a 2006 Jeep Liberty was driving on the street when it hit a pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
A few days later, this last Saturday, state troopers responded to a crash just after sundown at Charleston Park Avenue. A sedan hit a pedestrian, who was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Nevada State Police investigators are still investigating both pedestrian cases before more details are released.
McGill said the recent crashes were enough to spur action.
“When the third one came out, I was sitting at home and watching TV. I looked at my wife and I said, ‘We got to do something about this,’” McGill said.
McGill is responding with a reflective vest giveaway, pointing to limited infrastructure as a possible factor. He noted a lack of street lights off State Route 160 and no sidewalks inside the community.
“The only light that you have is the ambient light from houses and cars so it is really dark,” McGill said.
John Treanor of AAA Nevada said poor visibility can quickly turn dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians.
“It is very easy to be confronted with a situation that you cannot see coming because the visibility might be bad,” Treanor said.
Treanor encouraged pedestrians to carry lights and drivers to be prepared if they end up outside their vehicles in dark conditions.
“Having lights on you. Even carrying a flashlight allows something where a driver can see it,” Treanor said. “If you are a driver, make sure you have the right stuff in your car, in case you do get in a situation where you are on the side of the road and now you are in dark. Make sure you have a kit with some reflectors, some lights. Anything the trunk of your car in case you need it.”
McGill said vigilance is important even in daylight.
“Any time of the day, you have got to be vigilant. You have to keep aware of your surroundings if you are a walker or on a bicycle or if you are the driver,” he said.
Authorities also urged caution as more people may pull off roads in rocky areas along the route toward Death Valley National Park during springtime blooms, increasing the need for drivers and pedestrians to stay alert.
A waterfront mansion on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe just sold for $46 million, less than three weeks after hitting the market.
The speedy deal marks a departure from the typical U.S. market.
Nationwide, homes took a median 78 days to land a buyer in January, five more than the same time last year and the 22nd straight month of homes taking longer to sell on a year-over-year basis, according to data from Realtor.com.
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The lavish log cabin-like residence, in Incline Village, listed on Jan. 24 for $47.5 million. It sold 20 days later, on Feb. 13, listing records show.
The more than 7,000-square-foot residence was built in 2014, and has double-height living spaces, walls of windows, beamed ceilings, fireplaces, and plenty of rustic exposed stone and wood, listing images show.
There’s also a gym, a wet bar, a spa, a wine room, an office, two separate game rooms, seven bedrooms and dramatic Lake Tahoe views. Outside, there’s a private sandy beach, multiple decks, a heated driveway and two exterior fireplaces, according to listing information.
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The seller and the buyer are both limited liability companies, according to property records. Both parties were represented by Jeff Brown of Tahoe Mountain Realty, who declined to comment on the deal.
The median home price in Incline Village was $1.595 million as of December, a fall of 3.3% from a year earlier, according to data from Realtor.com. Listings, meanwhile, spent an average of 130 days on the market.
Updated February 26, 2026 – 8:28 pm
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Green Valley’s softball team claimed an 8-6 win at Liberty on Thursday on the first day of high school spring sports competition in Nevada.
Green Valley next hosts Silverado at 3 p.m. Friday. Liberty plays at Bishop Gorman at 3 p.m. Friday.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
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