Nevada – Gaming, Fun, and Beautiful Resorts

Nevada is to most Americans and internationals almost exclusively known for one place: Las Vegas. By far the largest city in the state, Vegas is the gaming capital of the USA and attracts millions of people each year with its casinos and abounding nightlife options. Carson City, Nevada’s capital and the nearby Lake Tahoe region offer interesting contrasts to the bustling city.

General Information

Nevada was settled in the 19th century after considerable amounts of silver had been discovered in the region. The state’s name is an abbreviation of the Spanish term “Sierra Nevada,” meaning “white mountain range.” The population of Nevada is largely centered around the two metropolitan areas of Las Vegas and Reno.

Geographically, Nevada’s northern portion is located within the Great Basin Desert, an area with temperatures extremes. Hot summers and freezing winters are usual here. The central portion has some mountain ranges of considerable size, up to 13,000 feet in height. The southern third lies in the Mojave Desert.

The Nevada Territory was originally part of Utah from where it separated in 1861. Already three years later, Nevada became the Union’s 36th state. Mining, especially of silver, dominated Nevada’s economy for many decades.

Today, Las Vegas has a population of roughly 2.5 million. Nevada’s population is growing at a fast rate – between 2000 and 2005 it rose by almost 20%.

Las Vegas

Everyone knows Vegas. And most Americans either have gone to the capital of gambling and fun or they at least plan to go. One of the most spectacular sights in Vegas are without doubt the Bellagio Fountains, beautifully lit next to this grand casino. There is so much more to see. Take the great casinos alone, the MGM Grand, the Bellagio, the Caesars Palace, the Mirage… The replicas of Old Europe, like the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel & Casino or the Venetian are popular attractions too.

But culture does not fall short in Las Vegas. Liberace Museum or the Fine Art Gallery at the Bellagio have good collections. Car enthusiasts must visit the Auto Collections at the Imperial Palace, one of the world’s largest collections of rare and old automobiles. Hotel options abound. However, even the greatest of places, the biggest hotels do not have very heavy prices. After all, Vegas visitors are supposed to spend their money not on hotel suites but in the casinos, at the card tables and slot machines…

Carson City & Lake Tahoe

Carson City, Nevada’s state capital, is home to the Hot Springs Resort, where since the mid-1800s people have come to relax and get cured by the thermal springs. The hot baths range in temperature from 95 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Carson City’s origins as a rusty frontier town can be traced until today. Named after famous Kit Carson, the city still commemorates his legacy on the Kit Carson Trail. It winds through one of the most historic areas of Nevada. The Carson City region also hosts several world-class golf courses. Nearby Virginia City is an old-style mining town. The romantic times of the silver rush live on in its streets.

Virtually around the corner from the state capital, Lake Tahoe is located, a magnificent lake and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state. Few places in the US can compare with this beautiful area. The region is known as “America’s Adventure Place.” The crystal waters of the lake, great water sports and summer fun in the warm months as well as perfect skiing and snowboarding conditions in winter make Lake Tahoe an ideal year-round resort.

The accommodation provided around Lake Tahoe range from cozy waterside cabins and rental homes to star hotels. Several resorts have their own casinos too.

Long hiking trails and bike paths, great golf courses, and of course the lake itself which offers all imaginable water activities, make summers at Lake Tahoe an unforgettable experience. In winter, the slopes turn white and the green surroundings of the summer become a winter wonderland. Tahoe region is where such great winter resorts like Heavenly Valley, Mt. Rose, Diamond Peak, and Squaw Valley are located. Downhill and cross-country skiing as well as other winter activities are all available on a large scale.

Reno

North of Lake Tahoe and Carson City, Reno is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The state’s third largest city really offers a bit of everything. Shopping, for one thing, is great in Reno. All shops and brands are present, and some of the largest shopping malls in the US have their base here, like the newly built Summit Sierra or the Meadowood Wall. Culturally too, Reno is the center of Nevada. The Reno Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras, the Nevada Opera, and the Nevada Shakespeare Company are all based here.

Reno is also a town steeped in history. The Sparks Heritage Museum and other great places invite for an exploration of the past. What would a Nevada city be without towering casino hotels? Reno has them too, of course. Luxury rooms and suites await gaming tourists, but there also more cozy options including bed & breakfast inns or motels. No matter what your budget or interest: Reno has the right things in store.