Nevada

Travel Tips

1. Head to Cottonwood Ranch for their annual cattle drives and enjoy a true taste of “Wild West” living. Cottonwood is a working horse and cattle ranch located at an elevation of 6,200 ft in the remote north-eastern corner of Nevada. In June, July and August you can join the team on a cattle drive where two full days are spent working cattle and enjoying life at the ranch and on the range. Guests then head out on the horse drive for three exhilarating days and two nights camping under the stars before riding into ranch headquarters for a final, celebratory night.
2. Opal season begins in May when the Royal Peacock Mine opens for business! Located in the Virgin Valley in north-western Nevada, visitors can hire their own equipment and go digging for this precious gem. Whatever you find, you are allowed to keep!
3. One of the best ways to experience Nevada is to travel Highway 50, the so-called 'Loneliest Road in America'. Stretching for 287 miles from east to west across the state, Highway 50 is a fascinating scenic and historic corridor through a land seemingly untouched by man. Drivers will pass through historic mining towns and cemeteries, state parks and remnants of the Pony Express route are visible for much of the way. Visitors can also either download a free survival kit at www.travelnevada.co.uk or pick one up at various locations in every town.
4. Journey 147 miles north of Las Vegas and you will find the Extraterrestrial Highway (Highway 375) in Sand Spring Valley. Highway 375 stretches for 98 miles and the tiny town of Rachel is a popular stopping point for UFO fans hoping to learn more about the highway and the mysterious former nuclear testing facility, Area 51. The E.T. Highway earned its moniker in April 1996, thanks to the hundreds of claims of UFO sightings along the lonely stretch of road, which is close to top-secret Area 51.
5. For adventure enthusiasts who are looking to get a little wet then head to the Truckee River Whitewater Park in downtown Reno. The half mile course includes 11 drop pools, rodeo holes and Nevada’s first permanent kayak slalom racing course. Visitors to the course can enjoy whitewater rafting, kayaking, and inner tubing and it's surrounded by a grassy park with amphitheatre and facilities for concerts, festivals, picnics, outdoor sports and recreation. Best of all, the park is open year round and it is free for all visitors to enjoy.