Before getting lost in the belief system that there isn’t much to see in Nevada beyond the Las Vegas strip, it’s time to uncover the truth. There are so many jaw-dropping destinations in Nevada from just about every angle. Whether you’re entering Nevada’s border from California, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, or Idaho, you’re bound to come across something that will blow your mind in the Silver State. Nevada was established as a US state in 1864 when it was first admitted into the union.
With more than 3.178 million residents populating Nevada as it stands today, plenty of folks have already figured out that Nevada is a wonderful place to call home. One complaint people might have about Nevada is that it’s completely landlocked. The state doesn’t touch the ocean water whatsoever. The good news is that Nevada residents can always take road trips down to California to enjoy beach days if they’re desperate for one. There are tons of bodies of water to splash around in throughout the state of Nevada as well. While we’re on the topic of Nevada, click here to meet the biggest sports stars who were born there.
To compile this list of the 20 must-see destinations in Nevada right now, 24/7 Tempo consulted several travel sources. These include Travel Nevada, TripAdvisor, Touropia, Get Your Guide, and Culture Trip.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
People who love hiking as a form of exercise will appreciate everything Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area has to offer. Red Rock is a part of Nevada that’s aesthetically pleasing for a multitude of reasons. The gorgeous red-colored rock formations are beautiful to lay eyes on. Photographers often use Red Rock Canyon as a backdrop for beautiful photos.
Hiking Rock Canyon during sunset or sunrise is always a win for adventurers since the views are spectacular. The lovely colors of the changing sky blending together behind the canyon rocks is always immaculate. There are tons of recreational things to do at Red Rock Canyon beyond hiking, by the way. Dog walking, enjoying picnics, and keeping an eye out for wildlife are just a few common examples.
Fountains of Bellagio
The fountains of Bellagio are located outside the Bellagio Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas trip. The fountain show is exquisite, making it one of the most scenic destinations in the entire state of the Nevada. The fountains in front of the Bellagio shoot as high as 460 feet into the air. They’re always accompanied by flashing lights and brilliant music.
Sometimes, the music is modern while other times, the music is a little more old-school and dated. The fountain’s water shoots in ways that allow the streams to look like they’re gracefully dancing. It’s fully free to admire the Bellagio fountains every day. The show runs for about three to six minutes every 15 minutes during the evening. During the daytime, the fountain show will proceed every half hour.
Clark County Wetlands Park
Despite the fact that Nevada is known as a desert state, there’s a blissful oasis in the heart of it all. The Clark County Wetlands Park has a naturally occurring water source that outsider’s likely would never expect to see. The Wetlands have been paved with walkways to make things easier on hikers and adventures.
The wildlife located at Clark County Wetlands Park is interesting to come across including muskrats, birds, fish, snakes, and coyotes. While it’s important to stay on guard for dangerous animals at the Clark County Wetlands Park, this destination is often used for photo shoots and picnics. This is a superb destination for Nevada locals and tourists who appreciate the great outdoors.
Valley of Fire State Park
One of the top must-see destinations in Nevada happens to be the Valley of Fire State Park. The recreational park spans across about 46,000 acres of land. The closest city you’ll find to the Valley of Fire State Park is Overton. Shifting sand dunes moved around for 150 million years, and eventually, they formed the beautiful formations of Valley of Fire State Park.
The red sandstone is breathtaking to see in person. The main hiking trail through the Valley of Fire State Park is about 1.5 miles long, which means it should take hikers a couple of hours to complete on foot. Admission to this destination is $25 per day if you’d like to reserve a zone for overnight camping.
High Roller at the Linq Hotel & Casino
The giant Ferris wheel on the Las Vegas strip is called the High Roller. It’s located at the Linq Hotel and Casino. Ferris wheels have a reputation for making places feel more magical. Just think of the Ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier or the Ferris wheel that’s consistently placed in the heart of Coachella.
The High Roller at the Linq Hotel and Casino is a little different from typical Ferris wheels, though. Each pod on the Ferris wheel can fit up to 40 people. Some of the pods have full bars with bartenders located inside them to serve drinks to riders along the way. At the top, people on the High Roller can catch glimpses of the beautiful Las Vegas strip from above. Even though each pod can fit up to 40 people, the employees usually max out entry per pod at 10 to 15 people so there’s enough space for folks to comfortably move around.
Great Basin National Park
Another fabulous national park in Nevada is Great Basin National Park. It’s located in White Pine County, Nevada. Great Basin National Park has been around since 1986 for visitors to explore. As of now, dogs are allowed to roam around, barbecue grills are available for usage, and there are picnic tables placed throughout the ground for folks to eat on.
Anyone who enjoys camping outside will appreciate what Great Basin National Park offers. Hiking the dozens of trails available at Great Basin National Park is another fun thing to do. Fishing for sea creatures in any of the nearby body of waters and gathering delicious pine nuts can be done, too.
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
Whether or not you’ve seen “Titanic” from 1997 starring Leonardo DiCaprio, checking out Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition inside the Luxor Hotel and Casino is completely worthwhile. That’s because the exhibition is full of items that offer more insight and information into the tragedy of the sinking ship. The Titanic originally sunk in 1912 after hitting an iceberg.
Around 1,500 people died because there weren’t enough lifeboats to save everyone. Most of the people who died were low income passengers and crew members who were working on the ship. Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition sheds light on exactly what happened the day the Titanic went under. General admission to the exhibition is $34 per adult. An actual piece of the titanic ship has been placed inside the exhibition.
Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck
The Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck is a tourist attraction in Nevada located at the Paris Hotel and Casino. The construction of the real Eiffel Tower in Paris, France was enough to inspire the architectural design of the Eiffel Tower replica in Las Vegas. Of course, the Eiffel Tower located in Las Vegas isn’t nearly as large as the real deal. Still, it’s breathtakingly exquisite to look at.
The Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck is located on the sixth floor of the casino. At the top, locals and tourists can see the entire city of Las Vegas from above. Tickets for the Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck go for about $55 apiece. There are also restaurants and bars at the top of the hotel and casino where folks can order meals and drinks.
Hoover Dam
Since the Hoover Dam is the largest reservoir in the entire country of America, it is certainly significant. The Hoover Dam connects Lake Mead and the Colorado River. About 248 square miles are covered by the Hoover Dam in total. It’s capable of holding 28,900,000 acre feet of water at any given time. For better perspective on that, it can hold about 325,000 gallons of water at once.
When the Hoover Dam was first built, over 100 of construction workers died in the process. For that reason, the Hoover Dam is extremely controversial. Beyond the controversy, the Hoover Dam is also recognized for the fact that it provides water to more than 16 million individuals. An abundance of fish and wildlife creatures also survive each day because of the Hoover Dam’s existence. On top of that, the Hoover Dam is used to generate power to more than half a million homes.
The Mob Museum
The Mom Museum is a great place to go if you’re curious to know about the history of Las Vegas. It’s located in Downtown Las Vegas and filled the brim with pieces of history that could make anyone’s jaw drop. Tickets to the Mob Museum cost $34.95 if you’re visiting from out of state. Nevada residents only pay $19.95.
The Mom Museum also offers an underground speakeasy and distillery that’s password only. Fortunately, finding the password is easy enough. All you have to do is check the Mob Museum’s official website to see what the password of the day is. The speakeasy is designed to honor the forbidden vibe of alcohol consumption during the prohibition era.
Replica Statue of Liberty at the New York-New York
The real Statue of Liberty is located in New York City. It’s one of the biggest draws for folks coming in from out of town. Snapping an iconic photo of the Statue of Liberty is proof that you actually spent time in the Big Apple. If you’re in Nevada, though, you’ll be able to snap a picture of the next best thing.
The Replica Statue of Liberty is located at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas trip. Just like the real Statue of Liberty, the replica is designed in a teal color wearing a crown while holding a torch and tablet. Depending on what angle you’re looking at the Replica Statue of Liberty, you’ll also notice the New York-New York roller coaster either next to her or behind her. The roller coaster is another interesting destination that falls in line with the Replica Statue of Liberty.
Lake Tahoe
On the border of California and Nevada, you’ll find the bliss of Lake Tahoe. The freshwater lake is recognized for its long list of ski resorts and beaches. Since the water at Lake Tahoe is crystal blue and turquoise-colored, it’s visually one of the prettiest places to see in the entire state of Nevada. If you’re curious to know whether or not you can swim in Lake Tahoe, is actually perfectly safe to do so.
The only thing that might hold you back would be the water’s frigid temperatures. Something else to worry about while visiting Lake Tahoe is staying hydrated and keeping yourself protected from the harsh UV rays of sun. There aren’t many shaded areas in Lake Tahoe, which means you have to prepare accordingly. People who properly prepare often enjoy themselves endlessly at Lake Tahoe. Another bright side? Lake Tahoe is also riddled with incredible hotels and restaurants for people from out of town.
Medieval Castle of the Excalibur Hotel & Casino
The Excalibur Hotel and Casino is a beautiful destination on the Las Vegas strip. It’s designed to look like medieval castles. In the real world, medieval castles dating back to the middle ages are located all over the globe. In Nevada, you’ll come across the Excalibur, which looks like an updated version of a medieval castle with a royal ambiance.
The hotel and casino is designed with bright white colors paired with clean-cut reds and blues. After taking in the excellence of the Excalibur Hotel and Casino from the outside, visitors can check out the inside for all of the restaurants, gambling machines, hotel rooms, and stage performances. Even though the middle ages was a long time ago, the Excalibur Hotel and Casino designed a medieval castle that represent modern luxury.
Lake Mead
Lake Mead doesn’t get as much attention as Lake Tahoe when it comes to reservoirs in America. That’s simply because Lake Mead doesn’t hold as much water as Lake Tahoe. For clarity, Lake Tahoe contains about four times as much water as Lake Mead. Still, Lake Mead is considered one of the most gorgeous national recreation areas in the entire state.
You’ll find it about 24 miles east of Las Vegas. For a while, scientists have been projecting that Lake Mead is going to dry up sometime soon. That said, it’s important to add Lake Mead to your travel itinerary for Nevada if you want to see it before it’s gone. One of the reasons for potential dry-up is the historic drought that’s plagued the state of Nevada for decades.
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is worth exploring if you appreciate the natural wonders of blooming flowers. The contractors in charge at the Bellagio know what they’re doing when it comes to putting together some of the most exquisite flower arrangements.
Based on the season we’re in, the flowers at the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will honor and respect the theme. For example, the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is full of decor that puts people into a Christmas spirit during the month of December. During Chinese New Year’s, the flower arrangements at the Bellagio are just as fabulous. It’s completely free to admire the flower arrangements at the Bellagio.
Mount Charleston
Mount Charleston is a top-notch place to go in Nevada if you’re interested in skiing and snowboarding. Folks who don’t like skiing and snowboarding can also visit mount Charleston to lay eyes on fresh fallen snow. Regardless of your wintertime interests, you’ll find exactly what they’re looking for at Mount Charleston.
The small town in Nevada boasts the highest peak in Clark County at almost 12,000 feet in the sky. When it isn’t snow season, visitors can still enjoy the hiking trails at Mount Charleston since there are endless stunning views to see. There are also tons of animals you might cross paths with including badgers, bobcats, ringtail, cats, weasels, and mountain lions.
Mirage Volcano
It’s been rumored that the Mirage Volcano will no longer be an attraction for tourists and locals to admire in Las Vegas at some point in the future. Until the volcano is fully removed, it continues to be one of the best destinations to visit in the state. When people daydream about volcanoes, they often think about the islands of Hawaii.
You don’t have to venture all the way to a tropical island to see what a volcano looks like if you’re in Nevada, though. The Mirage offers a replica volcano that doesn’t cause harm to anyone. Instead, it exists as a beautiful site to see for its visual allure. The kid-friendly attraction is ideal for parents who are visiting Nevada with their little ones.
Fremont Street Experience
The Fremont Street Experience is located in Downtown Las Vegas. There’s plenty to enjoy at the Fremont experience including free live music, tasteful places to eat, and zip lining options. One basic ticket for zip lining starts at $49. There are also other zip lining options that are a little more intense. Longer zip lining excursions start at $69 based on the length of time you’re soaring.
The Fremont Street Experience is full of street performers trying to earn cash tips based on their singing, dancing, or modeling abilities. Some of the more beloved eating establishments at Fremont Street experience include Barry’s Downtown Prime, Andiamo Italian Steakhouse, and Cadillac Mexican Grill.
Lake Las Vegas
The most divine detail about Lake Las Vegas is that a trip to Lake Las Vegas will make you forget about the glitz and glam of the Las Vegas trip. Lake Las Vegas stands alone as being a resort-style man-made lake full of wonder. There’s tons to do at Lake Las Vegas including booking a hotel room at one of the ritzy properties in the area.
There’s also a slew of delicious restaurants to dine at including the Luna Rossa, the Vino Del Lago, and the Sonrisa Grill. During warmer seasons, water sport bookings are available at Lake Las Vegas for adventurous people to enjoy. Some of the water sports on their list are paddle boarding, e-foiling, kayaking, and pontooning.
Welcome to Las Vegas Sign
Even though Las Vegas isn’t the only city worth visiting in Nevada, it’s the one city that has the most noteworthy signage. Other major cities in Nevada include Reno, Henderson, Mesquite, Elko, Laughlin, Carson City, Pahrump, and Boulder City. The Las Vegas sign is only located in Las Vegas, though.
You’ll find it near the Las Vegas strip in all of its glory. At night, the Las Vegas sign lights up as a beautiful backdrop for folks trying to snap memorable pictures to reflect on. This list of amazing destinations makes it obvious that there’s much to love about the state of Nevada. What about all the talented celebrities who grew up in the state. Click here to meet the 10 biggest movie stars from Nevada.