When the weather warms up, so does the Silver State’s social calendar. Spring break and summer vacation draw hundreds of thousands of travelers to neon cities and old Western towns for celebrations of art, nature, cuisine, and culture, and a whole lot more. With a little careful planning and a lot of wanderlust, you’ll come face-to-face with the heart of Nevada.
Here are our top must-see, must-do, and must-taste experiences for your spring/summer visit.
Wild Western Flavors
They say one of the best ways to get to know someone is over a cold drink. That makes Boulder City Beerfest the perfect introduction to Nevada’s hopping craft beer scene. Every March, more than 35 breweries and 2,000 guests gather in Boulder City’s Wilbur Square Park to toast, taste, and talk
about their favorite ales and lagers. Kids and pets are welcome (and so are overnight stays).
Stay Here: Boulder Dam Hotel | 1305 Arizona Street, Boulder City, NV 89005
Looking for something with a little more sustenance? Pack your appetite for the Virginia City Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry. Food festival meets St. Patrick’s Day in this city-wide celebration of grilled, fried, smoked, and baked-every-which-way bull bollocks. Sample them all, then cast your vote for the best of the best. But whatever you do, be sure to stick around for the saloon crawl and parade.
Stay Here: Gold Hill Hotel & Saloon | 1540 Main Street, Virginia City, NV 89440
The Greatest Outdoors
Nevada is full of delightful contradictions you won’t find anywhere else. For example, it’s home to one of the brightest cities and some of the darkest skies in the world. Celebrate International Dark Sky Week 2024 by stargazing in Silver State parks and remote natural places (or visit in September for the Great Basin Astronomy Festival). And there’s no better way to experience them than camping on Nevada’s 60 million acres of public lands.
Stay Here: Nevada’s Scenic Campgrounds
The Fears, Tears, and Beer Mountain Bike Enduro in Ely is the longest-running enduro bike race in the U.S. and the ultimate feel-good challenge. Pedal your way across desert trails and mountaintops to benefit the Great Basin Trails Alliance, then cut loose at the after-party and award ceremony back at the Bristlecone Convention Center. (Racers eat free, of course.)
Stay Here: Hotel Nevada & Gambling Lounge | 501 Aultman Street, Ely, NV 89301
Off-Beat Music Acts
With so much space to simply be, it’s no wonder the Silver State is home to the Schellraiser Music Fest. This three-day lineup lets nature set the stage with a Steptoe Valley backdrop in middle-of-everywhere McGill. Schellraiser draws musicians and acts from all over the country, so why not make a weekend out of it and camp alongside the talent?
If you’re looking for an excuse to wear that cowboy hat you packed, there’s a ticket to Night in the Country with your name on it. A pure country-flavored music festival in Yerington, this cowboy campground welcomes more than 30,000 guests every year. Some call it Burning Man’s country-music cousin. No matter what you call it, it’s always a good time.
Only in Nevada
Ever wondered what it was like to eke out a living in the early days of Nevada’s silver rush? Get a taste of the Wild West at Jim Butler Days & Nevada State Mining Championships in Tonopah, a full week of parades, whiskey tasting, arm wrestling contests, and of course, a legendary mining competition that pits men and women against Mother Nature.
Stay Here: Belvada Hotel | 101 South Main Street, Tonopah, NV 89049
Mining wasn’t the only way to make ends meet back then. If horse-riding and ranching is more your speed, get along to the Reno Rodeo: the “Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West.” The Biggest Little City in the World plays host to 10 days of non-stop bull riding, barrel racing, steer decorating, and dozens
more Western ways of the cowboy. Bring the whole family along for the midway carnival and food trucks.
Stay Here: Whitney Peak Hotel | 255 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89501
Get a Little Out There
The only way to experience all these adventures? Take the road less traveled. Camp under the darkest skies in the lower 48. Conquer your limits on the Fears, Tears, and Beer Mountain Bike Enduro. Travel back in time at Jim Butler Days and the Nevada State Mining Championships. (Just don’t forget to pack your pickaxe.)
Start planning your trip today and find the perfect headquarters for your next adventure. Just remember: there’s always more to discover when you take the long way around. Road trip, anyone?
