All United States Nevada

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Nevada

266 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Nevada

Updated October 24, 2024

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Alamo
  2. Austin
  3. Baker
  4. Beatty
  5. Boulder City
  6. Bunkerville
  7. Carson City
  8. Clark County
  9. Dayton
  10. Denio
  11. Elko
  12. Ely
  13. Eureka
  14. Fallon
  15. Gerlach
  16. Goldfield
  17. Henderson
  18. Hiko
  19. Incline Village
  20. Las Vegas
  21. Laughlin
  22. Nelson
  23. Nixon
  24. Nye
  25. Nye County
  26. Panaca
  27. Pioche
  28. Reno
  29. Searchlight
  30. Sparks
  31. Tonopah
  32. Virginia City
  33. Washoe County
  34. Wells
  35. White Pine County
  36. Winnemucca
  37. Yerington

Unusual Attractions in Nevada

See All 266 Things To Do in Nevada

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Nevada

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

9 Places Near Las Vegas For a Different Kind of Tailgate

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While Las Vegas is known for its glitzy neon signs, buzzing clubs and nightlife, and over-the-top casinos, the region itself is also home to some wondrous bars and eateries that lie well beyond the crowded Strip. This Super Bowl season, it’s time to engage in a new type of tailgate. From a stripmall world of tiki to a downhome diner where daily specials are part of the allure, here are 9 places that offer a culinary escape from the bright lights of Nevada’s most iconic city.

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Explore Nevada

Geology 36
Travelnevada 30
Mines 21
Nature 20
Ghost Towns 19
Museums 19
Water 16
History & Culture 16

Nevada Leaderboard

Recent Nevada Activity

Stories About Nevada

You don't have to be an ultra-athlete to recreate this gold rush history.

Follow the Footsteps of an Incredible Mailman From the Gold Rush Era

Hikers recreate Snowshoe Thompson's 100-mile route through the mountains by walking, running, and even skiing.
by Erika Mailman
Nevada’s Basque community began with sheepherders, who settled here in the late 19th century.

Searching for Nevada’s Most Off-Beat Places and People

You haven’t really explored the Silver State until you’ve gone off the Las Vegas Strip.
Sponsored by Travel Nevada

Podcast: Nevada Week: The Martin

Feast like a sheepherder at a Basque boarding house turned restaurant.
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Podcast: Nevada Week: Molossia

An 11-acre micronation in the Nevada desert with its own rules and regulations.
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A postcard from 1945 illustrates numerous delights to be found in a mid-century Nevada, but offers no advice on pronunciation.

Why Do Nevadans Pronounce Their State's Name So Strangely?

How you say it certainly says something about who you are.
by Dan Nosowitz
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

The Atlas Obscura Crossword: Area 51

by AO Puzzles

Area 51, Aliens, and the Truth (It's Out There)

A national security historian explains what's really going on at the infamous Nevada site.
by Christopher Nichols
Nevada State Route 375 was officially designated as the Extraterrestial Highway in a nod to rumors of otherworldly activity, but the desert road offers plenty of more grounded attractions.

Nevada's Extraterrestrial Highway Is Full of Earthly Wonders, Too

Explore a catastrophic space rock strike, unique flora and fauna, and millennia-old rock art on this famous stretch of desert road.
by Matthew Malinowski

Lists Featuring Nevada

Courtyard monument.
Flamingos on Flamingo Island
The High Roller

The 11 Most Unusual Places to Visit Near the Las Vegas Strip

11

Including Bugsy Siegel Monument , Flamingo Habitat, and High Roller

The Mizpah Hotel
Goldfield Hotel main entrance on Columbia Street in 1976
The old part of the Gold Hill Hotel, seen from the street.

The Spirited Histories of Nevada’s Most Haunted Hotels

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4

Including Clown Motel, The Mizpah Hotel, and Goldfield Hotel

Pioneer Saloon
The exterior of the saloon.
View down Main Street in Midas
The Middlegate Station roadhouse in Nevada has existed since the Pony Express era

Sagebrush Saloons: The Ultimate Guide to Nevada’s Most Storied Watering Holes

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6

Including Pioneer Saloon, Santa Fe Saloon, and Midas Ghost Town Saloon

Black Fire Opal from the Virgin Valley
Techatticup Mine.
Diana's Punch Bowl. Note vehicle for scale.
Fly Geyser Aerial Photo

10 Places to Experience Nevada’s Extraordinary Geological Gems

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10

Including Royal Peacock Black Fire Opal Mine, Techatticup Mine, and Diana's Punch Bowl

Winter Solstice 2019
The Spiral Jetty
City: under construction - http://raisethestakeseditions.com/basin-and-range/
Double Negative's north trench

A Tour of Spectacular 1970s Art Made From the Landscape Itself

Eight places to witness the incredible ambition of the Southwest land art movement.

8

Including Sun Tunnels, The Spiral Jetty, and Complex City

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