The 43 Best Things to Do in Nevada

Three years ago, I met a boy, moved to Nevada, and fell in love with the Battleborn State. I’ve crossed Nevada six times, finding so much more than I ever expected — having previously only pictured the desert or Las Vegas when imagining what the state was like.

In reality, it is more mountainous than any other state in the lower 48, has more ghost towns than live towns, and is home to some of the funkiest art around. As a lover of the weird and beautiful, I’m smitten.

Trust me when I say you can spend years here and barely scratch the surface — but it’s worth a try, right? These are 43 awesome things to do in Nevada, beginning from north to south:

43. Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park

I’m convinced, Lake Tahoe must be the most beautiful, clearest lake in the world. While that is subjective, what’s undeniable is this is the largest alpine lake in North America, stretching more than 20 miles from tip to tip and straddling two states. That said, I am particular to the Nevada side for its amazing hiking and beaches. One of the most popular beaches in the state park is Sand Harbor, thanks to its Caribbean blues, though there are many areas to enjoy all along the shore of the lake.

Here are my favorite things to do in Lake Tahoe in the summer.

42. Mount Rose Wilderness

Mount Rose is one of the most newly designated wilderness areas and the closest part of the Tahoe region to Reno. I love hiking Mount Rose itself for incredible views of both the lake and the city, but it’s enjoyable at any time of year with sledding during the winter and hiking and mountain biking options in the summer on the Tahoe Rim Trail, among others in the area.

41. Tahoe Skiing

Here are more of my favorite things to do in the winter in Lake Tahoe.

40. Stateline

39. Reno’s Truckee River Walk