Nevada, United States: Towns to Explore on Foot

Nevada is a western US state of snowy mountain ranges, wide desert valleys, mining towns, protected landscapes and famous entertainment centres. The best things to do in Nevada range from exploring Las Vegas and Reno to discovering the state’s mining history and the open country of the Great Basin. Neywo offers free audio guides for 4 cities in Nevada, with 80 narrated places in total and 5 walking tours.

What to see and do in Nevada

Nevada is much more than one uniform desert. Almost all of the state belongs to the Basin and Range Province, where north–south mountain ranges alternate with long valleys. Many of these valleys are endorheic, meaning their water does not reach the sea. The result is a landscape of great distances, dry basins and high ranges where winter snow can remain on the summits.

Explore Nevada’s mountain and desert landscapes

Nevada is the driest state in the United States, but its landscapes are varied. The Great Basin covers much of the north, with hot summers and cold winters. Across the state, biotic zones range from alpine and sub-alpine terrain to ponderosa pine, pinion-juniper, sagebrush and creosotebush.

The state’s name comes from Spanish and means “snowy” or “snow-covered”, referring to the mountains that hold snow in winter. The landscape also explains another nickname: the Sagebrush State. Protected areas include Great Basin National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Black Rock Desert conservation area. Dozens of designated wilderness areas protect millions of acres of open country.

Follow the story of silver and mining

Nevada’s history is closely connected with mineral discoveries. Indigenous communities including the Paiute, Shoshone and Washoe had long lived across the region before European arrival. The land later passed from New Spain to Mexico and then to the United States after the Mexican-American War.

The discovery of silver at the Comstock Lode in 1859 brought a rush of newcomers. The boom helped create Nevada Territory from western Utah Territory, and Nevada became a state during the Civil War. That origin gave it another enduring nickname: the Battle Born State.

Silver remains central to Nevada’s story, although gold is now the state’s most important mineral by value. Mining continues to be a substantial part of the economy, particularly away from the major metropolitan areas.

Visit Las Vegas

Las Vegas is Nevada’s largest city and one of the state’s main tourist destinations. Legalized gambling, together with lenient marriage and divorce laws, shaped Nevada’s modern identity during the twentieth century. Tourism is now the state’s largest employer, and resort areas such as Las Vegas draw visitors from across the United States and around the world.

The city’s attractions extend beyond casinos. Neywo’s Las Vegas audio guide includes 19 narrated places, among them the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, the Neon Museum, the Las Vegas Post Office and Courthouse, and the Las Vegas Natural History Museum.

Discover Reno and northern Nevada

Reno is another major centre for visitors and one of the cities where Neywo provides an audio guide. Its 46 narrated places include the National Automobile Museum, Nevada Museum of Art, Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum and Saint Thomas Aquinas Cathedral.

Northern Nevada combines tourism with ranching, mining and newer technology industries. Around Reno and Sparks, large data centres have been built as technology companies move from California. The wider region also belongs to a state economy that includes solar energy, agriculture and the resources beneath the ground.

Step into Nevada’s smaller towns

The best towns to visit in Nevada include places that reveal a different side of the state’s history. Boulder City has 2 narrated places on Neywo, including the Nevada Southern Railroad Museum and Boulder City Historic District.

Rhyolite has 13 narrated places. Its audio guide includes the Central Nevada Museum, Goldwell Open Air Museum, Lakihegyi Nagy Adótorony 314m and Nevada. These places connect the region’s present-day visitor experience with its history of mining settlements and open desert landscapes.

Understand Nevada’s distinctive laws and culture

Nevada’s public character was shaped by laws that differed from those of many other states. Gambling was common in early mining towns, was later outlawed during a nationwide anti-gambling campaign and was eventually legalized again. The change helped turn Nevada into a major destination for visitors.

The state also developed a reputation as a divorce haven because of its laws before no-fault divorce became more widespread. Bars can remain open around the clock, with no last call. Nevada’s statewide ballots also include an option called “None of These Candidates”, added in 1975.

Nevada’s economy today brings together tourism and entertainment, mining, cattle ranching, agriculture, technology and solar energy. Hay, alfalfa, onions and potatoes are among its agricultural outputs, while cattle ranching remains important in rural areas. Nearly three quarters of Nevadans live in Clark County, home to the Las Vegas and Paradise metropolitan area. Carson City is the state capital.

Explore Nevada with Neywo

Neywo has free audio guides for 4 cities in Nevada, covering 80 narrated places in total and 5 walking tours. Narration is available in 11 languages.

Download the app and explore at your own pace. Each story plays as you reach the place, telling you what you are seeing when you arrive. There is no group and no schedule, so you can discover Nevada independently while the app guides you through its cities and landmarks.