Nevada is nicknamed the “Silver State” because of its past in large silver mines and silver industry. However, the state is known internationally for its adult theme park, Las Vegas. The capital of Nevada is Carson City and the largest city is Las Vegas. McCarran International Airport is the gateway for international and national visitors to the state.
Las Vegas is known for its easy marriage and divorce methods, its gambling and entertainment. Also, half of the counties allow legalized prostitution.
The name of the state comes from Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges. The Spanish translation for Sierra “Nevada” is “snow-covered” mountains. Majority of the northern part of the state is in the Great Basin Desert which has hot summers and cold winters. Once in a while, it experiences Arizona Monsoons in June and July. Daytime temperatures may reach as high as 115°F in summer and nighttime winter temperatures may dip down to 10°F.
Nevada offers us a wide variety of experiences including hiking in the mountains, driving through the desert, visiting the remote countryside and enjoying the beautiful crystal waters of Lake Tahoe. Las Vegas is the adult theme park capital of the world. It is party time all year in the gambling capital of the world. There is something here for the whole family including roller coasters, circus acts, Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, etc. There is very little that is illegal in Las Vegas.
The Cirque De Soleil (3600 Las Vegas Blvd – NV 89109) has been entertaining people all over the world for many years and they are ever present in Las Vegas. Clowning antics, excellent contortionists, flexible acrobats and trapeze artists and the usual melee of fun and frolic make up the latest Cirque De Soleil offering “O”. The “O” comes from H2O, the symbol of water in which most of these circus acts are performed. With soulful music, magnificent stage settings and costumes, this show provides hours of fun for the adults and children alike.
There are many hotels and resorts which offer thousands of video gaming machines, food, drinks and casinos galore. Many of these venues on the famous “Strip” include animal attractions, night clubs, circuses, comedy acts, music concerts, Broadway style plays, water attractions, roller coasters, stratosphere tower, race car joints, cafes, restaurants, diners, family all you can eat buffets and many other attractions that boggle our mind.
For those who would like to get out of the glitz and glamour and enjoy a day in more natural surroundings, there is the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (601 Nevada Highway – NV 89005) where visitors can enjoy boating, hiking, fishing, camping, picnicking and many other activities.
The Hoover dam (US Hwy 93) is situated near the Arizona/ Nevada border and was one of the few structures that were built during the Depression when thousands of families came to the Black Canyon area to find a job. This job was to build the largest dam possible to tame the mighty Colorado River. This dam is a National Historic Landmark and has been rated as one of America’s seven Civil Engineering wonders.
