Stargazing haven

Another reason to visit is for its dark sky reserves, which are protected areas offering some of the best stargazing in the whole world thanks to the absence of light pollution. The state is even home to the ‘Starry-est Route in America’ – the Park to Park in the Dark route, which takes you from Death Valley to Great Basin via some of the least light-polluted spaces found in small towns in the USA. This is a truly unique experience – you’ll be without a phone signal and far from other people as you soak in the electrifying and humbling sight of thousands of stars.

Otherworldly attractions

Dotted around the state you’ll find quirky pit stops and overnighters. One not to be missed is the extra-terrestrial attractions surrounding Area 51, an active US military base. Most visitors start at the Alien Research Center, where you can chat to locals about ‘UFOlogy’ and treat yourselves to one-off souvenirs before driving along Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway. This 470-mile loop from Las Vegas takes you along wide-open roads through an otherworldly wilderness punctuated by alien-themed landmarks such as the Black Mailbox and Little A’Le’Inn, where you can hear locals’ tales over the likes of Alien Beers and Saucer Burgers.

Nevada has more than 600 ghost towns too – more than its actual populated cities and communities! After the silver and gold rushes of the 1860s were over, mining camps and boomtowns were left abandoned and are now both fun and educational places to explore. Among them is one of the most-photographed places in Nevada, Rhyolite Ghost Town within a volcanic rock canyon on the edge of Death Valley, with the eerie remains of its bank, general store, and train depot – fascinating stuff.