Talley Your Adventure – The Blog

Believe it or not, I actually lived for an entire year in the state of Nevada when I was first working for the Pacific West Regional Office of the National Park Service. While I had been hired remotely, it was remotely within the region. Page, Arizona was unfortunately just outside that range, so I moved to Mesquite, Nevada! Besides living in Mesquite, we’ve also visited Las Vegas to run a 5K, and visiting state parks like Red Rocks and national parks such as Great Basin. Living in Mesquite was like living in a smaller Vegas – a couple casinos, hotels, and restaurants (plus a golf course!) crossed with a large community like Phoenix. The suburban sprawl was very small and seemed limited based on the surrounding desert area. One of the best views was just outside that “town circle” in the outskirts, where the streetlights are on sensors, the crowds are limited, and you usually see some form of desert wildlife. At the time I lived in Mesquite, I was also training for a rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon and needed an area that had the same desert atmosphere for training as well as longer stretches of land. The Mesquite Regional Park Trailhead was the best place for this as part of a multi trail ring that stretched around the city. It was a very quiet city and, for the record, completely safe. If you are on the way (or leaving) Vegas and need a town to stop – think of Mesquite!

Let me start off by saying that if you plan to drive in Nevada, be prepared for long stretches of open space that seem to go forever yet end with a huge plateau that seems to be right in front of you. Proportions and distances go out the literal window when trying to explain the vast land that encompasses Nevada. Take precautions when crossing these vast lands! Pack extra water and bring salty snacks. It isn’t uncommon to see signs during the summer months that instruct you to keep your AC usage in your vehicle at a minimum if you are crossing through the desert parts of the state. It is extremely difficult for your engine to cool 125-degree warm air to the 65 degrees you find comfortable! Clinton and I have spent many trips with the windows rolled down and no AC on for as long as we can handle it, and then keeping the AC low when putting it back on. Some of the best views and experiences I’ve had was driving around beautiful Nevada. With that being said, driving fatigue is real! Make sure you trade off with a friend if you plan to drive for many hours in a day and remember that heat can affect you with a long drive.

Okay, so you’ve figured out how to safely drive and navigate through Nevada – where else should you go? Keeping around the Mesquite / Las Vegas area, you could head out to Valley of Fire State Park to see amazing red rocks in very creepy formations. I recommend driving closer to either sunrise or sunset for that extra spine-tingling feeling! When we drove through, we had such a great time that we ended up camping close by – which is a great way to see dark skies. For National Parks, head further north and visit Great Basin. This is truly the place to visit for dark skies, as they not only have a couple dark sky programs in the park they are also recognized as an International Dark Sky Park. There are only a handful of parks across the country that are allowed this distinction, and it shows with the care and dedication they take towards giving you that education! Rangers led a wide variety of topics, from ancient star gazing techniques to historical observations that led to mythological dedications today. I always seem to learn a lot when visiting Great Basin National Park!

A blog post about Nevada would not be complete without mentioning Las Vegas, and of course we saved the best for last! Clinton and I were able to stay for a couple days with friends in Vegas so that I could run a 5K and she could run the half-marathon. This was the Rock n’ Roll 5K and while the race itself was pretty expensive, I did think they came all out to support the run – even in the end when it poured freezing rain! They had a stretch-a-thon with loud music and exciting presenters before, during, and after the race. During the race, there were bands and performers every three miles (or in my case, every mile) encouraging you towards that finish line. I had a great time though it was a completely miserable race itself (did I mention it was freezing rain!) but it was also cool running through old Vegas. My friend who ran the half-marathon ran down the main strip, which they closed specifically for the race! That was pretty cool. Walking around the main strip after was an experience in itself. I’ll say this – don’t take anything from anyone you aren’t willing to pay for on the spot. While it felt like a relatively safe city, I wouldn’t keep your guard down when walking around and I absolutely would not wear your wealth around unless you want to be questioned or possibly targeted. We stayed at the MGM Park and had an excellent time – we probably didn’t even need to leave the hotel! You can usually see a performance such as Cirque du Solei or a comedy act within your hotel. Clinton and I are not into gambling, so we did not spend even a cent at any machine or casino but if that is your thing, of course you have plenty of opportunity in Vegas!

One of the last things about Nevada, I will leave you with is the amazing wildlife that you can find in abundance in the desert. I saw my first scorpion in my apartment while living in Mesquite (don’t worry, I put him in a cup and put him outside) and I will say that the insects seem much larger than I remember them in neighboring Arizona…but all of that is still worth a trip in the dark to see the beautiful sky! I’ve never seen darker skies across the nation beyond the beauty of Nevada. There are tons of ranches across Nevada that are also considered open land. We’ve camped in many of these types of places. Just remember to read the signs so you know where and when you are able to be in those areas and respect the land! There is a reason that they ask you to pack it in and out or not to have fire rings. If the animal is bright, I usually avoid it! There are snakes and lizards and all types of reptiles in the desert that are not your friend but are great to view at a distance. Have a great time out there!

If you want to visit Nevada, contact us to ask how you can get the best, personalized experience for YOU!