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I was just in Northern Nevada and I had the chance to experience some of the best things the area offers. I’ve made a list of my top seven spots to explore in Northern Nevada, and I highly recommend that you do!

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

Tour Reno

No matter the season, Reno is a great place to stay if you are going to be heading to Lake Tahoe or up the mountain for skiing because its only 45 minutes from them. The ski hill is actually on the way to lake! While in Reno you should check out the Burning Man Arts which is an interactive artistic experience which I really enjoyed. Afterward I highly suggest enjoy a calorie-dense doughnut ice cream sandwich from Simple Ice Cream Sandwiches— which in my humble opinion was an art in and of itself. Reno offers plenty of photo ops, making it an Instagram dream. 

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

Rock Climb at Whitney Peak Hotel

While in Reno you should head to the Whitney Peak Hotel and go rock climbing.  Rain or shine, the venue offers both indoor and outdoor rock climbing walls that are a treat for the gram and the glutes! We were taught by professionals how to properly climb the walls and I have a good feeling I’ll be adding rock climbing to my fitness repertoire. Even though I hang out of helicopters every chance that I get, there was something a little knee knocking about the climb! It was absolutely exhilarating to make it to the top, though. 

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

Kayak at North Lake Tahoe

North Lake Tahoe is breathtaking and a MUST SEE if you visit Northern Nevada. I really enjoyed the kayaking excursion. Though the water was extremely cold, it was also crystal clear and made for some beautiful shots and stunning views. I certainly wasn’t complaining about the water temperatures in that hot Nevada sun either. 

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

Fun Fact: Lake Tahoe is ‎1,645 ft (501 m) deep, and you can fit the whole Empire State Building in the lake without it showing.

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

This is Alison who I was so lucky to meet on this trip. She is also from Vancouver and writes for Explore magazine.

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

Our guide Tucker, took us around and showed us a couple of the beaches all the while sharing some history of the lake. He also mentioned that they do a 5-day camping and kayaking tour around the whole lake upon request and to me that sounds amazing. I for sure want to go back and do that. Who’s with me?! This is on my list for the spots to explore in Northern Nevada next time I visit.

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

Hike Tunnel Creek Trail

The Tunnel Creek Trail hike is pretty short if you only want to get to Monkey Rock. It took about 20 minutes in total. The path is pretty easy for any level of hiker. It’s primarily dirt and up hill but the view at the top of the lake is worth the effort. You get to see Lake Tahoe from above and you also get to see this really cool rock (Monkey Rock) that is shaped like a monkey head. Hence the name! 

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

Tour Virginia City

Virginia City feels like traveling back in time to a quaint little mining town, lined with old salons and cute little shops. Make time for the mining tour! They take you into an old mine to show you the conditions of the workers and it’s beyond cool. Literally and figuratively. It was super cold down there….so dress warm, friends.

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

Another fun thing you can do is take the V&T (Virginia & Truckee) Railroad train ride. It is a great way to see the area (and maybe some wild horses if you are lucky). If you are a history buff you will love to hear about the history of the area. The final thing I suggest is going into one of the dress up stores and taking old time photos! We all dressed up and had a blast.

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

Wild Horse Tour in Carson City

The Wild Horse Tour in Carson City was a highlight for me. We were taken to the middle of nowhere in the mountains where we met at least 70 wild horses. They are truly magical animals and seeing them wild and free was beyond perfect and such a great way to see nature. If you are lucky you might be able to see some cute owls, too. If you are a horse lover, this is one of the spots to explore in Northern Nevada that you should not miss.

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

Hike the Carson Valley Trail System

The Carson Valley Trail system has many, many trails to hike and explore! The Discovery Trail leads to the Sierra Canyon Trail, which is 10 miles. Then that leads to the Tahoe Rim Trail. We only had time to do the Discovery Trail which was about 6 miles total. We hiked until the first waterfall which is small but still very beautiful. The switch back trail is really well maintained making it an enjoyably easy task. You can also bike the trails, as well. I highly recommend this as one of the top spots to explore in Northern Nevada.

Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.
Blogger Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella.com shares about her trip to Northern Nevada and what to see and do while there. It includes Lake Tahoe, Reno, Carson City and Virginia City, too.

Thanks for stopping by! I’d love to hear if you have ever been to Northern Nevada. What spots to explore in Northern Nevada should I add to this list?

This Northern Nevada blog post about spots to explore in Northern Nevada is brought you in collaboration with Travel Nevada. Thank you for supporting the destinations that support me.  

Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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