12 Surprising Things You Never Thought About Doing In Nevada

Nevada is a great state, full of cool things to do. Everyone knows you can see awesome shows, visit ghost towns and dine at some of the best restaurants in the country, but our state also has some unique offerings. Here are 12 things you might not know you can do in Nevada:

1. Go snowshoeing.

Much of nevada is balmy and warm during the winter, but you can visit Mt. Charleston, where you’ll find plenty of snowshoeing trails. If the trail is packed down enough, you can hike in your boots!

2. Go sledding on a sand dune.

Who needs snow when you can go sledding on a sand dune? Turns out, you don’t even need a sled (though it’s faster and more fun when you have one.)

3. Visit a place where old signs go to die.

The Neon Museum in Las Vegas also features the Neon Boneyard, a cool area full of old, neon signs. Check them out, and get a good dose of Las Vegas history.

4. Worship at the International Car Forest of the Last Church.

More than 40 cars, trucks and other vehicles, standing on end in the sand. It’s weird...but also pretty cool.

5. Spend the day playing pinball.

Check out the Pinball Hall of Fame, with more than 10,000 square feet, full of vintage pinball machines. And, you can play all of them! Most are 25 cents (post 1990 machines cost 50 cents). The money goes is donated to nonprofit organizations.

6. Ride through Las Vegas on a blinking bike.

Bring your bike to Burning Man, dress it up with a bunch of lights and ride down the strip for fun.

7. Scuba dive.

So, we don’t have an ocean. We still have Lake Mead, which is a pretty cool place to scuba dive, and it’s rated as one of the top freshwater lakes in the country for scuba.

8. Drink at a haunted saloon.

Sure, you can get a drink at thousands of bars, clubs and casinos all across the state...but have you ever had a beer at Nevada’s oldest Saloon? Pioneer Saloon, in Goodsprings, opened for business more than 100 years ago. A man was shot to death inside the saloon (the bullet holes remain in the wall!) and he’s said to haunt the place.

9. Play Chickenshit Bingo.

Play this fun, redneck game at Pioneer Saloon.

10. Snuggle a monkey.

Book a private tour at Roos-N-More, where you can pet a llama, snuggle with a monkey and feed a zebra. (746 Snowden Ranch Road, Moapa)

11. See a man-made geyser in the middle of the desert.

Fly Geyser is a man-made geyser in Wasahoe County. It was created when a company was drilling for geothermal wells in the area. When the drill was found unsuitable, the hole was capped off, but the cap failed. Several years of mineral accumulation resulted in a mound. The geyser is continual, often reaching 5 feet high.

12. Visit another country.

The Republic of Molossia is located in the middle of Nevada. It’s a tiny self-declared country of only one acre. You can take a tour by contacting the President, Kevin Baugh, in advance. Be prepared to present your passport and pay with pocket change for the tour.

Have you found things to do in Nevada that you didn't expect?