Today you will continue for an hour via US50 W on the Loneliest Road in America. Eureka, Nevada prides itself as being “The Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road,” is a modest, yet charming town. While the township is small in size, there are endlessly interesting things to do and see, as Eureka is perceived by many as one the American West’s best-preserved mining communities. Although nearly impossible to miss when passing through town, be sure to add the Eureka Opera House to your list of things to see. The original Opera House – which once played host to plays, masquerade balls, operas and more – recently underwent renovations, and is an exemplary memento of the town’s fascinating history. Today you will drive an hour via US-50 W to Austin Nevada. You will break away from the ordinary and treat yourself to some of the treasures that Austin Nevada has to offer. Founded during a silver rush in the 1860s, Austin stands as testament to “the way it was.” On Main Street, there are several antique and gem shops where visitors can browse
jewelry made from locally mined turquoise and silver. Another Austin gem is the privately owned St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, the oldest Catholic church in Nevada. The church is in the process of extensive restoration with plans to reopen as a cultural center that will offer artist workshops and art shows, historic presentations, tours and much more. For more information about St. Augustine’s, ask merchants in the Main Street shops. Nevada offers many hot spring options, on your way from Eureka to Austin you can take a detour to Spencer Hot Spring (59 miles) via US-50 W from Eureka. Built in 1857, Middlegate is a former Overland Stagecoach stop on the fabled Pony Express route through the Nevada desert. When Fredda Stevenson bought it in 1984, she began to restore the historic building to its original splendor. Today, about 15 people live here year-round. There’s a 10-room motel onsite, and in the main building is a bar and restaurant serving Nevada’s best Monster hamburgers. While you’re in Middlegate, be sure also to check out the legendary Shoe Tree, a massive cottonwood, just a few minutes east along Highway 50, with thousands of shoes dangling from its branches. Damn good hamburgers are one thing, but Middlegate is essential for practical purposes as well: The roadhouse has the only gas pump for 50 miles on either side. People are always rolling through on fumes, grateful for this oasis in the desert. International travelers in particular make use of these pumps, often noting that Nevada alone is three times the size of their entire country.
Continue your 45 minute drive on US-50 W to Fallon, Nevada. Fallon, Nevada is a small town with big smiles. Often referred to as “The Oasis of Nevada,” thanks to the region’s formerly high volume of water, the area is a wonderful host to boundless outdoor activities. On your drive from Middlegate
to Fallon Motorsport enthusiasts will be blown away with one trip out to the mysterious Sand Mountain State Recreation Area, just outside of town. As one of the few singing sand dunes in the world, this monstrous, two-mile long, 600 foot tall sand dune is one of the great places in Nevada to load up
your ATVs and dune buggies for an unforgettable afternoon. Just as popular is the beloved locally owned and operated Lattin Farms, where visitors pick their own fruits and veggies, take their pick of mouthwatering homemade jams and pies and even take a spin on the “Cow Train,” for a leisurely tour
of the farm. Best yet, every fall, one of the leading maze designers in the world gets to work on a threeacre, life-size corn maze intended to puzzle adults and children alike. A definite must during Nevada’s comfortable autumn months! Fallon is also home to Churchill Vineyards and Frey Ranch Distillery, who welcome tours and free tastings on the weekend.
Stroll these unsuspectingly lush grounds, and get the inside scoop on one of the nation’s only true Grain-to-Glass operations. Continue for 75 min to Carson City and combine history & cuisine. Nestled in the northwestern part of the state, just a short jaunt from both Lake Tahoe and Reno, is Carson City, Nevada’s proud state capital. The city, built on the cornerstones of mining, logging and the mighty Virginia & Truckee Railroad, was named for frontiersman Christopher “Kit” Carson, who scouted the area for John C. Fremont in the mid 1840s. And while the city has all the modern amenities for a state capital could hope for, its roots are evident nearly everywhere you look. Carson City does a fine job of melding shopping, dining, cultureand nightlife while still maintaining its old-fashioned charm. In the capital of Nevada, you can follow in the footsteps of those who made state-shaping history while charting your own path to endless adventure. Sightsee Silver State origin stories at the Nevada State Capitol and along the Kit Carson Trail in the West Side Historic District, or seek a cultural connection at Brewery Arts Center and Carson City’s two Nevada State Museums. Hikers, bikers, golfers, anglers, and both water and winter sports enthusiasts flock to this hub of outdoor recreation, too, and the Carson City Triathlon – consisting of an eclectic food joint, a laid back brewery, and a historic hot springs site. Recommended activity: walk the capital grounds and explore the local scenery of Downtown.