Photo: Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada
I normally gravitate to islands and water-related destinations. But this spring, I’ll be heading out west to Nevada … Las Vegas, to be exact (more sandstone than sandy beach, if you will). In addition to the glitz and glamour of the strip, I’m planning a couple of desert day trips … Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, etc…etc… Read all about it right here.
In my research and perusing of press releases, I came across a really unique road trip that’s right up our alley. So, I thought I would share it. This itinerary, in all cleverness, is aimed at the globetrotting extraterrestrial who may not have been back in the (Earthly) states since first visiting Area 51 ages ago. The Defense Department says “Welcome back.”
Cue the “E.T. theme.
TravelNevada, the state’s official tourism site, has developed a southern Nevada drive specifically designed with our extraterrestrial visitors in mind. It conveniently includes my Valley of Fire interests. Time and space travelers of all ages are welcome. Even the human variety.
TravelNevada Itinerary for Extraterrestrials (ET from here on out): Las Vegas, ET Highway, Tonopah, Pahrump Loop
Day 1: Las Vegas/Valley of Fire State Park
If you only have one day, Las Vegas is a great way to see it all. From the Eiffel Tower replica at Paris Las Vegas, the streets of NYC at New York-New York, and the Egyptian pyramid at the Luxor to the Arthurian England-themed Tournament of Kings dinner show at the Excalibur and the gondolas of Venice at The Venetian, Vegas gives a glittery taste of Earth.
Time travelers homesick for Mars can head out to the red sandstone landscapes of the Valley of Fire State Park (just 50 miles from the strip). Scenes from “Total Recall” and the 1994 “Star Trek: Generations” were filmed there.
Day 2: ET Highway to Tonopah
Nevada State Route 375 was named the Extraterrestrial Highway in 1996 in honor of all things Area 51. Heading out from Las Vegas, take Interstate 15 east and U.S. 93 north to where it intersects with the eastern end of the ET Highway at Crystal Springs (about 108 miles if you left your teleportation device at home). Stock up on road trip snacks at E.T. Fresh Jerky, take a selfie at the ET Highway sign, and shop for souvenirs at the Alien Research Center.
Heading west on the ET Highway, you’ll notice dirt roads heading to Area 51. You can drive down them to take a look – but please observe all posted signs. Area 51 is within the Nevada Test and Training Range, and it is not open to human or ET public. Above all else, do NOT pass the gates into the the military base. I don’t think that needs to be explained.
Continue west on your journey to the Little A’Le’Inn restaurant and gift shop in Rachel, and a definite Facebook check-in with that one, before heading on to Tonopah. This former silver mining town has a beautifully restored Victorian-era hotel known as the Mizpah.
Other attractions in town include the Tonopah Historic Mining Park and the Central Nevada Museum. For those staying in Tonopah, don’t miss the night sky. This small community has very little light pollution, which provides a great vantage point to view this side of the galaxy.
Day 3: Tonopah to Pahrump and back to Las Vegas
Head south on U.S. to Goldfield, which is another former silver mining town from the early 20th century. On the south end of this community, to the east of the highway, is the International Car Forest of the Last Church art installation. Paintings on half-buried cars, buses, and other vehicles dot the landscape. AÂ kind of metal Stonehenge-like creation, but without the summer and winter solstices. Take a selfie or two.
Next, continue on to Beatty. From here, it’s about six miles on Nevada State Route 374 to the ghost town of Rhyolite and the Goldwell Open Air Museum. Then, back to Beatty and south on U.S. 95 to Pahrump.
Fans of “Mars Attacks!” will likely remember that Pahrump is where the Martians landed. Here, you can enjoy a Jetpack America adventure at Lake Spring Mountain, inside the Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club. Other attractions include the Mountain Falls Golf Course, the Lakeview Executive Golf Course, the Pahrump Valley Winery, and the Sanders Family Winery.
They say “life is a highway.” You may not see the Khyber Pass or Vancouver’s lights from this highway, but it’s worth the journey. Intergalactic or not, alien life forms couldn’t agree more.
For more Nevada travel inspiration, please visit TravelNevada.com or check out its Instagram feed for even more Nevada travel ideas. Tell ’em ET sent you.
Photo: TravelNevada
