Virginia City, Nevada

If you want to experience the saloon atmosphere of an authentically old western small town, this is the best I have seen. It is one of the oldest municipalities in Nevada, and one of the most famous mining towns in the west due to the enormous wealth extracted from the Comstock Lode silver mine. This small town could be considered the birthplace of Mark Twain, as it was here in 1863 that writer Samuel Clemens, then a reporter on the local Territorial Enterprise newspaper, first used his famous pen name. The town is one of the nation's larger National Historic Landmarks and as a result draws over 2 million visitors each year. The Virginia and Truckee Railroad conducts a variety of excursion rides on 1800s passenger cars and steam locomotives. Virginia City is located on Route 342, about 15 miles northeast of Carson City. EARNS OUR HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.