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Reno daytrips Part 1: Carson City and Virginia City
Aside from gambling, Reno's claim to fame is its diversity of attractions. The area has long billed itself as a place where one can ski in the morning and go kayaking that same night. Along with a vibrant nightlife and growing opportunities for shopping and fine dining, many tourists see no reason to stray from the beaten path.
 The Capitol Building in Carson City
But Reno also serves as a hub for visitors interested in getting a feel for the "real" West -- a place where mining remains a key industry, Native American colonies still flourish and a surprising number of political fortunes have been made. For now, we'll assume that you can find your own way to the slopes, so here are some classic Northern Nevada day trips that shouldn't be neglected, especially for the historically inclined. In each case, you can expect to be back at your hotel by dinnertime.
Carson City
Nevada's capital city is about 30 miles south of Reno, a straight 70 mph shot along U.S. 395. While the Governor's Mansion (606 Mountain St.) and Capitol Grounds (101 N. Carson St.) have always been modest tourist draws, the rest of the area was much less interesting (for the average visitor, at least) until recently. Recently, though a concerted redevelopment effort has created a corridor of shops and restaurants along Curry Street (which runs parallel to Carson Street/U.S. 395), an IMAX theater and other mainstream attractions. Some other high points include:
Kit Carson Trail
This historic walking path through Carson City's residential homes district showcases Carson's most notable homes. Mark Twain's home and the former set of John Wayne's last movie "The Shootist" are among the stops on the tour. Visit www.visitcarsoncity.com/tours/kitcarson_talkinghouses.php for details and to download a podcast that will help guide you.
Nevada State Museum
The Nevada State Museum (600 N. Carson St., www.nevadaculture.org), rated one of the 10 best regional museums in the West, is a dream for the Old West history buff. Just emerging from a massive remodel, the museum lets visitors tour a silver mine and see the original equipment used to stamp more than $50 million in gold and silver coins mined from the Comstock Lode. The building is the actual structure that housed the Nevada branch of the U.S. mint during the silver rush.
Nevada State Railroad Museum
(www.nsrm-friends.org, 2180 S. Carson St.) Along with its restored 19th century railroad cars and locomotives, the Nevada State Railroad Museum has added an exhibit that depicts Nevada railroads during the 20th century. It is an HO-scale (1/87th actual size) model railroad that volunteers and staff are creating at NSRM. Work began in mid-2006 and continues, according to the Web site. The Museum also has more than a dozen highly detailed, HO-scale models of Virginia & Truckee, Southern Pacific, and Nevada Copper Belt equipment, a yard full of railroad equipment and train rides on special occasions. Visit the Web site for details.
Northern Nevada Children's Museum
Let your kids run free among the 25 hands-free exhibits displayed in the Northern Nevada Children's Museum (www.cmnn.org, 813 N. Carson St.). They are sure to love the walk-in kaleidoscope and the metaField Maze, a life-sized version of the classic marble-rolling table game. There's also a cool gift shop.
Find hotels in Carson City.
Virginia City
 Step back into the Wild West in Virginia City
For folks from outside the West, Virginia City is known for one of two things: As Mark Twain's destination in his book "Roughing It" and the country's largest historic landmark, or as one of the most (allegedly) haunted towns in America. Fans of either will have plenty to see, as Virginia City still hosts centuries-old buildings, boardwalks and cemeteries. Only 23 miles from Reno and 15 from Carson City, it's a rare chance to get close to some of the more transient features of the Old West without having to trek into the middle of the desert.
Much of the fun in Virginia City comes from wandering the streets and discovering things on your own. The town is certainly small enough for most able-bodied visitors to walk it without much trouble. Addresses are of limited use on t he irregular, sloping streets, but signs directing visitors to the famous Bucket of Blood Saloon and other attractions are in no short supply. A word of advice for visitors from warmer climates: Virginia City's elevation is 6,220 feet, nearly 1,000 feet higher than Denver's, so expect it to be cold and snowy during the winter. Some key points include:
Bullette Red Light Museum
The Bullette Red Light Museum (5 C St.) showcases the history of Julia Bullette, a favored "soiled dove" -- or prostitute -- of 1860s Virginia City. A unique experience, the museum features vintage erotica and antique medical equipment.
First Presbyterian Church
The First Presbyterian Church (www.vcpresbyterianchurch.org, 196 S. C Street) is one of the only original buildings that survived the great fire of 1975. Mark Twain is thought to have helped fund the church during his time as a writer for the local newspaper in the 1860s.
Territorial Enterprise Building
The former site of Mark Twain's newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise Building (23 S. C St.) now holds a museum dedicated to him. Local lore also holds that Twain's pen name came not from his work on riverboats but from a term Virginia City miners used for running a tab at John Piper's saloon. True or not, Piper's Opera House (www.pipersoperahouse.com, 12 N. B St.) still hosts performances today.
Old Washoe Club
The Old Washoe Club (112 S. C St.) is at best a funky old social club with a storied history and at worst the site of numerous unexplained death s. Along with the Virginia City cemetery on the north side of town (don't worry, you'll see it), this is the most popular spot for ghost hunters. The documentary "Ghost Adventures" purports to show spirits flitting though the hallways here and the hosts of the film periodically return to update their findings. Whether you believe them or not, it's worth a look. It somehow manages to be creepy and hospitable at the same time.
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