Virginia City
 

Has anyone been to Virginia City - Carson City - what is there to do there - places to eat etc?

Carson City isn't really much of a destination - there is the State Capitol, a mining museum, some victorian houses, that sort of thing. But for tourists it is really sort of a crossroads between Reno/Virginia City and south lake Tahoe.

Virginia City is an interesting combination of really touristy schlock, and really interesting/authentic historical sites.

There are plenty of t-shirt shops and penny slot machines, but also the Piper Opera House, beautiful mansions of Comstock Lode barons, a great 19th century cemetary, cjurches, a steam train to the tiny hamlet of Gold Hill. In fact taking the excursion train to Gold Hill and having lunch at the hotel before heading back into VA City would probably be the best place to eat.

The views from any of the bars/shops/ sidewalks along VA City's main street out across the vast desert basin to the east are really amazing.

Carson City is the capital of Nevada. The state museum in very interesting. Lots of exhibits about the native americans that originated here..the best basket weavers in the world..a train museum. Why don't you google the chamber of commerce or the tourist board? Virginia City again, if you get past the tacky stuff, is incredibly interesting. They took TONS of silver out of there in the 1800's. 25,000 people used to live there. The silver financed the building of San Francisco..names like Stanford, Sutro, all famouse SF names and connect back to Virginia City. The silver was also used to finance the Union Army during the Civil War. It is a very fun and interesting place to spend a day. Just down the hill toward Carson City is Gold Hill. The hotel there has an excellent restaurant but I'm sorry I don't know the hours it's open. There is a train that was refurbished and runs from VC to Gold Hill..there is talk of having it go all the way into Carson City at some point, but that hasn't happened yet. Again, check with the tourist board..depending when you go there is fun stuff that goes on up there..the Camel Races over Labor Day, a chili cook-off, Mountain Oyster cook-off..sheeps testicles if you must know or didn't know..goes back to the old Basque sheep herding culture..anyway, there is a lot more to Nevada than casinos.

maybe I should clarify - my comments about Carson sound harsh. CC really isn't a horrible place and crefloors makes some good points. But for the average tourist w/ limited time it isn't that much of a destination. If you have the time - it is worth a visit. But if your time is limited stick to VA City and Tahoe.

Well, actually, I tend to agree with janisj, BUT the indian artifacts and baskets...many of which are actually made out of pine needles..are really amazing. Also, there are reed duck decoys, the originals being in the Smithonian...that are something to see. All these are dying arts. There are a few of the younger generation that are trying to keep some of these skills alive, but it is very difficult. Other than that, CC is kind of a yawn, but the museum is worth a stop on the way to VC.