Travelers already know there is much to see and do in Las Vegas. But Nevada has a wealth of unique, offbeat destinations and attractions that go far beyond the Strip.
For clients looking for unusual pursuits, the state offers plenty of haunted hotels, ghost towns frozen in time, extraterrestrial legends and surprising public art installations worth exploring.
Here’s a roundup of some unique stops across the state for clients seeking something different.
Cruise Down the Extraterrestrial Highway
One of Nevada’s most famous stretches is the “Extraterrestrial Highway," State Route 375, a magnet for UFO enthusiasts and road trippers. Along the iconic desert route, visitors can snack on alien-themed jerky from E.T. Fresh Jerky in Hiko or pose for a photo under the E.T. Highway sign near U.S. 93. In the tiny town of Rachel, the Little A’Le’Inn is a hub for UFO fans, with alien-themed decor, memorabilia and stories about supposed encounters.
The nearby Alien Research Center features a silver Quonset hut with a giant two-story silver alien ushering travelers in the door. Meanwhile, the extraterrestrial-themed Alien Cowpoke gas station and store offers a variety of alien-themed merchandise and quirky decor.
Discover Nevada’s Haunted History
In Virginia City, the Washoe Club has been featured on television shows “Ghost Adventures” and “Ghost Hunters,” thanks to its crypt and a museum showcasing its paranormal history. Nearby, the Mackay Mansion — built in 1859 for silver baron John Mackay — draws visitors hoping to encounter the mansion’s famous resident spirit, the “Lady of the House,” as well as electronic voice phenomena in its halls.
Tonopah offers its own eerie attractions, including the Clown Motel, located beside the Old Tonopah Cemetery, and the Mizpah Hotel, which was voted the nation’s top haunted hotel by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and is said to be home to the “Lady in Red,” who is known to whisper in guests’ ears and leave pearls under pillows.
Further north in Goldfield, the abandoned Goldfield Hotel is known as one of the most haunted places in America, drawing paranormal experts from across the country. The nearby Goldfield Historic Cemetery also has a particularly eerie reputation, with unusual epitaphs on stones and plenty of paranormal reports.
The abandoned Goldfield Hotel is known as one of the most haunted places in America.
Credit: 2025 Travel NevadaVisit Ghost Towns
For those fascinated by the Old West, Nevada’s 600-plus ghost towns are filled with history and adventure. Rhyolite is one of the most photographed, with crumbling banks, a train depot and the Goldwell Open Air Museum's surreal desert sculptures. Fort Churchill State Historic Park preserves its old adobe walls, offering great photography opportunities.
Metropolis, an ill-fated farming town, has a school archway, a historic cemetery and other timeworn ruins. Goodsprings, just a short drive from Las Vegas, is a snapshot of frontier history — the ghost stories surrounding the bullet-riddled Pioneer Saloon hint at the town’s fascinating past.
Search for Desert Art
Nevada’s wide-open spaces have inspired some of the state’s most unexpected and unique works of art. The International Car Forest of the Last Church in Goldfield features dozens of painted cars planted in the sand, creating an interactive outdoor gallery.
The International Car Forest of the Last Church features dozens of painted cars planted in the sand.
Credit: 2025 Travel NevadaJust south of Las Vegas, the bright, stacked boulders of Seven Magic Mountains rise more than 30 feet high — a striking contrast to the barren desert surrounding the installment. The Goldwell Open Air Museum near Rhyolite features massive sculptures, including a ghostly, life-size Last Supper and a towering miner-and-penguin duo. Thunder Mountain Monument in Imlay is a psychedelic desert fortress built from stone, concrete and found materials by artist Frank Van Zant.
