Randsburg, CA. Perhaps the most unknown little gem in CA
Death Valley
America is great. And the road-trip belongs to her. So we entered Nevada after Death Valley, and first was a ghost town, Rhyolite, so short lived that one can't say he grew up in it. Only about 15 years at max of agitated history, 1905 to 1920, time during which the city grew fast and furious, its development soon to include all the amenities required by civilization: school, hospital, newspaper, opera house, stock exchange. At peak not more than 5000 folks enjoyed (or not) living there. Fascinating times whichever way you look at it.
Goldfield, NV, once the largest town in Nevada with daily stage coach service to Tonopah, later daily train connection to the same Tonopah.
Tonopah, NV
Highway 6, NV, on the way to Area 51 (for the ufo lovers) just past Tonopah. 20 miles into the drive and thank god we see the sign warning of the 163 miles up to the next gas station. Made a u-turn, back to Tonopah, in the end barely making it to Rachel before AleInn closed up for the day.
Pioche, NV. True gem just like the theater itself. On some end of the city there is the Boothill Cemetery
Ely, NV. On the Loneliest Road of America, Highway 50, which turned out to be not lonely at all, that title went to Highway 6. Ely has the Hotel Nevada with casinos and hunting trophies, empty streets, wind and tumbleweeds making up the traffic on the city's streets, and a flair of early, unchanged America.
Sand Mountain, Fallon, NV. A huge dune out of the blue. The same Highway 50 leading to the Lake Tahoe and Reno metro area.
Virginia City, NV. Well taken care of, full of historic facts and evidence of 19th century mining prosperity, a bit touristy too.
CA highway 395, Mono Lake. This entire route parallel to the Sierras is a one of a kind drive.
