Wild West Mining Town
The historic mining town of Virginia City, Nevada is a great place to get a glimpse of life in the old west. The nearby Lake Tahoe/ Reno area is one of four side trips within a few hours’ drive from the San Francisco Bay Area that visitors will want to include on their Northern California itinerary. The other three are Yosemite National Park, Carmel-by-the-Sea and, of course, the Wine Country of Napa County.
On a recent camping trip with family and friends to South Lake Tahoe we took a side trip to Virginia City, Nevada. Less than 90 minutes from all the action at Lake Tahoe, the drive took us over the beautiful eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and out into the open desert of Nevada. Once there you’ll find the streets of Virginia City lined with historic buildings such as Pipers Opera House, unique restaurants like the Mustang Ranch Steakhouse and interesting shops with western wear and souvenirs. As you stroll the main street you can watch a Wild West shoot out, stop to sip a sarsaparilla at the Bucket of Blood Saloon and take a gander at a $65,000 gold nugget.
Mark Twain Slept Here
After silver was discovered in the Comstock Lode in 1859, Virginia City literally sprang up from the desert, eventually reaching a population of 25,000 at its peak. Plagued by extremes in temperature, devastating fires and declining output from the mines, Virginia City saw its best days come and go in less than 20 years. One of Virginia City’s most famous inhabitants was Samuel Clemens who lived there from 1862 to 1864 and it was there that he first used his more familiar pen name, Mark Twain.
No trip to Virginia City would be complete without a visit to Boot Hill, which is located at the northeast end of town. Wandering among the tombstones you will find everyone from outlaws who were hanged to Civil War Veterans to pioneer families buried here. Speaking of veterans, hats off to Virginia City for honoring its veterans, past and present, with banners on the lamp posts lining the main street!
Planning Your Trip
Coming from the San Francisco Bay Area you will take Interstate 80 East to Sacramento, where you can stop and visit the California state capitol. Continuing east on Highway 50 now, you will enter the foothills made famous by the ‘gold rush’ of 1849. Midway between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe make a pit stop at the town of Placerville for a look at some of the old buildings dating back to the gold rush era. Placerville was originally known as ‘Hangtown’ for the many hangings that took place there during this lawless period in California history. Moving east into the Sierra Nevada Mountains you will eventually descend into the Tahoe Basin, arriving at South Lake Tahoe.
The attractions and activities at South Lake Tahoe are limitless and include visits to secluded Fallen Leaf Lake, fabulous Pope Beach with it long stretch of clean, white sand, the historic Baldwin Estate and the casinos at Stateline on the California-Nevada border. Hiking, biking, swimming, boating and fishing are all available here. For campers and glampers, I recommend the nearby Fallen Leaf Lake Campground. So, if you’re fortunate enough to have a few extra days while in Northern California, the Lake Tahoe/ Reno area is a great place to spend it and nearby Virginia City, Nevada will give you a taste of the Wild West.
