A Long Journey from Las Vegas to Reno

After nearly two hours in the car, you'll want to pull over in Beatty to not only top off the gas tank, but fuel yourself up with snacks and caffeine. Death Valley Coffee Time scores points on the playful name alone while offering a fully stocked coffee bar with sandwiches, fresh-baked cookies, and other on-the-go bites. Prefer to stick around in the dining room for a little while? Try the crepes.

Out of all the things you'll see on this road trip, the International Car Forest will easily be the most bizarre. The art installation is an eye-catching collection of more than 40 cars and buses, painted in chaotic design schemes. The weird part? Most of them are sticking out of the ground on their ends, almost like darts on a target board. A few are carefully balanced on top of each other. Be ready to take lots of photos.
The exhibit, created by three local artists who now operate as a nonprofit, is free to explore. Look for it in the desert southeast of Goldfield, a small "living ghost town" that feels like a trip back in time, capturing your attention in its own compelling way.

You're probably getting hungry by now. Pull over in Tonopah for a quick lunch of beer and barbecue. The Tonopah Brewing Company serves its own house-made craft beer, which pairs perfectly with a lineup of brisket, ribs, and other meats, smoked low and slow on site. You'll be offered a choice of four sauces. The spiciest is named "Nuclear Test Site." Seating is available indoors or on the patio on long picnic tables.
After wrapping up your meal and continuing the drive north through town, keep your eyes peeled for two other famous Tonopah landmarks: the Mizpah Hotel, which dates back to 1907 and is said to be haunted, and the Clown Motel, which has an over-the-top creepy clown theme next to an old cemetery. It's best to keep the drive moving along for now, but you'll have have a little extra time to stop and visit the gift shop on the return trip to Las Vegas.

Pull over and walk the streets of Virginia City, a mountain town that preserves the legacy of Nevada's gold and silver boom of the late 1800s. Walk the boardwalk sidewalks that line the streets, take a detour into a number of different saloons and admire the authentic Victorian architecture.
The gift shops give the town a touristy feel, but you'll be impressed with the opera house, school, fire station and other businesses that have been preserved as free museums. Absorb the history and order a shot of locally distilled Cemetery Gin, made with Nevada-grown ingredients.

You've arrived in Reno, which has its share of big resorts with casinos attached. Stick with the Whitney Peak Hotel instead, a smaller boutique resort with modern decor and an envious downtown location next to the illuminated Reno arch. It also has the world's tallest artificial rock climbing wall on its exterior. Give it a climb early the next morning to get in some exercise before a day of playing tourist gets underway.

Reno's up-and-coming craft beer scene is best experienced in the Freight House District east of downtown. A number of breweries operate in the neighborhood, including The Depot, renovated from an old train station that dates back to 1910. The warm brick exterior is complemented by a rustic dining room with Edison lighting and other contemporary touches. In addition to craft beer, The Depot also distills its own spirits and serves a delicious menu of burgers (made with grass-fed beef) and other elevated gastropub-friendly dishes.

Head back to the Whitney Peak Hotel and get a good night's rest. You'll wake up early the next morning to see more of Reno and drive to Lake Tahoe via the quirky California town of Truckee.