Weekend Getaway in White Pine County

Upon arrival in Ely, get to know the town and its cultural history through the Mural Walk.In an hour–long, leisurely stroll through downtown you can see almost 30 murals and sculptures that celebrate Ely’s historical significance. Artists have been commissioned locally and from all over the world to contribute to this uniquely Ely attraction.

After breakfast, pack a lunch, hop in the car and drive about an hour to Great Basin National Park. There you can explore the mysterious Lehman Caveswith their beautiful stalagmite and stalactite formations. You’ll need to sign up for a guided tour to enter and they do sell out, so reservations are strongly recommended. After you surface, there are any number of casual or strenuoushikes in the park. Walk through the majestic BristoleconePineforests —some say these trees are the oldest living things on the planet. If you stick around the park long enough, you can also enjoy some of the best stargazingin the country.Thanks to the low humidity and minimal light pollution thousands of stars, numerous planets, star clusters, meteors, man–made satellites, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Milky Way can be seen with the naked eye.

Start your Sunday with some treasure hunting, just like the prospectors and cowboys that came before.Garnet Hillis just six miles outside of town. It’s famous for its dark colored garnets found in volcanic rock. Some gems can be discovered simply lying around the site, but more adventurous rock hunters can unearth finer specimens using a hammer and chisel. Return to town for lunch and step back in time at Ely’s Economy Drug; an old–fashioned soda fountain known for hand–pressed Lime Rickeys. Then, get a taste of what the town was like during the mining boom at The Nevada Northern Railway museum.It has been called the best preserved, historic railroad by the Smithsonian and offers rides on the same locomotives and tracks that served the copper mining boom over a century ago. Remnants of that era can also be explored through the dozens ofGhost Townsin the area, perfect pit stops to hit on your way back home.

What to Eat:

Step back in time and grab a bite at Ely’s Economy Drug –Go behind bars at the Cell Block Steak House–Head downtown to Mr. G’s Italian–Rack’s Bar and Grill is where the locals hang out–Look for Shorty’s Food Truck which is usually parked at Eastern Nevada Adventures, where visitors can also rent OHV/Side–by–Sides

Where to stay:

For rustic accommodations, spend the night in a caboose at theNevada Northern Railway Museum–Mix new comforts with history and style at theHotel Nevada & Gaming Hall–The Prospectoroffers pet–friendly rooms for those traveling with four–legged friends–The La Quinta and Holiday Inn Express offer comfy beds–All Aboard Café & Inn offers a bed and breakfast experience in town