Carson Valley Information
Entertainment & Activities
There's PLENTY of places to go and things to do in the Carson Valley! From hot air balloon rides, to indoor pool and slides, there's fun four seasons out of the year.
One of the few places in the U.S. to offer glider rides to the public, just 5 miles away. A once in a lifetime experience to fly silently in a plane above Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley.
Soaring NV
1142 Airport RdOne of the few places in the U.S. to offer glider rides to the public, just 5 miles away. A once in a lifetime experience to fly silently in a plane above Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley.
Great for kids. Many antique rail cars on display and for tours.
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo del Ferrocarril del Estado de Nevada
2180 S Carson StGreat for kids. Many antique rail cars on display and for tours.
Fantastic place to take kids swimming. Seven pools, 4 indoors, with two water slides. Open as early as 4:30 a.m. for adult lap swims, and into the evenings as late as 9 p.m. for open swim sessions. There's an adult-only extra hot soaking pool. You won't want to get out. Full locker rooms and showers, and snack bar. Only $3.75 admission.
Carson Valley Swim Center
1600 NV-88Fantastic place to take kids swimming. Seven pools, 4 indoors, with two water slides. Open as early as 4:30 a.m. for adult lap swims, and into the evenings as late as 9 p.m. for open swim sessions. There's an adult-only extra hot soaking pool. You won't want to get out. Full locker rooms and showers, and snack bar. Only $3.75 admission.
Locally owned theater, with CHEAP popcorn. $7 for a super large bag which can be brought back for FREE refills. Where else does this exist? Usually has all the recent film releases. Comfortable stadium seats. Never crowded.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ironwood Stadium Cinema 8
1760 U.S. Hwy 395 NLocally owned theater, with CHEAP popcorn. $7 for a super large bag which can be brought back for FREE refills. Where else does this exist? Usually has all the recent film releases. Comfortable stadium seats. Never crowded.
If you're daring, go skydiving. Cheaper rates mid-week. About $180 per person for a tandem dive with the guide. Don't let the name fool you. It is based at Minden Airport.
Skydive Lake Tahoe
2311 Airport RdIf you're daring, go skydiving. Cheaper rates mid-week. About $180 per person for a tandem dive with the guide. Don't let the name fool you. It is based at Minden Airport.
Balloon Nevada
The pilot of Balloon Nevada lives next door! Fantastic once in a lifetime experience.
Minden Mill Distilling
Everything Else
South Lake Tahoe
Food Scene
Fun restaurant with 101 beers on tap. A re-creation of an old barn, with a dozen REAL carriages and fire wagons hanging from the ceiling. Wood-fired brick oven pizza is GREAT, at about $11 per pie. Happy hour has $3 pints on draft.
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Red's Old 395 Grill
1055 S Carson StFun restaurant with 101 beers on tap. A re-creation of an old barn, with a dozen REAL carriages and fire wagons hanging from the ceiling. Wood-fired brick oven pizza is GREAT, at about $11 per pie. Happy hour has $3 pints on draft.
Impressive baked goods and great cafe menu - serves vegan and gluten free items as well. Funky old house in residential area in downtown Carson City by the state capital.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
L.A. Bakery
1280 N Curry StImpressive baked goods and great cafe menu - serves vegan and gluten free items as well. Funky old house in residential area in downtown Carson City by the state capital.
Minden Meat and Deli
1595 U.S. Hwy 395 NBest burgers. Great local hangout.
BEST Breakfast. Opens early and has huge servings. Great breakfast burrito for $10. Full bar. Most drinks under $5 with video poker and slots on top of the wooden bar. Food served at bar or at tables. Watch planes take off and land through large windows.
Tail Dragger Cafe
1150 Airport RoadBEST Breakfast. Opens early and has huge servings. Great breakfast burrito for $10. Full bar. Most drinks under $5 with video poker and slots on top of the wooden bar. Food served at bar or at tables. Watch planes take off and land through large windows.
Historic restaurant run by the same family for decades. Specializing in family style serving of country Basque food - lamb dishes are especially good.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
J T Basque Bar & Dining Room
1426 US-395Historic restaurant run by the same family for decades. Specializing in family style serving of country Basque food - lamb dishes are especially good.
Bar has superb speciality cocktails, with whiskey flights. Menu specializing in locally sourced and "farm to table" creative cuisine. Great appetizer menu. Indoor and outdoor seating. Bar and restaurant reminiscent of old San Francisco eatery.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Overland Restaurant & Pub
1451 U.S. Hwy 395 NBar has superb speciality cocktails, with whiskey flights. Menu specializing in locally sourced and "farm to table" creative cuisine. Great appetizer menu. Indoor and outdoor seating. Bar and restaurant reminiscent of old San Francisco eatery.
Beautifully restored Victorian pink house in the middle of Genoa. Restaurant open for lunch and dinner. Features a cheese shop with locally made gift items.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Pink House
193 Genoa LaneBeautifully restored Victorian pink house in the middle of Genoa. Restaurant open for lunch and dinner. Features a cheese shop with locally made gift items.
Cowboys DO really hang out here from the local ranches. So if that's the case, you know the breakfasts are big and hearty - and they are. Crammed with cowboy memorabilia and artifacts on the walls. Good service and really good breakfast.
Cowboy's Cafe
1679 U.S. Hwy 395 NCowboys DO really hang out here from the local ranches. So if that's the case, you know the breakfasts are big and hearty - and they are. Crammed with cowboy memorabilia and artifacts on the walls. Good service and really good breakfast.
There are several Mexican places in the valley, but we like this one because of the large menu and really good Margaritas. Funky, non-pretentious family-owned restaurant that is closest to Lola's Little House, about 10 minutes away.
El Charro Avitia
4389 S Carson StThere are several Mexican places in the valley, but we like this one because of the large menu and really good Margaritas. Funky, non-pretentious family-owned restaurant that is closest to Lola's Little House, about 10 minutes away.
Good pizza, delivers to Lola's Little House. I would avoid the Pizza Factory in Minden, due to very poor service and mediocre pies.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Round Table Pizza
1062 Emerald Bay RdGood pizza, delivers to Lola's Little House. I would avoid the Pizza Factory in Minden, due to very poor service and mediocre pies.
A "wow" steakhouse - beautiful decor, impeccable service and aged steaks. Great date spot. Located inside the Casino Fandango.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Duke's Steakhouse
3800 S Carson StA "wow" steakhouse - beautiful decor, impeccable service and aged steaks. Great date spot. Located inside the Casino Fandango.
INCREDIBLE good food. Can be busy, but worth the wait. All beers are made in-house.
Great Basin Brewing Company - Minden
INCREDIBLE good food. Can be busy, but worth the wait. All beers are made in-house.
Drinks & Nightlife
Good restaurants and cozy atmosphere. Only casino in town with table games and live poker room. Clean and friendly.
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Carson Valley Inn Casino
1627 U.S. Hwy 395 NGood restaurants and cozy atmosphere. Only casino in town with table games and live poker room. Clean and friendly.
Vintage casino, newly remodeled, yet kept its flavor and memorabilia (including collection of antique slot machines). Great center bar.
Casino Sharkey
1440 US-395Vintage casino, newly remodeled, yet kept its flavor and memorabilia (including collection of antique slot machines). Great center bar.
BEAUTIFUL restaurant. Tahoe ski-lodge decor. Delicious gourmet, high-end dinners. Very romantic. Great bar, with weekend karaoke. Highly recommended, and located in Genoa, only about 8 miles away.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
1862 David Walleys Restaurant & Saloon
2001 Foothill RdBEAUTIFUL restaurant. Tahoe ski-lodge decor. Delicious gourmet, high-end dinners. Very romantic. Great bar, with weekend karaoke. Highly recommended, and located in Genoa, only about 8 miles away.
Theater is connected to Casino Fandango. It has luxury reclining chairs and a full bar!
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Galaxy Fandango
4000 S Curry StTheater is connected to Casino Fandango. It has luxury reclining chairs and a full bar!
Shopping
Family run store specializes in repurposing old barn wood and antique brick a brack into chic decorative items and furniture.
Red Barn Antiques
1578 U.S. Hwy 395 NFamily run store specializes in repurposing old barn wood and antique brick a brack into chic decorative items and furniture.
Extensive wine and craft beer collection. Owner is an experienced sommelier who offers regular tasting events in the store, which also features local art for sale.
Battle Born Wine
1448 US-395Extensive wine and craft beer collection. Owner is an experienced sommelier who offers regular tasting events in the store, which also features local art for sale.
Giant emporium of second-hand clothing. What makes it a destination is the creative displays and hipster taste. Favorite store of people looking for unique costumes for Burning Man.
26 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Junkee Clothing Exchange & Antique Store
299 S Virginia StGiant emporium of second-hand clothing. What makes it a destination is the creative displays and hipster taste. Favorite store of people looking for unique costumes for Burning Man.
Arts & Culture
Housed in historic building, now a culture center and visitors center for Carson Valley.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center
1479 US-395Housed in historic building, now a culture center and visitors center for Carson Valley.
Sightseeing
Original ranch house of the Carson Valley's Founding Family. Tours must be reserved in advance. 775-783-9417
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park
1450 NV-88Original ranch house of the Carson Valley's Founding Family. Tours must be reserved in advance. 775-783-9417
Nevada's oldest "thirst parlor" is crammed full of memorabilia from its earliest existence - founded in 1853. Good, strong drinks, juke box, pool tables and a few slots. Locals and tourists love to hang here. Friendly.
28 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Genoa Bar
2282 Main StNevada's oldest "thirst parlor" is crammed full of memorabilia from its earliest existence - founded in 1853. Good, strong drinks, juke box, pool tables and a few slots. Locals and tourists love to hang here. Friendly.
Housed in the old Carson City U.S. Mint, the museum has a little bit of everything, but focuses on Nevada's mining and old west history.
16 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Nevada State Museum
600 N Carson StHoused in the old Carson City U.S. Mint, the museum has a little bit of everything, but focuses on Nevada's mining and old west history.