Take a mine tour, ride a train, or let history come alive at a museum in Virginia City, NV. Transport the entire family back to the mining days of yesteryear. Virginia City has something for everyone!
Once a bustling mining town, (and home to 110 saloons,) Virginia City is now a very popular tourist attraction. Although some saloons still exist and gambling is available for visitors 21 years of age and over, there are plenty of family activities to do.
Virginia City Trolley Tour
Located on C St., (the main street in town,) is the Virginia City Trolley Tour. The tour takes guests on a tractor pulled trolley for a 20 minute, narrated tour around town. Learn the history of Virginia City while passing by mansions, saloons, cemeteries and abandoned mines.
Virginia & Truckee Railroad
A particular hit with kids is the Virginia & Truckee Railroad train ride. This 35 minute, narrated tour takes riders to the neighboring town of Gold Hill. The train makes a brief stop and guests can either return to Virginia City or disembark to visit the town, returning on a later train.
Museums In Virginia City
Virginia City is home to several museums. At the Nevada State Fire Museum, kids will delight in checking out 19th-century firefighting equipment. The Wild West Museum showcases cowboy memorabilia. The Way It Was Museum has displays of mining artifacts.
Mark Twain Museum
For kids who are a fan of Mark Twain and his stories such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a stop at the Mark Twain Museum is a must. Within these walls is where Mark Twain penned The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. In fact, Virginia City is where Samuel Clemens became Mark Twain.
Mine Tours In Virginia City
Virginia City hosts two mine tours. The Ponderosa Saloon Mine Tour offers a 20 minute, guided mine tour that takes guests through tunnels where miners once worked mining silver and gold. At the Collier Mine Tour, visitors travel underground through an actual mine shaft on a 30 minute, guided tour. Both tours spend some time in the dark, so some children may be frightened if they have a fear of the dark.
More Fun Things To Do With Kids In Virginia City, Nevada
Want to travel like they did in the Old West? Take a stagecoach ride. Kids can try their luck on getting rich by panning for gold. Virginia City also presents a wild west show. Looking for treats? There are many places on C Street to get candy and ice cream. In addition, the Red Dog Saloon offers up a reasonable pizza and soda lunch.
Virginia City, Nevada's Location
Virginia City is located just a short, 23 mile car ride from Reno. It's a mere 15 mile drive from Carson City and an easy 40 mile drive from Lake Tahoe. One last thing. Have the kids keep their eyes out for ghosts. Virginia City is the most haunted city in the state of Nevada!
Readers may also enjoy Ghosts of Virginia City , along with Fun Day Trips From Lake Tahoe For Kids and Fun Things To Do In Lake Tahoe With Kids
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