The Loneliest Road: A road trip along Nevada's Highway 50

While in Vegas, pose for a picture with the iconic Reno Arch neon sign. The history of the arch dates back to the 1920's, and even though the slogan "The Biggest Little City in the World" was coined for Reno by a resident of Sacramento, it's become pretty important to the city's identity.

Reno's other claim to fame is pretty cool too. Did you know that jeans were invented by a Latvian immigrant named Jacob Youphes who was living in Reno? As the story goes, it was the late 1860's when a woman asked Youphes, a tailor, to make a sturdier pair of pants for her husband, who frequently wore his pants out. Youphes struck upon the idea of attaching the pockets to the pants using copper rivets, and it worked out perfectly. As the idea of rivets caught on Youphes partnered with Levi Strauss to patent the use of copper rivets, and even though Strauss convinced Youphes to move to San Francisco and start using strong denim material, thus creating the pants with which we're familiar, a historical marker stands where Youphes's Reno tailor shop once stood, dedicated to his contribution to fashion.

You can't stay in Reno without hitting up at least one nightlife spot. The St. James Infirmary is cool bar that has beer, craft cocktails, a trendy crowd, and a killer rooftop with views of the city.

Since you're on a road trip, it's only appropriate that you stop by one of the most comprehensive car museums in the country: the National Automobile Museum. Even if you aren't into cars, it's worth it to see the vehicles owned by Frank Sinatra, JFK, James Dean, Elvis, and more, or the car from the movie Titanic (yes, THAT car from Titanic) and the car from Rebel Without a Cause. Their collection of rare and expensive autos, and exhibits on all kinds of car-related events, are equally awesome.

While in Fallon, visit the Project Shoal Monument. It may not look like much more than a granite marker, but some pretty wild stuff went on below the Earth's surface here. Project Shoal was an underground nuclear test that occurred in 1963, and was meant to test how an underground nuclear detonation would effect seismic activity in an actively seismic spot. Pretty weird!

Given that the Loneliest Road is sparse on gas stations, restaurants and motels along some parts of the route, you should make it a point to fill up at Fallon's Historic Middlegate Station. Here you can top off your gas tank and grab one of their legendary Monster Burgers. The friendly service and rich history of this station make it an exceptional place to stop!

Your last stop in Fallon should be the Shoe Tree. Despite the fact that the original "Shoe Tree" was cut down by vandals in 2011, this enormously popular attraction wouldn't die... shoes now cover two trees near where the original stood. There's plenty of parking, and remember to bring an extra pair of sneakers. Be sure to use caution when entering and exiting the parking area, and don't just rubberneck past the tree: go ahead and pull over and park. Cars on this stretch of the highway tend to really fly, so be careful.

Next you'll come to Austin, Nevada, another Wild West town with deep ties to the Pony Express. While here, check out International Cafe and Bar, a quirky small town bar and restaurant that keeps the 1800's vibes while serving up simple but tasty grub!

Austin is also home to the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park. If you're a fan of ghost towns and dinosaur fossils, this state park is a two-for-one. Berlin is the ghost town, which was around from the late 19th to the early 20th century and served as a hub for a small gold mine; there are more than a few well-preserved buildings to explore. There's also the ichthyosaur fossils-- ichthyosaurs were huge sea beasts that lived about 215 million years ago.

Next up is Battle Mountain, NV, where the Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area features a quick hiking trail that highlights 10,000 year-old petroglyphs. Stick to the trail for a quick, hour-or-so-long break, or come prepared with a picnic lunch or camping supplies for some super primitive camping. Remember to bring lots of water and toilet paper.

When you get hungry, pull over at Eureka's Owl Club and Steakhouse. This bar and steakhouse is actually open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 days a week. If you're there first thing in the morning, enjoy some biscuits and gravy and the best $1 cup of coffee you'll find anywhere, and if you're there any other time, grab a beer and chat up the locals.

Eureka is also home to the Eureka Sentinel Museum. Housed in an old newspaper office, this cool little historical museum features exhibits on the printing press, old-school mining, and everyday life in the little town of Eureka back when it was a bustling boomtown.

Your next stop is the Silver State Restaurant in Ely. Hang out with the locals at this favorite diner. They serve up typical American fare (waffles, pancakes, omelettes, burgers, etc.) but if you can, try their scones...they're covered in melty honey butter and are utterly divine.

If you're looking for a place to stretch your legs in Ely, Blue Mass Scenic Area Campground has you covered. The greenery and granite cliffs of this park make it well worth a stop. Do some hiking along the springs and streams, or take some time to poke around the abandoned homestead, or just pull over to appreciate the unique beauty of this scenic area.

Ely's also home to the Nevada Northern Railway Museum. Here you can explore a working train yard, pop into the museum, and take a 90 minute scenic and educational ride on their old locomotive! The railroad was a huge part of American history, especially in Nevada, so take the chance to really experience it for yourself.