1. Pronounce It Correctly!
It’s “Nev-ADD-ah” not “Nev-AH-dah.” Out-of-towners will never get it right on their first try.
2. In Nevada, Rebels Rule
The University of Nevada-Las Vegas Rebels reign king in these parts. Crazed fans pack the games on a regular basis to cheer on the scarlet and grey.
3. ...Unless There’s A Wolf Pack Around
Nevada is caught in a huge in-state rivalry. If someone isn’t cheering for the Rebels, they’ll be sporting University of Nevada Wolf Pack gear. The two football teams from each school fight over the Fremont Cannon, a traveling trophy that switches hands all of the time.
4. You Probably Won’t Get Abducted By Aliens
Nevada has a reputation for being a hotbed of alien lovers. While the Silver State definitely has its fair share of enthusiasts (plus the most reported sightings of extraterrestrials in the country) , people aren’t getting sucked into the sky on a regular basis.
5. ... But Don’t Expect To Walk Into Area 51
Many of the out-of-towners that try to see Area 51, famous for its mysterious government happenings, are shocked that there’s a gate that blocks them from the entrance. It is a secret government base, after all.
6. Nevadans Are Bursting With Nevadan Pride
Nevadans are extremely proud of their state, and they show off their pride by hosting the annual Nevada Day Celebration in Carson City. After becoming a state in 1864, Nevada has remained one of the only states to celebrate their statehood annually.
7. Don’t Wait Up For Last Call
Some places might close, but it’s by their own choice. There’s a statewide law allowing 24 hour sale of alcohol in bars, stores, and restaurants throughout Nevada.
8. Cars Are A Big Deal In Nevada
Nevadans love fast, souped-up cars. With Reno home to the National Automobile Museum, people travel from far and wide to see the rides that call Nevada home. A state with a passion for speed, it’s not rare to hear a roaring engine echoing across the desert at night.
9. Nevada Can Get Pretty Toasty At Times
Nevada is the desert, after all. It’s totally normal for summer temperatures in most of the state to easily top 100 on a regular basis.
10. But Out Here It’s Dry, Dry Heat
However, Nevada doesn’t have the same kind of humid heat many out-of-towners are used to. It’s extremely dry heat. While it’s still very hot, it’s much easier to tolerate the higher temps than you’d think.
11. Prostitution Isn’t Legal Everywhere, Including Vegas
Most out-of-towners are shocked to hear that prostitution is legal in Nevada. However, this doesn’t mean that the entire state is flooded with brothels. There are currently only 19 brothels in the entire state, none of which are in Vegas where prostitution is still technically illegal.
12. But Public Intoxication Is Definitely Legal
Nevada prevents any local or state laws from prohibiting public intoxication. As long as someone is just drunk in public and not doing anything else that breaks the law, they should be able to avoid facing the drunk tank.
13. Tourists Are The Real Trouble Makers
As any Nevadan will tell you, the tourists cause most of the problems in the state. While booze, gambling, and sex laws are lenient, most locals have no problem going about their lives as normal as possible.
14. Vegas Isn’t All Hustle And Bustle
Sure, the strip attracts millions of visitors a year, but outside of that, Vegas is also a normal town with normal businesses and families. Out-of-towners might be surprised to hear this but most of the city is made up of a booming suburb system, not the strip.
15. You Don’t Have To Go Out Of Your Way To Find A Slot Machine
From the airports, to restaurants, to your favorite bar, gambling is super easy pretty much everywhere in Nevada. While Vegas gets the most attention, there are casinos spread throughout the state with the same odds of winning.
16. But Really, There’s So Much More To Nevada Than Vegas
The only thing most out-of-towners will be thinking when they hear “Nevada” is “Sin City.” However, Nevada has a ton of other awesome cities, sights and experiences scattered across of the most unique landscapes in the country.
17. This Desert Has Several Shorelines
Nevada is an extremely dry state, averaging less than 10 inches of rain a year. However, there are still plenty of shorelines. From Lake Mead to the Truckee River, Nevadans are no strangers to getting wet and wild.
18. Reno 911! Isn’t Entirely True
Really, it’s not accurate at all. Aside from a few clips, the popular television comedy was shot in California. The characters in Reno 911! aren’t representative of real Reno folk at all.
19. The Hoover Dam Is More Impressive Than You’ve Imagined
Most out-of-towners will have heard already heard of the Hoover Dam (some probably thanks to National Lampoon’s “Vegas Vacation.”) It’s hard to really understand how humongous this feat of engineering is until you see it firsthand.
20. The Luxor Isn’t The Only Pyramid Nevadans Brag About
Another one of Nevada’s famous watering holes, Pyramid Lake is a picturesque desert lake with some of the coolest views around.
21. Make Sure To Bring Your Skis
Only certain areas of the state are home to the desert heat that Nevada is famous for. Being part of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, it’s also home to some of the best skiing around. Places like Lake Tahoe and Mt. Rose attract snow enthusiasts from far and wide.
22. Bowling Isn’t Just A Hobby Here
Reno is home to the National Bowling Stadium, also called the “Taj Majal of Tenpins.” It features 78 lanes and can hold 1,000 spectators, so, yah, Nevadans take their bowling pretty seriously. Out-of-towners shouldn’t be too surprised if they end up at an alley on a weekend night.
23. Burning Giant Wooden Statues Is Normal
While the collection of hippies and free spirits at Burning Man may seem strange to out-of-towners, the state of Nevada embraces this celebration.
Attracting over 60,000 people a year, it’s one of the most bizarrely awesome experiences around, taking place in the middle of the Black Rock Desert.
24. This Isn’t Vegas. This Is Paradise.
While visitors to Vegas might not agree, as far as the government is concerned the world-famous strip is located in Paradise. Paradise is a census-designated place in Clark County within Las Vegas, containing nearly all of the biggest Vegas attractions.
25. Gambling Wasn’t The First Way People Struck Gold
Forget slots. People originally were drawn to Nevada because of the gold and silver rushes, hence the nickname “the Silver State.” Now a lot of those mining towns scattered throughout the state are completely abandoned.
26. Nevada Ain’t Afraid Of No Ghost
With so many ghost towns and such a wild past, it shouldn’t be too surprising that most places in Nevada are considered haunted, making it one of the spookiest places around.
Every building seems to have some strange story of a paranormal event occurring under its roof, but the locals aren’t too concerned.
27. There’s This Thing Called Land Sailing
It basically consists of attaching a three wheeled chair to a sail and see how fast the wind will move it across the sand. With so much flat desert in certain parts of the state, it’s a pretty unique form of entertainment found in Nevada.
28. There’s A Reason Nevadans Choose To Live In The Desert
Not only does Nevada have some of the most stunning scenery around, it is home to a culture that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the country. While it’s known for its huge tourist attractions, it’s the people that live there that make the state worth checking out.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Nevada? Tell us in the comments below! 
