1. Celebrating THEIR Day
Nevadans love their state, so it’s no surprise that they go crazy for Nevada day. The annual state holiday is a celebration of Nevada becoming a state and takes place on the last Friday of October.
There’s plenty of celebrating to go around, with locals happily showing their Nevada spirit, but the real big event takes place in Carson city, where there are plenty of fun activities like parades, a pancake breakfast, and a beard contest (which, yes, is exactly as it sounds).
And, hey, a three-day-weekend around each Halloween doesn’t hurt either.
2. Knowing There’s Nothing In The World Like A Giant Slab Of Prime Rib
Nevadans sure do love them a big juicy steak, and the state has plenty of steakhouses to satisfy those cravings. You can find some truly delicious pieces of meat all throughout Nevada which, with the strong cattle-raising culture, isn’t too surprising.
Whether you’re looking for a bargain steak at one of the many casino eateries or ready to splurge on something truly delicious, Nevadans have endless options before them.
For real carnivores I’d recommend the latter though, particularly at Las Vegas’ Cut restaurant, where you can find some of the best meat in the world, including a 35-day dry-aged beef from Illinois and a true Kobe beef, straight from Japan.
3. Informing You That It’s “A Dry Heat”
Nevadans love to remind others that, while their beloved state’s climate is brutally hot, it’s a “dry heat”. There’s a very big difference between this weather than one that’s both hot and humid, and most will take the former. Nevadans sure do, and you’ll certainly hear the phrase “Yeah, but it’s a dry heat” being touted all around the state.
4. Tubing Down The Truckee River
Nevadans know that there’s nothing more fun than cooling off in the Truckee River on a hot summer day, especially if it involves an inner tube. Many love to tube down the Truckee River, which is known for its scenic meadow setting and exciting rapids.
Those that are really up for an adventure though, opt for some white water river rafting instead, which can be an absolutely exhilarating and fun experience.
5. Having A Good Time At All Altitudes
Nevadans don’t only spend their time upon snow-capped mountains skiing and snowboarding. They know there’s a whole host of entertainment at these woodsy resorts.
Nevada ski hills and towns hold plenty of fun events and festivals throughout the year, and heading up to the higher altitudes is a great way to escape the Nevada heat.
Resorts that are renowned for a good time are Heavenly in Lake Tahoe, which has plenty of nightlife, musical festivals, and after ski parties, and Mt. Rose, which hosts fun themed events like a Bavarian fest and retro party.
6. Pronouncing Nevada The RIGHT Way
The name “Nevada” originally comes from the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains, the phrase meaning “snow-capped” range in Spanish. But don’t you dare try to pronounce it like the Spaniards may have--Nevadans are very strict about how their state name should be pronounced.
Locals will decidedly inform you that it’s Nev-AD-a and NOT Nev-AH-da. Just make sure to get it right, or you’ll be quickly pegged as an outsider.
7. Noshing On Basque Favorites
Basque people, from regions in Northern Spain, immigrated to Nevada many years ago during the gold rush. But, while migration numbers may have waned, the culture is here to stay.
There are celebrations of the heritage throughout the state, especially in Winnemucca, where there’s a prominent Basque community.
The food has also become a local favorite, and it’s not hard to find some delicious traditional Basque cuisine in Nevada, like pintxos, talos, piperade and gateau basque. You don’t need to know what the words mean--trust me, it’s all delicious.
8. That Burning Man Happens In Their Backyard
With such a great outdoor environment, why would anyone want to keep all the fun events cooped up inside? Nevadans sure don’t, and they take advantage of their incredible landscapes and sunny weather each year with the Burning Man.
Held in the Black Rock Desert, Burning Man is an incredibly unique and annual celebration of art and self-expression. Participants can head out to the desert for the entire week long span that the event takes place and fully immerse themselves in the temporary community. There are plenty of sculptures, performances, and art-centered themes, supporting interactive public art.
9. Being Tougher Than A Desert Cactus
While the dry heat of the Nevada deserts may send most visitors running, locals have learned to love it. The desert is not going anywhere--it’s just a part of everyday Nevada life. Nevadans embrace the parching conditions and spend time out in the desert sun camping, dirt biking, hiking and more.
10. Drinking From The Oldest Tap In The State
The oldest bar in Nevada might also be the favorite, given that this “thirst parlor” has been a local hot spot for ages.
The Genoa Bar and Saloon has been open since 1853 and still has some of its original architecture, like the top of the bar, ceiling medallions and its lights. The place is even heated by a woodstove and has a trap-door in the ground leading to a storage cellar that’s the setting of some iconic stories.
The bar has seen plenty over the years, visited by famous people like Mark Twain and former President Roosevelt. It’s likely that the place will have many more stories to tell, since, given its popularity, it’s not going anywhere.
11. The Wild, Wild West
Nevadans just love their cowboys, and they’ve sure got their fill of them. Many residents are still repping their wild-west history every day, with plenty of horses, ranches and livestock found all around the state.
And, for those who don’t uphold their cowpoke heritage all year, they certainly come out for the many rodeos held throughout Nevada, like the summer Reno Rodeo, one of the best in the nation. But really any reason is a good one to don a cowboy hat and some rawhide boots.
12. Partying All Night--And We Mean All Night
Fun in Nevada doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. In fact, that’s often when it’s just begun. The state is full of 24-hour cities that have plenty to do.
With great cities like Reno and Las Vegas, who has time to sleep? You can do everything from hitting the bars or casinos to fitting in a workout or chilling out at a coffee shop, no matter the time.
13. Flirting With Lady Luck
Let’s be honest--Nevada is known its plethora of gambling opportunities.. You can find plenty of people hitting the slots all around the state, especially in Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world. They even get their future card sharks started young, with several types of “gambling” arcades for kids at many of the casinos.
14. Never Ever, Ever, Ever Getting Bored
Drive through pretty much any moderate sized city and you’ll be bombarded by advertisements and headlines enouncing current or up and coming entertainment. Whether it’s music, theatre, comedy, magic shows or acrobats, if you can think of it, they’ve got it.
15. Soaking Up The Sun, Snow And Surf In Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is arguably one of the best not-so-secret spots of Nevada. It’s home to the largest alpine lake in the country, nestled amongst the mountains. There’s nothing like spending your free time on the shores of this gorgeous destination, with plenty of options for local fun all year round.
Who can blame Nevadans for not feeling the need to leave their state for an awesome vacation spot when they've already got a perfect one right in their backyard?
16. Stuffing Their Faces At The Best Buffets
The Silver State is simply chock full of some fantastic buffets and is one of the best places in the nation for such a dining experience, especially in Vegas, which is buffet central.
One of the best is the Bellagio buffet, which has a huge variety of delicious eats. If you’re looking for something different though, Le Village Buffet at Paris Las Vegas has a unique village ambiance, scrumptious food and even made to order food stations. Can’t you just hear those juicy crab legs calling?
17. Zipping Down The Powdery Slopes
With all the mountain ranges and snow-capped peaks adorning the state, it’s no surprise that Nevadans love to fly down the many steep powdery ski trails. Nevada has perfect conditions for the sport and plenty of ski resorts, and the locals certainly taking advantage of it.
Heck, don’t be surprised if someone claims they’ve been skiing before they could walk.
18. Knowing They Can Drink Their Share Anytime, Anywhere
Nevadans sure love to have some fun while drinking their fair share of booze and, due to somewhat lenient state laws, can do so right out in the open. Public intoxication isn’t an offense and the state prohibits any county or city from making it one.
Alcohol can also be legally purchased from any licensed Nevada business at any time, 24/7. So locals are free to enjoy their drinks wherever they like, at whatever time they want.
19. Enjoying The Best Eggs In Northern Nevada
Nevadans know that Peg’s Glorified Ham and Eggs is one of the best places around to get your fill of classic breakfast grub. It’s been voted the best breakfast joint in all of Northern Nevada and there are several different locations throughout the area.
They have your traditional morning fair of omelets, pancakes, and bagels and lox, as well as some not-so-common offerings like their menu of Hawaiian favorites, which features loco mocos and fried spam and eggs.
20. Proudly Displaying Their Pioneer Heritage
Nevadans are very proud of their pioneering history and honor their ancestors and heritage in several ways throughout the year. You can often find parades that are full of tributes to days of the past, including pioneer costumes, stage coaches and oxen wagons.
There are even pioneer festivals that take place, like the annual Fox Ridge Park Pioneer Days, that are always full of locals celebrating their migrating ancestors.
21. Living It Up In Sin City
If you know only one thing about Nevada, it’s probably that it’s home to one of the most infamous cities in the nation: Las Vegas. The City that Never Sleeps is an enormous oasis of fun with plenty to do for everyone.
But local Nevadans know how to have a fun time both on and off the strip since enormous casinos, partying, and buffets aren’t the only activities the city has to offer. Insiders know that their time can sometimes be better spent at smaller local-favorite casinos, hiking around Red Rock Canyon or enjoying a meal at a less-touristy off-strip restaurant.
22. Feasting On Mouth-Watering Northern Thai Cuisine
Speaking of off-strip Las Vegas restaurants that locals can’t get enough of, the Lotus of Siam is the only place you should go for Thai food when in the Vegas area.
The chef’s recipes and cooking style has been passed down over many, many generations, and the restaurant features Northern Thailand cuisine, which is much harder to find that the typical Bangkok style.
There are several menu items that aren’t found in most Thai restaurants, and it’s recommended that you try some of their memorable Northern Thailand specialties, like Kang Ka Noon (Spicy Jack Fruit Curry) or Sai Qua (Northern Style Sausage)--trust me, your taste buds won’t forgive you if you don’t.
23. Cars That Are Cooler Than Yours
In any sort of celebration or parade, you can be sure to see locals sporting their prized vehicles.
Reno also just seems to be the car capital of the state, with the annual Hot August Nights event, which showcases plenty of fantastic rides and is home to the National Automobile Museum.
24. Reveling In Their (Literally) Golden History
Nevada was one of the prime destinations for the gold rush and is still one of the largest sources of gold in the world. It’s a major state industry and residents can even search for their own gold at many different gold panning sites throughout the state.
They also won’t let anyone forget that they’re the gold state and have many museums and old mining sites still intact to celebrate their golden heritage.
25. Tying The Knot In A Flash
If you’re looking for a marriage license on the fly, Nevada is your state. Dotted with cutesy (and, honestly, sometimes borderline tacky) chapels where, due to state marriage laws, you can elope in no time. Clearly, the state supports true (or simply drunken) love.
Don’t judge though, because I’m sure you’ll be jealous when a Nevadan couple tells you all about being serenaded by an Elvis impersonator during their elopement at a 24 hour chapel of love--yea, that’s what I thought.
26. Their Beloved Lochness Monster Wannabe
Nevadans sure adore their marine living prehistoric creature, the ichthyosaur. Somewhat resembling both a fish and a dolphin, this water-living reptile has been found fossilized in the Nevada earth.
After discovering it, they loved it so much that they made it the official state fossil and even have a state park dedicated to the extinct creature, Berlin-Ichthyosaur, where plenty of fossils of the reptile can be found.
27. Breathing In That Fresh Mountain Air
Nevada locals just love their mountains and all the beautiful scenery that goes along with them. There’s surely nothing like sitting on top of a mountain, underneath a clear blue cloudless sky, looking at the small world below you and just breathing in that clean and fresh mountain air.
28. Tasty Pioneer Cakes
With their love of their pioneer heritage, it’s no surprise that Nevadans also go crazy for a slice of traditional pioneer cake. They certainly choose to honor their pioneer heritage in the best possible way--through sweets.
Some favorites include traditional stack or apple cakes, simple and rustic treats that are certain to make your mouth water.
29. Eerily Haunted Ghost Towns
Superstitious Nevadans will likely inform you that the state is haunted beyond belief. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, Nevada certainly is full of abandoned “ghost towns” from the mining days of the wild west.
There are over 600 throughout the state, most of which are abandoned mining sites and towns, and one of the best is Goldfield. Goldfield was once the richest and most populated mining town in Nevada and known for its swanky Goldfield hotel. But now it’s apparently haunted with plenty of ghosts from years ago.
While you may not believe in ghosts now while sitting safe behind your computer screen, it’s a whole different story when you’re all alone in a decaying hotel with only ghost stories of the past to accompany you.
30. Visitors Hating On Their Home State
What’s that? You don’t like Nevada? Good.
Hate it? Even better.
Nevadans have no problem with people hating on their state, in fact, they’d encourage you to spread the word. They know just how awesome their state is and don’t mind keeping it all to themselves.
Feature Image Source: Flickr user ImNotQuiteJack 
