When you roll up to the rural desert town of Tonopah, halfway between Vegas and Reno, finding a place to shack up for the night is an adventure in itself. One option is the elegant Mizpah Hotel, known for its 5th-floor resident ghost, Lady in Red. Alternatively, stay at the infamous Clown Motel, where you doze off as Bozo the Clown watches over you from his menacing portrait hanging above your bed. Or grab your tent and set up camp in the nearby Table Mountain Wilderness—the stargazing opportunities here are second to none (check out the Tonopah Star Trails for more).

While you’re in town, duck into the newly opened Tonopah Brewing Company for house-smoked meats and West-Coast-style pale ale. Tonopah is also home to Nevada’s only turquoise mine that’s open to the public. Those willing to get their hands dirty can have a dig while on the Royston Mine Tour. The reward? Whatever gems you can get your hands on—many visitors get lucky discovering pendant-sized chunks of the brilliant blue.