If you’re planning to visit northeastern Nevada, consider staying in Carson City, the state capital and gateway to all the greatest local attractions. The town is less touristy and congested than its neighbor Reno. It has a number of small Casino’s in town, and is a short drive to many of the area’s great historical sites, ski resorts, and outdoor destinations.

If you’re not convinced, maybe some of these numbers will help. Carson City, Nevada, has a population of only about 54,867, compared to its larger neighbor Reno, upwards of 300,000. This allows Carson City visitors an escape from the tourist traps, while still having access to casinos. Casinos, by the way, of which there are at least ten—ranging from small and cozy family style gambling halls, to moderate sized casino floors with up to 700 slots.

Carson City’s locale puts visitors a short drive from all the region’s major attractions. The eastern shore of Lake Tahoe is only 20 minutes away, with another 10 minutes drive from there to Incline Village, or 20 minutes to South Lake Tahoe. There are 3 ski resorts on Lake Tahoe that are within 40 minutes’ drive from Carson City. There is access to every kind of outdoor recreation you can imagine around Lake Tahoe—such as the Tahoe Rim Trail with 150 miles of trails.

If you enjoy history, Virginia City is only 30 minutes’ drive north. The town was made famous in the 1800’s for the Comstock Lode mining boom. The historic V&T rail line runs some of the distance between Carson City and Virginia City via old steam and diesel locomotives. You can ride the trains for a modest fee and hear historical anecdotes about the area in its mining days, as well as see stunning landscapes along the route. In Carson City downtown you can visit historic buildings like the St Charles Hotel, built in 1862, now renovated as a popular pub.

There are plenty of places to stay in Carson City with at least 25 hotels, motels, and B&B’s, totaling over 1700 rooms. There are dozens of restaurants from major chains to local fine dining. For these reasons and by these numbers, it’s clear Carson City, Nevada one of the choicest destinations in the area if you want quick and easy access to all the best attractions.