Nevada factories to visit and tour

Nevada has factories to visit and tour. Below, first are the active, working factories. The next section has historical operations which often have demonstrations or renactments. These incluse both large and small operations, from several person chocolate factories and cheesemakers to large manufacturers making paper towels, wood products, beverage cans and bottles, are open to the public with real tours, exhibitions and fun education.

In some cases, such as a manufacturing process that is no longer in use, the only way to see it and learn about it is a museum or living history center. So, we also provide information about engineering facilities and museums, dinosaur digs, even government facilities, like NASA, astronomy oberservatories and more that are open to the public on certain days and times. And if there is some place that is just plain fun to visit, we add that, too!

These are perfect for homeschooling, for STEM and for fun! Kids love visiting these places! They're learning and getting an education without even realizing it. And most of these are either free or under $10! What's better then fun, entertaining, good for children and families, educational and free?

Here are some of the top factory tours in Nevada and contact information and tips about visiting them.

Factories, Engineering, Museums and other fun demonstrations and exhibits to visit in Nevada

• Amazon Fulfillment Center - tour of the facility
  VGT1: Amazon Fulfillment Center, 5802 E Tropical Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89115.
  BOOK ON THEIR WEBSITE. Each tour is approximately 60-90 minutes long. On the tour you may walk up and down at least one flight of stairs and walk approximately 1 mile. Amazon says "Ever wondered what happens when you shop on Amazon? Book a free walking tour of an Amazon warehouse and see how our people and technology deliver for customers." The also have the following recommendations and requirements:
  Arrive Early - arrive 15 minutes prior to your tour.
  Attire - All guests must wear flat, closed-toed, and closed-heeled shoes (no sandals, clogs or high heels). We recommend wearing comfortable shoes or sneakers. Additionally, long hair must be pulled at or above shoulder length. Loose fitting clothing (long-hanging jewelry, scarves, or ties) are not permitted. Headscarves worn for religious reasons are permitted but must be tucked in securely.
  Identification - Upon your arrival, your tour leader will ask for a government issued photo ID. Please ensure that guest information submitted during sign-up matches the guest ID.
• Ethel M Chocolates Factory - Chocolate Factory
  2 Cactus Garden Dr, Henderson, NV 89014. Phone: 702-435-2608. Email: customerservice@ethelm.com. Open: Daily: 10am-6pm. Visit the Ethel M Chocolates Factory and Flagship Store in Las Vegas to experience their premium chocolate and wine tastings, their self-guided factory viewing aisle, walk their beautiful 3-acre Cactus Garden (the largest in Nevada!), shop at their gourmet Gift Shop, and delight in fresh treats from their Cactus Cafe. They have Chocolate Tasting Experiences to learn how their gourmet chocolate is sourced, refined and produced, and understand how to identify subtle flavor notes in their chocolates - for guests over 21, indulge in their unique Chocolate and Wine Pairing experience. Earn your honorary chocolatier certificate, plus get 15% off your entire in-store purchase on the day of your Tasting! There is also a Walk Through their Free Self-Guided Factory Viewing Aisle, Free & Open to the Public. Factory Production Hours are (usually): Monday through Friday, 10am to 3:30pm. Watch as their expert chocolatiers craft the Ethel M Chocolates you know and love, made in small batches without artificial preservatives at their Las Vegas chocolate factory! During the factory’s hours of operation, take their self-guided chocolate factory tour to see each piece of chocolate packed by hand with care, then head to their Gift Shop to pick up some treats to take home.
• Kimmie Candy Company - chocolate and candy factory
  405 Edison Way, Reno, NV 89502. Phone: 775-284-9200. Email: Hello@kimmiecandy.com. Open: free factory tours . The smell of the chocolate can be smelled from a mile away and the chocolate brown building in the middle of the industrial park with colored Kimmie Candy letters is hard to miss! When you walk in you are greeted by whimsical art done by Joe's daughter Kat, and feature Kimmie Candy's mascot KC in various forms. You are treated to as many candy samples as you can handle and seated in the viewing room. There you can check out the history of Kimmie Candy and the process from the 10lb chocolate bar to the candy coated chocolate candy. We then put on a movie which shows the history of chocolate incorporated with the full process of how Kimmie Candy is made from start to finish. Who knew a delicious ChocoRock takes around 56 hours to complete!! To sign up for your free factory tour please call 775-284-9200 and say you would like to schedule a tour, they will get you set up from there. Keep in mind it is the "Biggest, Little" so allow for no more than 30 people as space is limited. The factory is also a peanut free and gluten free facility!

Nevada Historical Forts and Sites, Famous buildings, Active Federal facilities to tour, Geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

• Death Valley National Park, Death Valley, CA,NV.
  

  In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbor tiny fish and refuge for wildlife and humans. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life survives in Death Valley.

  
  • Alerts and Current Conditions
  • Info about the park
  • Park event calendar
  • Park maps
• Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, NV.
  

  Mammoths, lions and camels once roamed along wetlands just north of what is now known as Las Vegas, Nevada. Their history is preserved at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument and is ready to be discovered.

  
  • Alerts and Current Conditions
  • Info about the park
  • Park event calendar
  • Park maps

Nevada State historic sites and parks

These are state-run parks, museums and historic sites that present the history of some manufacturing process, industry, or living settlement

• Beaver Dam - The deep canyons, flowing streams, waterfalls and pinyon, juniper and ponderosa forests have beckoned people for centuries. Today, visitors experience the pristine, natural beauty and rustic character that distinguishes this park from all others. Panaca, Nevada
• Berlin-Ichthyosaur - About 225 million years ago, Ichthyosaurs swam in a warm ocean covering central Nevada. Today, the most abundant concentration and largest known Ichthyosaur fossils in North America are displayed in this preserved, turn-of-the-century mining town. Austin, Nevada
• Big Bend of the Colorado - Situated on the shores of the Colorado River, Big Bend, with its clear, cool waters, offers dramatic views of the river and surrounding mountains. The area offers boating, fishing and swimming, with the amenities of a gaming town just minutes away. Laughlin, Nevada
• Buckland Station - Built in 1870, Buckland Station offers visitors a glimpse of early pioneer life with a self-guided tour of the renovated building. Picnic tables, charcoal grills and a nature trail that follows the Carson River make this a great place to visit. Silver Springs, Nevada
• Cathedral Gorge - The beauty of Cathedral Gorge began with explosive volcanic activity millions of years ago. Nestled in a narrow valley where time and water have carved striking patterns in soft clay, the park offers stunning views of rocks from above, below and within. Panaca, Nevada
• Cave Lake - A year-round park, Cave Lake features a 32-acre reservoir that provides excellent trout fishing, boating, swimming, hiking and camping. Winter activities include sledding, snowmobiling, ice-skating, ice fishing, cross-country skiing and hunting. Ely, Nevada
• Cave Rock - Tucked beneath the rugged, volcanic face of Cave Rock on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe, Cave Rock State Park, with its boat launch and sandy beach, offers visitors swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing and fishing in crystal clear water. Lake Tahoe, Nevada
• Dayton - Overflowing with willows, sagebrush and cottonwoods, the park is a picturesque site for camping, picnicking and hiking. Its riches also include the remains of a 1860s silver mill, one of the first to process ore from the Comstock Lode. Dayton, Nevada
• Echo Canyon - Boating, fishing and swimming are easily enjoyed at Echo Canyon, which features a 65-acre reservoir. With abundant wildlife, a wide variety of native plants and unique rock formations, the park also provides a perfect place to camp, hike and explore. Pioche, Nevada
• Elgin Schoolhouse - Visit the Elgin Schoolhouse and step back in time. Grades one through eight were taught in this historic one-room schoolhouse from 1922 through 1967. The site features many of the school’s original items, as well as the teacher’s small living quarters. Caliente, Nevada
• Fort Churchill - An Army post built in 1861, Fort Churchill helped guard the Pony Express route and acted as a base for hundreds of soldiers. Visitors today can walk designated trails to study the ruins and can camp, picnic and enjoy fishing and swimming in the Carson River. Silver Springs, Nevada
• Ice Age Fossils - Nevada’s newest state park will provide educational programming at a location rich in paleontological resources. Visitors will immerse themselves in a prehistoric world with fossils of animals such as mammoths, camels, bison, horses, sloth, and even the dire wolf. North Las Vegas, Nevada
• Kershaw-Ryan - In a lush canyon where natural springs feed wild grapevines, white oaks and roses, Kershaw-Ryan is an oasis in the desert. The park features a greenbelt with fruit trees and a children’s wading pool and hikers can enjoy trails through the canyon and valley.
• Kershaw-Ryan - Caliente, Nevada
• Lahontan - With 69 miles of shoreline, Lahontan Reservoir is a popular place to boat, fish, water-ski, horseback ride, camp, hike and enjoy the outdoors year-round. Canoeing from Fort Churchill to the lake makes for a great day trip when conditions allow. Fallon, Nevada
• Mormon Station - Mormon Station is the site of Nevada’s first permanent, non-native settlement. A replica of the original trading post, built in 1851, houses a museum with pioneer-era artifacts. Large, lush lawns and mature trees make the park a lovely location to picnic. Genoa, Nevada
• Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort - More than 150 years ago, a spring-fed creek flowed through the Las Vegas Valley, creating an oasis in the desert where Mormon missionaries built an adobe fort. Today the park includes a remnant of the original fort that is used to display historic artifacts. Las Vegas, Nevada
• Rye Patch - Rye Patch visitors enjoy camping, picnicking, fishing and water-skiing on a 22-mile long reservoir created by a dam on the Humboldt River. The park also serves as a popular base camp for off-road vehicles, ghost town exploration and gold prospecting. Lovelock, Nevada
• Sand Harbor - With crystal-clear waters, long sandy beaches, rocky coves, shady forested areas and panoramic lake views, Sand Harbor offers visitors unparalleled opportunities to enjoy and explore Lake Tahoe and also hosts the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival every summer. Incline Village, Nevada
• South Fork - Surrounded by lovely meadows and rolling hills, South Fork offers both primitive and developed camping. Popular for hunting, boating and wildlife viewing, the park is also known for the reservoir’s trophy-class trout and abundant bass and catfish. Spring Creek, Nevada
• Spooner Lake and Backcountry - The Spooner Backcountry is a widespread recreational oasis. Its lake is a popular place to picnic and catch-and-release fish, and there are more than 12,000 acres of forested open space with 50 miles of hiking, equestrian and mountain biking trails.
• Spooner Lake and Backcountry - Incline Village, Nevada
• Spring Mountain Ranch - The first working ranch in the Las Vegas Valley, and once a luxurious retreat for millionaire Howard Hughes, Spring Mountain Ranch attracts visitors who enjoy exploring historic buildings, hiking and large, lush lawns on which to picnic and play. Blue Diamond, Nevada
• Spring Valley - Spring Valley is named for the abundance of springs that irrigate lush pastures in a historic ranching area dotted by turn-of-the-century stone buildings. Eagle Valley reservoir is stocked with trout and is a stone’s throw from a shady campground. Pioche, Nevada
• Valley of Fire - A geologic wonderland, world-renowned Valley of Fire has 2,000 year old petroglyphs carved into massive red sandstone formations in the Mohave Desert. These stunning and unique sandstone formations were formed from shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago. Overton, Nevada
• Van Sickle - Just a short walk from South Lake Tahoe’s stateline casinos, Van Sickle Bi-State Park is one of the most accessible parks in the Tahoe Basin. A short climb from the trailhead transports visitors to the serenity of the forest and offers stunning views of the lake. Incline Village, Nevada
• Walker River - Rugged and vast, the Walker River State Recreation Area spans more than 12,000 acres of rustic rangeland along 28 miles of the picturesque East Walker River, offering a bounty of year-round activities, such as camping, hiking, bird watching, horseback riding, floating and trophy fishing. Yerington, Nevada
• Ward Charcoal Ovens - Built in the 1870s, the park’s ovens are some of the best preserved kilns in the United States. Created to support mining, they later sheltered travelers and had a reputation as a hideout for stagecoach bandits. Visitors to the ovens can also enjoy camping and fishing. Ely, Nevada
• Washoe Lake - With breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada and Virginia mountain ranges, Washoe Lake is a popular area for hiking, camping, water sports, picnicking and equestrian activities. Bird watchers delight in the diversity of migratory birds and waterfowl. Carson City, Nevada
• Wild Horse - Where wild horses once roamed, extraordinary beauty and recreational opportunities await this park’s visitors. Ideal for ice fishing in the winter and boasting magnificent wildflowers in the spring, the park offers summertime water sports on its huge reservoir. Elko, Nevada

Nevada Seasons, bugs, topography and climate

Unless you slept through middle school geography class, you know that the climate in Nevada is semi-arid with abundant sunshine, light rainfall and snow. It's a lot of desert! Average temperatures vary from about 19°C (66°F) in Carson City in the south to 8°C (47°F) in Elko in the north.

Camping in Nevada

If you're looking to save money on your trip, camping may be a fun alternative to hotels and motels, especially, if you already have the gear, or are looking to get some. BTW, this websites ( https://RoadTrippingAndCamping.com ) explains everything you need to know about camping gear and where to the best gear at the lowest prices.

Nevada State Parks does not have a reservation system at this time. Campsites are available only on a first-come, first-served basis. Park staff will make every reasonable effort to accommodate campers during periods when campgrounds are at capacity.

There are both state parks and private campgrounds in Nevada.