If you are traveling to north Lake Tahoe, Reno, or Carson City this holiday season, you might consider spending some time in Virginia City and Silver City. You won’t be disappointed. This town is very family-friendly. My kids loved going to this town and Silver City when they were young.

Virginia City is just a short 30-minute ride from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. It is one of the largest remaining historic districts in the United States.

I’ve been there many times during the summer, and it is always a hoot. Virginia City was once a vibrant silver and gold mining town. While the riches have long been pulled from deep within the mine shafts, you can still visit many historical sites and have a lot of laughs and some great grub at the local restaurants and saloons. Here it is easy to imagine what it must have been like during the gold rush boomtown days. The town has been beautifully maintained. You can visit Virginia City’s museums, historic buildings, and some of its mines.

The Holiday Season just began today. Virginia City is offering lots of family-friendly events and activities. Here is a list of just some of the offerings. The fun began today and continues through December 18.

Just a hop, skip and jump away is Silver City. Silver City was also an active mining town in the 1860’s but now is largely considered a ghost town. That said, there are a few businesses and historic sites worth visiting.