Mesquite has everything you’d expect for a Nevada destination - 24-hour gaming, desert scenery, and an endless stream of cool things to do. But Mesquite is its own place with its own charms. Nestled in the Virgin River Valley, Mesquite lies 80 miles to the north of Las Vegas. The resort town is perfect for a day trip or a week-long getaway. No matter how long you stay, you’ll have the chance to experience Mesquite for yourself, including its museums, golf courses, and gaming options.

Museums & Galleries

The Virgin Valley Museum takes the wide view of Mesquite Nevada history. As you step into the museum, which is free to visit, you will see a collection of artifacts that best tell the story of Mesquite and its residents, including beautiful wedding dresses, handmade quilts, and the first slot machine ever played at a Virgin Valley casino. At the city-run museum, you can pick up a brochure for a walking tour of the nearby downtown buildings, each with a photo and interesting tidbits embossed on its historical marker.

With a trip to nearby Overton, you can visit the Lost City Museum. Open since 1935, the museum is dedicated to telling the story of the Pueblo Natives who made their homes throughout the Southwest. During the Great Depression, workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps built the museum in the same style as a Pueblo house, giving a place to preserve the artifacts that could have been lost when Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam were built. Today, the museum is one of six museums under the watch of the state, along with the State Museum of Las Vegas and the Carson City Railroad Museum.

The Mesquite Fine Arts Center and Gallery provides a place for modern artisans and admirers to connect. The galleries are open year-round from Tuesday through Sunday, presenting a host of cool exhibits. The arts center also hosts a full schedule of pottery classes, artist workshops and other hands-on classes that visitors can pop into and exercise their creativity.

Golf

Golfers can exercise their skills, rather than their creativity, on the golf courses of Mesquite Nevada. With more than 300 sunny days a year and many warm days, there’s rarely a bad time to hit the links. Thanks to its assortment of courses and scenic settings, Mesquite is gaining a reputation as a golfing destination. Seven courses are located within the valley, so it’s not difficult to find a tee time or a course to suit your skill level. Every tee of the CasaBlanca Golf Club overlooks the Virgin River Basin and its wetlands. The host of the Nevada Open has five different tees on each hole, so even beginners can play this championship course.

Hotels & Resorts

The CasaBlanca Resort (pictured left & at top) is just one of many find places to stay in the Virgin River Valley. Golfing packages are perfect for some stay-and-play fun, and they’re available at several of Mesquite’s resorts. Rates often run less than the hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, so it’s not hard to find a lot of value for your stay. In addition to resorts, Mesquite offers a collection of familiar-name motels, RV parks, and condo communities that will provide a cozy place to stay.

Casinos

Because this is Nevada, you can expect to find casinos among Mesquite hotels and resorts. Lady Luck frequents several of the valley’s resorts, including CasaBlanca. Its gaming floor is open 24 hours a day and offers more than 750 slot and video poker machines along with live table games. High-limit gamers frequent the Eureka Casino Resort where slot machines and video poker stations number more than 1,100. The third option for gaming is more laid-back. The Virgin River Hotel/Casino/Bingo has table games, live bingo and more than 800 video terminals, along with a bowling alley and family-friendly entertainment. All three of the casinos have overnight accommodations and offer packages for great vacation values.