Road Tripping: Drive through Moapa, Nevada

Drive through the desert for about 75 miles heading South on the I-15 from St. George, Utah, and you'll find your way to Moapa Valley. Dubbed as the "Gateway to Valley of Fire and Lake Mead", which it quite literally is, this small town is a pleasant reminder of civilizations' existence after expansive emptiness that's more reminiscent of Mad Max.  It's quite a charming little town, and we'll definitely have to make a point of visiting it and spending more time there in the future. As of this venture, we were trying to beat the sun to the horizon and squeeze in a quick photo shoot before it grew too dark. We had miles yet to go, so we drove through Moapa without stopping but I managed to snap plenty of photos of the town on our brief tour. There wasn't a huge amount to it- there's no major chain stores or familiar fast food franchises proliferating to choose from, but there are small neighborhood markets and restaurants. One in particular stood out, with a giant rooster standing high above the roadside. The large bird jokes are easy to make, but I'm going to try to rise above the immature impulse to make some joke that ends in "that's what she said!"...

I don't know about you, but I've been dropping that line into conversations a little more regularly than I think is probably ideal. I blame the constant rotation of "The Office" in our home. I really don't want to let Michael Scott's mannerisms rub off on me (that's what she said). Anyway, it's hard not to notice a giant red cock glistening in the sun, and it definitely adds a unique charm to their downtown sprawl. 

 

Driving through Moapa it's not hard to see why people would want to live out here. It's close enough to multiple bigger cities that any amenities or things you might want or need are still fairly easily accessible (so long as you have a vehicle) but it's far enough away to feel secluded and maintain it's rural charm. There are farms and boats, for heading out for a day on the nearby lake, and at night it's small enough that the light pollution is absolutely minimal, especially when compared to its ostentatious neighbor Vegas. This is a great locale for people who enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful scenery of Valley of Fire as it's right next door. The quiet life, with Vegas just an hour down the road if you miss the bustle and hustle. 

Cheers!

🐔

XOXO,

NAU