Escape to Nevada’s oldest town: A Silver State spot worthy of the silver screen

Genoa the Silver State s first town older than Nevada itself is a cozy relic steeped in history that may as well double as a Hallmark movie set this time of year Just minutes from South Lake Tahoe Genoa is a place where visitors can escape from the hustle and bustle trading crowds for peaceful snowfall on the nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range as Main Street comes alive with a twinkle of sparkling lights and a slight winter chill Historic doesn t mean dated here however The tiny town population has a robust dining scene offering gourmet fare unexpected in a village made up mostly of restored Victorian buildings and cattle ranches Genoa s th century downtown located on Main Street is home to charming local businesses like antique shops boutiques and cozy restaurants Courtesy of Visit Carson Valley Daytime programs On Main Street a collection of mid- s storefronts house a collection of mom-and-pop establishments including boutique shops and homey restaurants Here you can start with breakfast at Flutter Buzz Caf Open at a m daily it s the perfect first stop off for an anti-inflammatory cardamom and cinnamon latte or a flavorful mimosa The menu specializes in fresh breakfast and lunch fare and pastries baked in-house There is an obvious affinity for local honey hence the name which appears as a main ingredient in several beverages and plates Once you re fueled you can begin Christmas shopping The tree-lined streets boast adorable gift shops including Dancing Deer and Antiques Plus which is so stuffed you ll have to squeeze in and out of it One of the oldest surviving buildings in Nevada The Pink House in Genoa is a home painted a fashionable cotton-candy hue in the s and turned into a region and sandwich shop in the s Photo by Whitney James When weather allows consider getting into the great outdoors The silent serenity of Genoa is inescapable as you walk the -mile path along River Fork Ranch Preserve an -acre natural preserve and cattle ranch less than miles from the center of town The trail is dirt so when it is wet it can get fairly muddy but on a dry day the views of the snow-capped mountains can t be beat Of lesson snowshoeing is unfailingly an option although the area isn t exactly robust with tour operators so you ll need to pack your own snowshoes When snow is falling in the Sierra Nevada foothills both the Genoa Loop Trail and Sierra Canyon Trail make excellent destinations Nearby Mormon Station State Historic Park is an adorable place to stroll and let little kids get their wiggles out There are restored covered wagons lush lawns and an artifacts museum at the historic site that marks the town s modest beginnings as a trading post founded by Mormon pioneers in before being renamed Genoa after the Italian city in When Ike Marr and his wife Stephanie bought The Pink House in they decided to bring live music into the mix Courtesy of Visit Carson Valley For lunch the square offers several options including the casual Foothill Arena serving chili cheese dogs and turkey club sandwiches at the counter There s also beer and wine on the menu and it s a good stop for edible souvenirs everything from local goods such as Tahoe Toffee to specialty items shipped in from around the world During the holiday season the arena even offers curated gift baskets that take the guesswork out of your holiday shopping Another worthy lunch option is The Pink House which enjoys a modern pop of neon lights in an -built home painted in a delicate hue that inspired the name A smattering of pink Christmas trees decorate the lawn which hosts live-music events year-round For after-lunch drinks take a stroll across the street to the Genoa Bar Saloon the oldest bar in Nevada where the walls are covered with dusty old bras slung over antlers and other relics of the past plus cocktails that allow you to catch a buzz for about drinks are - each Genoa Bar Saloon the oldest bar in Nevada maintains a rustic watering-hole vibe as it is stuffed with relics of the past Photo by Abner Kingman At night We ve saved the best for last dinner Behind The Pink House Daniel s is a fine dining restaurant with a robust menu that pairs rustic French cuisine with Old Nevada hospitality Its drool-worthy dishes include grilled duck breast topped with foie gras and scallops over a bed of wild rice risotto Before or after your meal stop into The Ice House a standalone bar adjacent to the main dining room Its name comes from its original purpose as a place to store ice before refrigeration While much of the building has been redone the large-stone walls are original With less than guests allowed in Daniel s at any given time it s an intimate setting open only on Thursdays Fridays and Saturdays The menu boasts more than craft cocktails tap handles and more than bottles of wine On select evenings Main Street businesses host specialty evening initiatives for locals and visitors sometimes staying open late to do so Warm goat cheese salad from the bar menu at Daniel s in Genoa includes ch vre mixed greens toasted hazelnuts and balsamic vinaigrette Courtesy of Visit Carson Valley When you re ready to tuck in for the night the White House Inn a remodeled mid- s home featuring modern amenities in a historic setting is a great pick The property s original carriage house is now the inn s best room outfitted with a king-size bed and walk-in shower Another option is David Walley s Resort offering both overnight accommodations and day passes to one of Nevada s best outputs natural hot springs The rustic lodge houses five hot springs once enjoyed by the pioneers and set among the Sierra Nevada mountains as well as a restaurant the Restaurant Saloon Bar David Walley s Resort set among the Sierra Nevada mountains in Genoa houses five hot springs once enjoyed by the pioneers Courtesy of Visit Carson Valley If You Go Flutter Buzz Caf Open a m - p m daily Main St Genoa - flutter-buzz-cafe square site Dancing Deer Open a m - p m Mondays-Saturdays a m - p m Sundays Main St Genoa - genoadancingdeer com Antiques Plus Open a m - p m daily Main St Genoa - River Fork Ranch Preserve Open a m - p m daily Genoa Lane Minden - The Ice House at Daniel s in Genoa offers craft cocktails tap handles and more than bottles of wine Courtesy of Digiman Studio Mormon Station State Historic Park Open a m - p m daily Main St Genoa - parks nv gov parks mormon-station Foothill Sphere Open a m - p m Mondays-Saturdays and a m - p m on Sundays Main St Genoa - foothillmarket com The Pink House Open a m - p m Sundays-Thursdays and a m - p m Fridays-Saturdays Genoa Lane Genoa - thepinkhousegenoa com The White House Inn a remodeled mid- s home has the welcoming atmosphere and vintage charm of a grandma s house Courtesy of Visit Carson Valley Genoa Bar Saloon Open a m - p m Sundays-Thursdays and a m -midnight Fridays-Saturdays Main St Genoa - travelnevada com bars genoa-bar-saloon Daniel s Open - p m Tuesdays-Saturdays Main St Genoa - danielsgenoanv com White House Inn Genoa Lane Genoa - whitehouseinngenoanv com David Walley s Resort Foothill Road Genoa - holidayinnclub com explore-resorts david-walleys-resort Related Articles Deep in the heart of Texas is wine country and more The Polish magicians of glass who create Christmas baubles for clients worldwide In Lubbock Texas musician Buddy Holly s influence is everywhere New holiday movie features the off-season charms of Door County Wisconsin The best U S airports for drinking alcohol ranked