Virginia City, Nevada

Old brick facades, wooden walkways, and a main street draped in wires creates the illusion that you've stepped back in time as you enter Virginia City, Nevada. This community sprung up practically overnight when the first major silver deposit in the United States was discovered here in 1859. Were it not for the cars and power lines, you'd swear you were back in the Nevada Territory based on the character of the amazing buildings here.

At its peak in 1870, Virginia City had roughly 25,000 residents. Today, with a focus mostly on tourism, around 855 people call this former mining boomtown home. While some may see a gimmick, I was quickly won over by places like the Bucket of Blood Saloon and the Virginia City Brewery. And if that's not enough, the winding roads to get here were a blast to drive.