15 Strange Habits Every Nevadan Will Defend To The Death

For the umpteenth time, it's "Ne-VA-duh" NOT "Ne-VAH-duh." Got it?

Given that Nevada is the most mountainous state in the US (yes, really) and chock full of gorgeous state and national parks with spectacular rock formations, we love rock climbing.

Despite the vast differences in weather between the northern mountains and southern desert, we all know that Road Work is a season (it usually replaces Spring.)

The entire state is haunted. From haunted towns like Goldfield and Virginia City to haunted hotels like the Clown Motel in Tonopah to haunted cemeteries, schools, and mines, we definitely dig the paranormal.

In fact, when we travel outside of the state, we sense something is amiss when there aren't slot machines everywhere.

Given Nevada's lax alcohol laws, it is perfectly acceptable to drink in public. The only restrictions are while in a moving vehicle and within a certain distance from such buildings as schools, halfway houses, hospitals, etc.

If we didn't, then why do we have top secret Area 51?

In addition to, shall we say, "normal" sports betting (such as the Super Bowl), we Nevadans will bet on anything sports related. Who will win the coin toss? Who will score first? How many teeth will hockey players lose in the game? Well, that last one is a bit of a stretch, but you get the picture.

Oh look, a brothel, yawn. Seriously, given that prostitution is legal throughout the entire state (except for Clark, Washoe, Douglas, and Lincoln counties, as well as Carson City), we pretty much turn a blind eye to it. We also are unfazed by the mass illegal prostitution that goes on in Las Vegas and Reno.

What's a little brown grass? In the desert, those of us who actually have a lawn and not some xeriscaped rock garden, accept this as normal.

In addition to the huge flooding possibility due to heavy rains (pictured Las Vegas), most Nevadans have no clue how to drive in precipitation. Better safe than sorry, right?

Actually, there is much more to the annual Burning Man Festival in Black Rock Desert. A week-long festival to commemorate community, arts, civic responsibility, self-expression, and sustainability is concluded by the burning of a huge wooden man or other edifice.

And we see him everywhere.

While we may claim not to like tourists, we do like the money they bring into the state.

The unofficial official Nevada state food, we eat a lot of shrimp cocktails. Seriously, a lot.