My Carson Staycation

Join About Town Deb in this three-part blog as she explores Nevada’s historic capital, all while social distancing and masking up!

There is so much to discover in Carson City, and I was so happy to enjoy it with my cousin, Jazzy Jorja. Before we start, we want to give a special thank you to Visit Carson City for mapping out our adventure! Okay, hope you enjoy our trip! Let’s get going …

DAY 1

Feeling Like You Need To Relax? First Stop — Carson Hot Springs!

Hot springs are the perfect way to start any getaway, so naturally, the Historical Carson Hot Springs was on top of my itinerary. Heck, we went there before we even checked in to our hotel! After all, it’s a staycation so we dove right in, and the warm mineral water is just what I needed.

The fine team at the hot springs gave us a tour, explained all the extra COVID protocols they have in place to keep us safe, and I’ll tell you: this place is clean as a whistle and has everything you need for a stress-free experience. We picked our favorite private hot tub for an amazing mineral water soak. I loved the music and enjoyed plenty of room to relax and take it all in. After our relaxing mineral soak, we went outside for a swim and laid out by the pool. Bonus, I was able to pick a shady spot and get in some long overdue reading. Minus, I thought I was in good shape from daily six-mile walks . . . well, I was sure out of breath and shape in the pool (don’t tell!).

A little fun fact: The Historic Carson Hot Springs water comes from 35,000 feet below the Earth’s surface. They believe they have the BEST water in the Sierra/Rocky Mountain chain of hot springs, and here’s some info on why the Historic Carson Hot Springs are historic!

Check out the Historic Carson Hot Springs homepage for more info, a live webcam, and announcements.

Hot Springs Neighbors: Locally-Sourced, Fresh Lunch at Sassafras and Ice-Cold, Local Beer at Shoe Tree Brewery

 We walked 10 feet to lunch at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint and 10 more feet for drinks at Shoe Tree Brewing Company! This shopping center trifecta is tucked away, and it’s a real Carson gem as far as I’m concerned. Rejuvenating hot springs, deliciously fresh food, and creative craft beer?! Plus, all local to-boot?! Yes please.

At Sassafras, we sat outside on their beautiful, spacious patio that’s complete with shade structures and water misters (perfect for cooling down after tanning at the hot springs). The Sassafras service gave us huge smiles under our masks!

On our menu at Sassafras, we had:

Deb’s Pick:

• Farmer’s Spring Salad, [this salad was a treasure chest of healthy fresh fruits + greens!

Jazzy Jorja’s Pick

• Asian chicken tacos it was so yummy + loved the heart shaped rice.

What I loved the most about Sassafras was seeing our server greet each local by name. The locals already had their perfect menu item ready to order, and they were happy to share menu choices with us. It’s easy to see why Sassafras is a local favorite. They embody that down-home hospitality that Carson City is all about. One of many reasons to visit!

After our yummy lunch, we walked a stones-throw to the family-owned Shoe Tree Brewing Company for a taste of local, award-winning craft beer! I absolutely LOVED the “Amigos! Amigos! Amigos!” Mexican lager, and I was in awe of the branding at Shoe Tree (it’s based on a real, iconic tree in Nevada).

We also enjoyed the Brunswick Blonde Ale on their spacious outdoor picnic seating area. The outdoor area has a stage for bands and features games like cornhole and ladder toss for patrons to enjoy.

Fun Fact: Shoe Tree Brewing owner Jeff Young’s 16-year-old daughter Emma Young crafted the delicious, non-alcoholic Shoe Tree Black Cherry Cola from scratch! She also created the Shoe Tree Sparkling Lemonade, another tasty non-alcoholic treat. So cool to see her already rocking the family business at such a young age.

Time For A Check Point, Settling In At My Place Hotels

We finally checked in to My Place Hotels, one of Carson City’s newest hotels, and we felt at home from the moment we walked in. Jazzy Jorga and I started calling it “Our Place” almost immediately. Our room was spacious and spotless. My first priority was a quick nap, so I loved the comfy pillow-top mattresses, soft microfiber bedding, and that we had a variety of soft and firm pillows on the bed. Bonuses: the hotel offers breakfast in bed, and all rooms include a small “my kitchen” area complete with a two-burner stove top and toaster to make your own meals if you’d like.

City Talk With About Town Deb Recorded On-Site at the Delicious Mangia Tutto Italian Pizzeria E Ristorante!
Plus, Picture Perfect Cocktails

 Mangia Tutto is a taste of Italy right in Downtown Carson! We enjoyed amazing cocktails and appetizers to fuel me up before hosting my City Talk radio show on-site in the restaurant. My Deb’s Pick was the traditional spaghetti with red sauce, and I was in pasta heaven. I also had this delightful grapefruit creation I’m holding, their signature Italian Greyhound cocktail!

Love seeing Lydia, marketing manager at Visit Carson City, smiling in the background, and I was so happy  we had such a great interview with her and Chrisie Yabu, Vice President of Public Relations at KPS3 marketing agency.

The food and experience at Mangia was so good that I’ve already gone back a second time since this visit!

Fueled Up & Ready For Nevada History! Next stop: Nevada State Museum

The Nevada State Museum showcases Carson City’s rich history in the raw. Knowledge rings around every corner, & I was particularly struck by the Carson City Mint Bell display on my first-ever visit! The bell sits in the same home it’s had since 1870, when the museum building was a mint.

Fun Fact: 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Carson City U.S. Branch Mint building and the beginning of coin production at the mint in 1870.

The museum experience was immersive, as we traveled through realistic replicas of Nevada’s historical silver mines! I’m happy to report that even the miners (and their trusty steeds) wore face masks for safety & that Jazzy Jorja and I made it through with our masks secured as well!

This is definitely a #debspick in Carson City, and a must-visit for anyone traveling through Nevada’s capital.

Dinner Bell! Stroll Through Italy With Good Wine, Steller Service & Oh-So-Delicious Bites At Carson Piazza Bar

From the moment you walk in, Carson Piazza Bar feels like home

My goodness, I can’t say enough about Carson Piazza Bar! Award-winning wines, great cocktails, fantastic service, and small bites that will dazzle your taste buds … the result is Piazza! As a bonus for me, they had one of my favorite El Dorado Wines, Lava Cap, as well as Frey Ranch vodka.

The restaurant was inspired by the owners’ travels in Italy and Spain, where they loved joining the locals in the evenings to stroll in the piazza (a public square/marketplace), and they enjoyed stopping at the neighborhood bar to relax with a spritz or good glass of wine.

Such a wonderful evening filled with great food, good conversion and lots of laughs. I’m already looking forward to my next Piazza visit!