Beatty, NV

I've visited many of the major American cities.  New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans, Nashville, Atlanta, Tampa.  New York and Chicago are ugly, dirty, horrible places.  The people in Tampa suck.  The other locations listed are OK to varying degrees, though I must say post-Katrina New Orleans is much, much less congenial than pre-Katrina New Orleans.

My favorite American travel destination is Beatty, Nevada, a small unincorporated town located in Nye County, about an hour-and-a-half drive on the peacefully desolate US-95 from Las Vegas. Known as the "Gateway to Death Valley," Beatty lies just seven miles east of the Death Valley National Park, making it a perfect stop for travelers exploring the region. The population is about 500.  500 humans.  There are dozens of burros that wander freely through the town, one of its chief charms.  The burros move together in friendly little posses.  Friendly to each other.  They just stop and stare at humans, much like I do, with much the same contempt.  You have to watch where you step in Beatty.

I enjoy the barren landscape and extreme heat.  The place always seems exotic to my midwestern soul.

There's a surprisingly lively night scene in Beatty.  There is a small casino, but most of the action takes place right out on Main Street and the four or five little streets off of it.  People hangout in various stages of undress and drunkenness.  The little Nye County Sheriff's substation stays busy after sundown. 

I cannot recommend Beatty, NV highly enough for those who want to *get away from it all.*  *It all* being typical drab America.