Basque Adventure Challenge
Expiration: Jul 31st 2024
Emigrating first for gold and then for sheepherding, Nevada’s Basque communities have played a vital role in shaping the Silver State’s culture and personality. Experience this rich heritage with the Basque Adventure Challenge, showcasing everything from family-style feasts and vibrant festivals to historic landmarks.
Download the free Basque Adventure Challenge and digitally check in at nearly two dozen Basque restaurants, events, and cultural institutions. Once you check in to a minimum of three locations, you’ll be entered to win:
• Grand Prize: Two-night stay in Elko, Nevada, including lodging, a gift card for dinner, and a gas gift card to help get you there
• Second Place Prizes: One of several gift cards to our favorite Basque restaurants
• Third Place Prizes: An exclusive Travel Nevada swag bag (valued at $50)
The Basque Adventure Challenge ends July 31, 2024, so go on and get a little out there into Nevada’s Basque Country!
Included Venues
See locations on an interactive map.
Basque Sheepherder Mural
Ely is home to dozens of vibrant murals located throughout town. Father-and-son duo Don and Jared Gray painted this piece that depicts the role Basque sheepherders played in developing the region.
Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center
Housed in what used to be the historic Douglas County High School, the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center features an impressive array of local and state history. See what life would have been like for a Basque sheepherder working in the nearby Pine Nut Mountains, and see his story told through Basque arborglyphs.
Elko's National Basque Festival
Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, get to Elko for endless amounts of fun and culture at the National Basque Festival (July 6-7, 2024). All are welcome at the Elko Basque Clubhouse for dancing, rural sport exhibitions (like wood chopping and weight carrying), delicious eats, and a full bar pouring Picon Punches. The festivities also include a Basque-style picnic, a sheepherder bread contest, handball games, and a golf tournament.
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J T Basque Bar & Dining Room
Voted Best Basque Restaurant in Carson Valley for more than a decade running, this Gardnerville eatery serves up family-style lunches and dinners. The menu includes rich lamb steaks, sirloin cuts, Basque chicken, plenty of sides, and—of course—Nevada’s officially unofficial state cocktail, the (in)famous Picon Punch.
Jon Bilbao Basque Library
The University of Nevada, Reno is home to the leading library on Basque subjects outside of the Basque Country. Open to the public as well as the academic community, the Jon Bilbao Basque Library includes books, journals, photographs, audio/visual materials, and an ephemera collection.
Louis' Basque Corner
Named a “USA Today” 2024 Restaurant of the Year, Louis’ Basque Corner has been serving up family-style favorites since 1967. Enjoy the full Basque experience—including soup of the day, bread, beans, salad, fries, entrée, and a glass of house wine—for “bazkari” (lunch) or “afari” (dinner), or opt for entrées like sweetbreads, roast leg of lamb, and steak. Try their signature Picon Punch!
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National Monument of the Basque Sheepherder
You’ll find the National Monument of the Basque Sheepherder near the baseball field inside Reno’s Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Titled “Solitude/Bakardade,” the 23-foot-tall bronze sculpture is the work of Basque artist Nestor Basterretxea. Look closely at the abstract artwork to see a shepherd carrying a lamb over his shoulder under a full moon.
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Northeastern Nevada Museum
One of Elko’s most robust museums, the Northeastern Nevada Museum is full of fascinating history. See all kinds of cultural artifacts that tell the stories of the region’s first American Indian, Chinese, Basque, and pioneer residents. Rare collections from Ansel Adams and Will James are on display, and a wildlife exhibit features hundreds of taxidermied animals from Nevada’s Great Basin and beyond.
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Ogi Deli - Bar & Pintxos
Bring a big appetite to Ogi Deli, which serves everything from wraps and salads to breakfast and dessert. Favorites include chorizo and jamón sandwiches, the osasuna vegan wrap, and Basque cheesecake. At the bar, feast on a variety of pintxos (snack-sized bites) and authentic beverages like imported Sagardoa (a dry Basque cider) and Patxaran, a sweet liqueur.
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Racks Bar and Grill
Anything you order at Racks will be delicious, but our advice? Choose the chorizo sandwich, made from the restaurant’s own special recipe and topped with roasted red pepper and secret sauce on a pretzel roll. If the chorizo can’t tempt you, take your pick of steak burgers, flatbreads, homemade bread pudding, and in-house specials.
Renaissance Village
As the site of one of the biggest copper booms in the West, Ely attracted people from around the world. Explore all the cultures that shaped this mountain town at Renaissance Village, where an array of historic buildings depict the home lives of Basque, Italian, Chinese, German, and Slavic residents in the early 1900s.
Reno Basque Festival
Have a blast with the Basques in the Biggest Little City! The 56th Annual Reno Basque Festival (July 20, 2024) is a full day of family-friendly fun featuring weightlifting and wood chopping exhibitions, Basque lunch, traditional dancers, and an evening social dance. Live music and Picon Punches will keep the party going all night long.
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The Fe
Basque pintxos—small finger foods similar to tapas—lead off The Fe’s menu of delicious fare. Choose from chorizo + Manchego, fig jam + duck, potato croquetas, and others. Garlic shrimp, lamb lollipops, beef tongue, and more round out the menu. Pair your meal with a Picon Punch or a Kalimotxo, made from equal parts red wine and cola.
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The Martin Hotel
Opened in 1913, The Martin Hotel got its start serving the Basque sheepherders working in the mountain ranges surrounding Winnemucca. Boarding rooms are no longer available, but the hearty menu continues to satisfy. Specialties include ribeye steaks smothered in garlic, solomo—boneless pork loin simmered with garlic and pimentos—and liver and onions. All dinners are served in family-style tradition, and don’t forget their famous Picon Punch!
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What's Included
- $5 Off Coupon
The Star Hotel Basque Dining
Glowing neon beckons locals, travelers, and old sheepherders alike off the highway and into this iconic Nevada institution for garlic-loaded entrées, stiff drinks, and new friends amid an old-world atmosphere. Dig into Basque-style lunches and dinners—ranging from lamb chops and spicy grilled haddock to famous steaks and rock lobster tails—with all the family-style fixings. The Star pours a must-try Picon Punch, too.
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The Statue of the Basque Sheepherder
The Statue of the Basque Sheepherder at the University of Nevada, Reno is a powerful symbol commemorating the Basque community's heritage and contributions to the region. Built in 1998, the statue depicts a shepherd accompanied by his loyal dog and sheep, symbolizing the Basque tradition of sheepherding that played a significant role in Nevada's history. Serving as a prominent fixture on campus, the statue not only celebrates Basque culture but also serves as a gathering point for events and a representation of the university's commitment to cultural diversity and understanding.
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Toki Ona
Beloved by locals and travelers alike, Toki Ona dishes up breakfast, lunch, and dinner from the heart of Elko. By day, enjoy filling omelets and sandwiches featuring chorizo, lomo (pork tenderloin), or crab. Dinner options range from steak and lamb to fish and seafood, and all entrées come with soup, salad, green beans, spaghetti, rice, and choice of potato. Belly up to the bar for Picon Punches and Kalimotxos.
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Villa Basque Café
Home to “Pete’s Famous Basque Chorizo,” Villa Basque Café is a must for anyone who wants an authentic taste of Basque heritage. Enjoy their signature meat in a three-egg omelette, burrito, nachos, and numerous other dishes, or opt for house specialties like paella, lamb stew, and txerria (pork steak topped with Basque sauce and melted jack cheese). The on-site gift shop sells chorizo and other items to go, plus a selection of gourmet foods.
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Winnemucca Basque Festival
Eat, drink, and be Basque! The Winnemucca Basque Festival (June 7-9, 2024) fills downtown with traditional Basque dance performances, chorizo and paella feasts, a sheepherder bread auction, and a parade. You’ll also find tons of vendors, activities for kids, live music, and lots of opportunities to toast over a Picon Punch.