Road Trip To The Area 51 Alien Center

Area 51 is not generally thought of as a typical tourist attraction when going on vacation. Surprisingly, we did see something on our way to the area that we found to be a little out of the ordinary.

How do you get to Area 51? Or what do you get to see if you drive to Area 51? It is around a two hour trip from Las Vegas to the Area 51 Alien Center, which is where we decided to see. We thought that the trip would basically consist of driving through desert for two hours, only to turn around and do it again. Since we were already in the area, it was now or never.

THE DRIVE TO AREA 51 ALIEN CENTER

We left Las Vegas and headed into the desert with no destination other than the Area 51 Alien Center. We would then turn right around and head back. Seeing as we had no other plans, we took off to see what the drive would have to offer. The drive through the old Nevada desert highways was a mountainous adventure. Passing through from town to town until they eventually stop and you are left with nothing but the occasional passing car.

As we were coming down the highway to our destination, our trip took an interesting turn. The desert was very windy this day and there was a lot of driving through thick dust. It was hard to see right in front of your hood, much less what was coming towards you down the road. Although we knew that the area was affiliated with the military, what we saw still somehow seemed unexpected.

OUR UNEXPECTED SIGHTING

Coming towards us out of nowhere on this two lane highway, was a huge military vehicle. This excited all of us because not only were we heading to Area 51 (kind of), but we were seeing military personnel on the same highway.

We were even more shocked to see it was not alone. A large caravan was following behind them. Our speed slowed and we all got much quieter. For some reason, we all got the sense that we weren’t supposed to be there. Realistically as it is a public highway, we knew that was not the case. There was still something eerie about it. The caravan passed with all types of vehicles and we watched them all while wondering where exactly they were heading. What have they seen? Do they have anything with them?

ARRIVING AT THE ALIEN CENTER

We arrived to the rest area and were not really surprised by what was there. We were not expecting much, other than a typical alien themed souvenir shop. After some quick browsing we soon realized we probably had already received the most interesting souvenir one could ask in this area by seeing those military vehicles. The Alien Center features all sorts of alien themed items to purchase. There was also an on-site brothel, as if aliens weren’t exciting enough.

This little trip just reinforced to us that traveling is all about the journey, not just the destination. Seeing those army vehicles on the way to the Area 51 Alien Center, though it was likely nothing, is something that none of us will soon forget. It was very tempting to just stay in the hotel in Las Vegas and to not make that 4 hours round trip drive just to see some alien head ashtrays. This just proved to me that if you regret the things you didn’t see, not the things that you did.