The Genoa Cowboy Festival is a wonderful blend of beautiful setting, entertainment, heritage and Western culture. Nestled at the base of the Sierra Nevada in the beautiful Carson Valley, historic Genoa is the site of the first ranch in Nevada and still has working cattle ranches literally steps from the town. From its 19th century beginnings, cowboys and ranching have shared work, words and music here. You’d be hard pressed to find a better place to celebrate the unique forms of Cowboy Poetry, Western music and the Western lifestyle.

Jenny and I looked at the schedule of events and thought today was the perfect day to attend.  One presentation we found very interesting, was hearing Peter Ford share the story of his father, Glenn Ford's, incredible life in and out of the movies.

Sometimes, stating the obvious makes me laugh.  I'm easily amused.

There were many photo opportunities.  I was a happy tourist!

I think the most mesmerizing performance I saw was Women of the Wild West: Julia Bullette and Eilley Bowers, as portrayed by Kim Copél and Lisa Bommarito.  These were two very different, and successful, women of 1860's Virginia City.  Julia was a prostitute and Eilley was, in her time, one of the richest women in the United States.  Both ladies did a fabulous job being their characters, so much so I was crying at one point.

Lunch was in the perfect picnic spot, Mormon Station State Park, while a concert occurred next to us.

After fueling up, we strolled the streets of Genoa on a Ghost Tour with Kim Copél.  She wears many hats, in this town, and is an exceptional storyteller.

To me, no trip to Genoa is complete without saddling up to the bar at Nevada's oldest Thirst Parlor.. THE GENOA BAR AND SALOON has been able to minimize the impact of contemporary society on its gracious old structure. This faithfulness to its original purpose and design has made it a favorite location for artists, actors and directors trying to capture the spirit and to tell the story of the American west.

There have been some pretty impressive drinkers who came here before us:   Mark Twain, Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, Clark Gable, Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Raquel Welch, to name just a few.  It was the perfect last stop before we rode off into the sunset.  Yee-haw!