Beyond the Neon Lights
Millions of people decide to make the trip to Las Vegas each year, but not everyone likes to drink and gamble. Luckily the city of sin is surrounded by majestic beauty that is full of entertainment and half the price of what you could lose in a casino.
Just a quick 15 miles from the Las Vegas strip and you will be standing at the foot of Red Rock Canyon. The area around Red Rock is set up for an adventure either on foot or by bike. For the casual cyclist the trail starts off with a moderate climb but then has a swift smooth downhill ride that flattens out for a peaceful cruise. If you want to get even closer to the actual canyon, you can take a short 4-wheeler ride.
Brave enough to venture a little further off the trail and you can visit the ghost town replica of Bonnie Springs. If you’re interested in a little break from the fast paced life on the strip Bonnie Springs is an ideal spot. Located in the Red Rock Canyon region of the Mojave Desert, this is the perfect spot for Paranormal enthusiasts. The 46-room motel will give you a place to stay while you explore what many believe is a haunted ranch. A ghost that looks like a young girl has been spotted in the schoolhouse and paranormal voices have been recorded in the wax museum.
While staying in the motel and taking a break from the ghosts, you can walk on over to the accidental zoo. The zoo started when someone dropped off a sheep at the property. The sheep then caught the attention of two deer, whom decided to take up residence. Not long after the deer a wolf arrived, some emus and goats all decided to get in on the action too.
When flying into Las Vegas one of the first views you see is the beautiful Lake Mead. When the Lake is full it is one of the largest reservoirs in America. Located a short 24 miles from the Las Vegas strip Lake Mead offers lots of entertainment activities. Taking a lazy boat ride through water that has trickled off of the surrounding mountains, it is the perfect recovery from a long night. If you have a bit more energy jump on into a pair of water skis or a kayak and get up close and personal with the oasis in the desert. If sitting in one spot is more your speed the fishing opportunities are endless.
A traveler may decide to venture out a little and just 35 miles further north you can bump into Mount Charleston or otherwise known as Charleston Peak. Mount Charleston is the eighth highest mountain in the entire state. The mountain range is so vast on a clear day you can even see it from the Las Vegas strip. With the mountain snow-capped for more than half the year, this is a perfect destination for a quick ski trip. If you are visiting out of snow season there are lots of hiking, biking or even walking trails spread throughout the mountain.
50 miles out from the Las Vegas strip and you are venturing fourth into the Valley of Fire. This is not some cheesy Vegas stage act, but rather the oldest state park in Nevada. The name comes from the red sandstone formations made from Aztec sandstone which can be linked back to sand dunes created during the age of the dinosaur. Valley of Fire has been used cinematically in the final scene of Star Trek: Generations as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall. While this is a great trip away from the strip, it needs to be planned at the right time of day as temperatures can soar into the 100’s easily. If that sounds too hot for you, the Valley of Fire road takes you right through the state park on the Nevada Scenic Byway.
For the visitor that is looking to travel even further by car you can be lucky enough to see Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and even the Grand Canyon. All three parks are passing over two-hours of travel time each direction. The breath taking views that are a once in a lifetime opportunity and can easily make the trip worthwhile.
Finally, if you want to see more than one of the sights mentioned or just take away the travel factor the best way to tour these locations is by air. A helicopter tour can take you all the way to the Grand Canyon and back in less than a few hours. On the way you will get to see the vast desert as well as the beautiful Lake Mead. If you want to see the sights, but not get your feet dirty, this is the perfect way to cross them off the bucket list.
Millions of people come to Las Vegas every year, but you could easily sit back and wonder how many of those people will make it off of the Las Vegas strip.The best way to make your trip truly unique is to venture out a few miles further and see what the land surrounding Las Vegas truly has to offer.
