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LAS VEGAS Day Trips: (check
out what's outside of Las Vegas):
Mt. Charleston....about an hour northwest of Las Vegas....cool temps when it's
hot-hot on the strip...check out the lodge near the top of the
mountain...fun drive...nice to see mountains and trees...after smoky
filled hotel casinos....lots of snow for snowboarding in the
winter....Mt. Charleston lodge has great hamburger....and neat
fireplace...
The New Mt. Charleston Hotel,
Event and Conference Center, located at 2 Kyle Canyon Road,
is 30 minutes from downtown Las Vegas. Situated high in the crisp, clean
air of the Toiyabe National Forest, it is unlike anywhere else in
Southern Nevada for taking time to get away or holding events. Since
changing ownership in late 2004, it has undergone extensive renovations,
including a new outdoor patio, sparkling duck pond, a year-round outdoor
ice-skating rink and upgraded rooms featuring cozy fireplaces, flat
screen televisions, DVD players, hooks-ups for video game systems,
featherbeds, balconies (in select rooms) and views of the surrounding
mountains. The hotel, known for its gorgeous location, attracts hundreds
of destination weddings, corporate meetings and events, as well as
private functions yearly, planned by Član Events, it's exclusive event
coordination firm specializing in full-service event planning. Amenities
include The Bistro with homemade foods and gourmet coffees, The
Steakhouse, The Lounge featuring signature drinks, overstuffed leather
couches and a plasma TV, spa services, special discounted ski packages
and more. Perfect for those in need of time away from the normal
routine, couples looking for a romantic getaway or for the outdoor
enthusiast, it is conveniently located near numerous hiking and mountain
bike trails, as well as the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort. During
the week, the hotel welcomes those in the hospitality and casino
industry to enjoy half-price stays. The hotel can be reached at
702.872.5500. The Web site can be viewed at
www.mtcharlestonhotel.com
Adventure Canyon - splash in the Wild West
31900 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino
Primm, NV 89019
702-679-7433
(45 miles)
Bonnie Springs
Ranch/Old Nevada
Cool 1880s mining town.
1 Bonnie Springs Ranch Road
Old Nevada, NV 89004
702-875-4191
(25 miles)
The Wild West is still as wild as ever in Old Nevada, a replica of an
1880's mining town built on the 115-acre Bonnie Springs Ranch.
Las Vegas is the epitome of the fast-paced, ultra-modern city - swank,
glittering, and exciting; but just a short, 30-minute drive away, you
can visit the past again. Bonnie Springs Old Nevada is John Wayne
country. Boarded sidewalks that creak pleasantly under your feet,
saloons, tumbleweeds, stagecoaches, and even a Boot Hill Cemetery.
(check their website out for more info)
Extraterrestrial Highway/Area 51
- Check out the UFO hotspot near Area 51.
Extraterrestrial Highway 375
Rachel, NV 89191
(140 miles)
A lonely and desolate stretch of rural highway has been
transformed into an attraction that draws hundreds of visitors every
year. In 1996, a then-Governor Bob Miller re-christened State Route 375
as the Extraterrestrial Highway. He proudly displayed a "Speed Limit
Warp 7" sign......(no sign actually appears on the highway)..
Suppose to be a place for UFO activity because of its proximity to Area
51, a top-secret government installation. In the tiny town of Rachel
(population 100), you can visit the Area 51 Research Center, which
claims to expose many secrets. Rachel is the only town on the
route, which covers approximately 100 miles. Those staying overnight can
check into the "Little A'Le'Inn" -- just look for the building with the
bug-eyed spaceman painted on the side.
The highway itself, located 140 miles north of Las Vegas, winds through
barren desert and mountains, and there are a few starkly beautiful
vistas along the way. (check out the website)
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
601 Nevada Highway
Boulder City, NV 89005
702-293-8906
(26 miles)
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA) offers a wealth of things to do
and places to go year-round. Its huge lakes cater to boaters, swimmers,
sunbathers, and fishermen while its desert rewards hikers, wildlife
photographers, and roadside sightseers. Three of America's four desert
ecosystems--the Mojave, the Great Basin, and the Sonoran Deserts--meet
in Lake Mead NRA. As a result, this seemingly barren area contains a
surprising variety of plants and animals, some of which may be found
nowhere else in the world.
Hoover Dam
Highway 93
Boulder City, NV 89005
702-293-8321
(30 miles)
The federal government approved plans to dam the Colorado River, and
construction began on Hoover Dam in 1931, and Nevada's governor
legalized games of chance that same year.
For decades, Hoover Dam was the top tourist destination in Southern
Nevada, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Though
Las Vegas has since added other enticements for the tourist dollar, the
Dam remains a must-see attraction. Hailed upon completion as "the Eighth
Wonder of the World," this engineering marvel stands 736 feet high,
1,244 feet wide at its crest, and is 660 feet thick at its base. There's
enough concrete in its structure to pave a highway across the United
States. Two guided tours leave at regular intervals throughout the day.
The shorter tour takes 35 minutes; an expanded 60-minute version
includes visits to a few harder-to-reach places. Guests are supplied
with hard hats that they can keep after the tour is over. (check their
website for additional information)
Mesquite
850 W. Mesquite Blvd.
Mesquite Area Chamber of Commerce
Mesquite, NV 89027
702-346-2902
(80 miles)
Mesquite is known as the desert oasis in Southern Nevada. Located
approximately 80 miles north of Las Vegas along I-15, Mesquite has grown
into a resort destination. Nestled in the picturesque Virgin River
Valley, visitors will find over 2800 hotel rooms, RV parks, many
wonderful restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining, convention
facilities and top name entertainment.
"Pioneering with Pride" is the motto of this friendly city of 10,000
residents, originally founded by Mormon farmers who tilled the fertile
soil along the Virgin River. The opening of the Peppermill Resort in the
1980s began Mesquite's conversion into a tourist destination, albeit one
that still draws almost all of its business from Las Vegans rather than
out-of-state visitors. The Peppermill, now the Oasis, has been joined by
the Casablanca and Virgin River Resorts. The Oasis, Palms Golf Club and
Wolf Creek Golf Club offer scenic challenges for golfers, without the
three- day wait for a tee time. (check the website above for more
information)
Pahrump Winery -
check out the wine...
3810 Winery Road
Pahrump, NV 89048
702-727-6900
(60 miles) From Las Vegas, drive south on I-15
and take the Blue Diamond Road offramp. Take Nevada 160 west, 70 miles
over the Spring Mountains and into the Pahrump Valley.
Was building a winery in the
Mojave Desert the supreme act of blind faith? A shoot-from-the-hip
venture for a wine loving romantic from the outskirts of California's
wine country? Well, not totally...Jack Sanders, looking for a
place to produce the perfect wine came upon the desert town of Pahrump.
An early settler had grown grapes and made wine of sorts here half a
century before; but could high quality, commercial wine grapes
be cultivated in Pahrump? An in-depth feasibility study by experts
determined that they could, and by using modern methods, fine wine of
award winning caliber could be produced. Thus, in 1990, a unique
adventure in wine began. Today the Winery in the Desert bursts
with sounds and sights and tastes and fragrances that draw 100,000
visitors each year!
There are free guided tours of the facility and
the grounds, including the beautiful rose garden gazebo that has become
a popular wedding spot. The tasting bar offers guests the chance to
sample the merchandise, including the popular white Symphony variety.
There is also a restaurant and gift shop that will print a personal
message on the label of any bottle purchased. (check out the
website)
Red Rock Canyon
National Conservation Area - scenic red sandstone
1000 Scenic Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89124
702-363-1921
(20 miles)
We are probably the best kept secret in Las
Vegas. We receive nearly 1.2 million visitors every year and we hope you
will enjoy visiting our homepage. (click above)
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
holds a special place in the hearts of thousands of Las Vegans. In
marked contrast to a town geared to entertainment and gaming, Red Rock
Canyon offers enticements of a different nature. Peace, Serenity and
Beauty are just a few words that will barely begin to describe what you
will experience here. The Mojave Desert is not barren as you might
think. It is teeming with life and beauty that in my opinion is rare and
unique.
Petrified Sand Dunes, frozen in time, offer you a unique perspective of
nature as well as the effects of the passing of millions of years. The
excitement of suddenly appearing waterfalls, cascading into the canyons,
will make you appreciate the mysteries and the hidden dangers of the
Mojave. Red Tailed Hawks search for their next meal while drifting on
air currents high above the desert floor.
Whether you are a local Las Vegan, or just visiting, take some time out
and enjoy the desert on a personal level. A word of caution, bring
plenty of water and a good set of hiking shoes. You will definitely want
to get out of the car and enjoy nature the way it was intended: With
respect.
Stop by the Visitor Center to find out the latest programs we offer.
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