Most people know about Las Vegas gambling, but do you know that there is more to do in Las Vegas than play poker or roulette?
There are plenty of family activities and fun things to do with kids. There are indoor theme parks, year round swimming, roller coasters, fountains, and amazing Las Vegas shows. The Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon are easy day trips from Las Vegas. Circus Circus and MGM and other casinos have childcare facilities and any casino will have lists of bonded babysitting services to use if you would like to experience Las Vegas gaming or nightlife on your own.
The water show in front of the Bellagio; St. Mark's Place and the canals within the Venetian; the Eiffel Tower replica at Paris Las Vegas; the lion habitat at MGM Grand; nightly volcano eruptions at the Mirage; the Luxor pyramid; the Roman streetscape at the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace; the Mardi Gras-style Show in the Sky at Rio's Masquerade Village; the view from the observation deck at the Stratosphere Tower; the Fremont Street Experience. This is Las Vegas!
Historically, Fremont Street is where it all began, from a small railroad stop at the turn of the century to one of the brightest streets in the world. For decades, Fremont Street was one of the best places to cruise in a convertible car but now the street has been closed off to traffic and it is a pedestrian paradise lined with kiosks, souvenir shops and, of course, many, many casinos.
Often, visitors to Las Vegas venture no more than a few hundred yards away from the Strip, the 3.5-mile-long stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard that's lined on both sides with casino hotels. Because so much is concentrated on one street, it is easier to understand the layout of the city if you break the Strip into sections. The South Strip begins near McCarran International Airport, extends north to Harmon Avenue and includes the major intersection where the Strip meets Tropicana Avenue. The Central Strip runs from Harmon north to Spring Mountain Road and includes the busy Flamingo Road intersection. The North Strip goes from Spring Mountain to just north of Sahara Avenue.
Downtown is located a few miles north of the northern end of the Strip. There the casinos are smaller, older and less lavish, but the area has its own theme attraction, the outdoor light show known as the Fremont Street Experience.
If you want to see what there is to do away from the casinos and bright lights, take a panoramic peek at nearby recreational areas such as the spectacular Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Mt. Charleston and the quaint little town of Boulder City, the only town in the state of Nevada where gambling remains illegal.
City residents and visitors alike say there is no place like Las Vegas, Nevada anywhere else in the world!
Many travelers are drawn to the lights and excitement of Las Vegas, but too few are aware of the wonders of Mother Nature that surround them. Rugged mountains, red rock canyons and deep desert valleys offer stunning scenery and myriad outdoor recreational opportunities. The region's favorable climate makes outdoor activity around Las Vegas an attractive option year-round.
Natural Attractions
Mt. Charleston is 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Las Vegas with its highest elevation at 11,918 feet (3,615 meters). An average of 20 to 30 degrees cooler than Las Vegas, Mt. Charleston is perfect for skiing, picnicking, hiking and horseback riding.
In addition to year-round hotel accommodations and tours, full-service camping is also available from May through September. For information, call (702) 873-8800.
Death Valley is located in western California, 135 miles (216 kilometers) from Las Vegas and a mere 40-minute plane ride away. This scenic wonder has the lowest elevation on the North American continent at 280 feet (84.93 meters) below sea level. Points of interest include Zabriskie Point, 20 Mule Team Canyon and Scotty's Castle. Tours are available.
The Grand Canyon in western Arizona lies approximately 300 miles (480 kilometers) - a one-hour flight from Las Vegas. Over millions of years, the Colorado River carved this natural wonder that is one mile deep and 277 miles long. Sightseeing air tours of the Grand Canyon depart Las Vegas daily for half-day, full-day and overnight excursions.
Red Rock Canyon is just 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of Las Vegas. It is a scenic area of rock formations and desert with a 3,000-foot (910-meter) escarpment produced by a thrust fault. Open to the public year-round, Red Rock Canyon has a Bureau of Land Management visitors center and is home to feral horses, wild burros, bighorn sheep, coyotes and a variety of desert plant life.
Valley of Fire State Park is only 55 miles (88 kilometers) northwest of Las Vegas and comprises scenic landscapes, hidden canyons and unique red rock formations. Petroglyphs and remains of ancient Native American civilizations can be viewed here and a Nevada Park Service visitors center provides tourist information. The park is open to the public year-round and tours are available.
Bryce Canyon is located 210 miles (336 kilometers) northeast of Las Vegas in southwestern Utah. This popular national park offers an outdoor exhibition of unique rock formations with imaginative names like Pink Cliffs, Silent City and Cathedral. Bryce Canyon is open throughout the year.
Mojave National Preserve is only 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Las Vegas. This 1.6-million-acre preserve, which protects one of the most diverse environments in the world, abounds with sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests and mile-high mountains. The preserve's visitor centers, located in Baker and Needles, Calif., welcome visitors year-round.
Zion National Park , 158 miles (254 kilometers) north of Las Vegas across the Utah border, is a popular winter ski resort. Colorful sandstone canyons, hot rocky deserts and cool forested plateaus are all part of Zion National Park. Zion Canyon is the largest and most visited canyon in the park. Here, the Virgin River has carved a spectacular forge into the red and white sandstone. The 2,000 to 3,000-foot canyon walls loom high above the river and the tree and grass-covered canyon floor.
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