1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

What to see around/outside of Vegas

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by OnetimePLZ, Apr 29, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. OnetimePLZ

    OnetimePLZ Tourist

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2011
    Messages:
    30
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    Hi everybody. I've been to Vegas several times, but never really left the city.
    Is there anything you folks would recommand seeing "around" Vegas.
    (Been to the hooverdam which I found to be definitiv worth the trip )
    We are probably not going to the grand canyon as its to fare for us...
    Anything withing a 1.5h drive?
    Thanks
     
  2. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2003
    Messages:
    29,784
    Location:
    A nice place
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    110
    Spend a day in St. George. The drive through the Virgin River Canyon is gorgeous and when you pop out on the north side, it's even more gorgeous. Snow Canyon State Park has awesome hiking, just on the north side of town. Tour some of the historic LDS sites and the dinosaur tracks museum. Eat at Painted Pony. You can extend in to Zion if you like.

    My god, wow, I wrote this a million years ago and it feels just like yesterday, but most of this stuff is evergreen, anyway. LA Times article on SG and environs
     
  3. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2009
    Messages:
    16,023
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    175
    Mt Charleston. Drive up to the top, have a meal or drinks at Mt Charleston Lodge, elevation 7,700 feet.

    Just kick back and relax or try one of the hiking trails.

    Beautiful scenery.

    And of course Red Rock Canyon. A drive through loop, or get out and hike. There is an admission charge.
     
  4. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 1999
    Messages:
    44,189
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    There is so much to see and do around Vegas. What kinds of things were you looking for? Nature? Red Rocks, Mt Charleston, Valley of Fire, Lake Mead. History? So many things like the Mormon encampment, museums, Calico Ghost Town. Extra-terrestrial highway?

    I think it's a nice break just to go visit some of the outlying casinos like Red Rock, Green Valley Ranch, M, Boulder Strip, etc.
     
  5. OnetimePLZ

    OnetimePLZ Tourist

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2011
    Messages:
    30
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    Thanks for the replys sofar !
    @ Sonya: Good question as my I dont really know what I am looking for :) Basically I wanna leave the town for a trip outside. If this coul be combined with some hiking / other sport activities or something else ( like riding a quad or so in the desert ) it would be cool. Seeing some of the nature / landscape outside is problaby the biggest point. I also have a fable for gold mines, ghost towns, stuff like that so if I could get all of this in one trip it would be perfect :)
     
  6. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2011
    Messages:
    19,790
    Location:
    Somewhere in Middle America
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    70
    Zion is absolutely gaw-jus and is well worth the trip.

    I like it better since they restricted vehicle traffic in the north side of the park. It's now exclusively shuttle bus, which runs very frequently. Very relaxing and incredibly scenic.
     
  7. vegasvic

    vegasvic VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2013
    Messages:
    3,473
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    45
    I'll agree with Valley of Fire and Red Rock. Close and awesome. As is Hoover Dam, something everyone should see.
     
  8. usmcbaby

    usmcbaby Tourist

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2014
    Messages:
    66
    Location:
    Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    6
    I agree with the suggestions so far. Last trip we visited Hoover Dam. It was a nice trip down and back. Enjoyed the history. This trip (past weekend) we rented a car a drove out to Red Rock Canyon. The scenery was beautiful. It is approx. a 25 min. trip one way out there. We were just going to drive the 13 mile scenic route but since the weather was just right we decided to hike a bit. If you look on the trail map; we choose trail number 10 to hike. It was approx. a 3 mile hike mostly uphill going out and obviously downhill coming back. We took about 1hr 45m to complete it. Eat a carb loaded breakfast before heading out to hike.
     
  9. heatherlovesvegas

    heatherlovesvegas VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2012
    Messages:
    2,033
    Location:
    Woodland Hills, CA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    Red Rock Canyon, take the scenic drive, it's like $10 or something. Very cool! Stop, and take pictures, it's beautiful. Then while you are out there go to Red Rock casino, very nice place. It's about a 15 minute drive to get there. Nice escape from the strip. If you wanna look at some pretty nature that's a good option. I haven't been able to bring myself to do one of the really far scenic things.

    Also Downtown if you've never been is cool! I know not everyone has ventured down there.. worth a gander.. check out the Container Park, and eat at Pizza Rock, just check out the general spectacle going on down there. For me, recently this was something "new"

    100% do the Neon Museum if you have any interest in Vegas history, it's really cool. Hour long guided tour of all the old signs.

    Sometimes we just go out to Town Square (down by South Point) or the outlet mall and go shopping or to a movie. Me and my family go so much, sometimes we just do "normal" things.
     
  10. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 1999
    Messages:
    44,189
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    Oh the museums! There's the neon museum, the pinball museum, the erotic whatever it's called museum. So many things to do in town.
     
  11. larryg

    larryg Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2005
    Messages:
    381
    Location:
    Maryland
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    19
    Sadly, the Erotic Heritage Museum has closed. However, the Burlesque Hall of Fame is still open.
     
  12. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 1999
    Messages:
    44,189
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    That's the one I was thinking of. Or the Mob Museum. Or their kids museum is great if you've got em.

    Hey! Now *I* want to take a trip to Vegas and see those things.
     
  13. VeddaLasVegas

    VeddaLasVegas High-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2006
    Messages:
    743
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, Florida
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    38
    We loved the Neon Museum night tour, also Lake Mead Cruises.
     
  14. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2003
    Messages:
    29,784
    Location:
    A nice place
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    110
    Kayak tour through Black Canyon below Hoover.
     
  15. jr7110

    jr7110 VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,556
    Location:
    NYC
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    35
    There is also the Atomic Testing Museum.

    One of my favorite places to go is Boulder City, which is on the way to Hoover Dam. You can stop in the center of town and browse in the great shops or stop for a bite to eat in one of the restaurants there like Milo's Wine Cellar or Dillinger's.

    I also vote for Mt. Charleston - not only is it breathtakingly beautiful, there are two restaurants (one inside the Resort on Mt, Charleston and the other next to the Lodge, which has very quaint outdoor log cabin style rooms you can rent). A bonus of Mt. Charleston is that when it is 105 degrees on the strip, because of the elevation Mt. Charleston is a good 20 to 30 degrees cooler. There are also no mosquitos on Mt. Charleston so you can hike or enjoy any of the outdoor activities without the threat of being eaten alive. I have seen deer and wild horses up on Mt. Charleston It really is a place I must visit several times on each trip.

    Valley of Fire and Red Rock are also great recommendations. You can also take a drive up to Pahrump and there is a Winery there with it's own vineyard. The restaurant, Symphony's has fantastic food and great atmosphere:

    http://www.pahrumpwinery.com/Symphonys-Restaurant

    You can also take a drive straight down I-15 south for about 45 minutes until you get to the California border, where you will see Primm (you can't miss it - the casinos are visible from the freeway). You can checkout the three or four casinos including Whiskey Pete's, where the actual car that Bonnie & Clyde were gunned down in is on dsiplay in plexiglass on the casino floor! There is a machine nearby that presses pennies so you can take home a bit of Whiskey Pete's with you as a souvenir.

    The Neon Boneyard is one of my favorite tours but be warned - it lasts about an hour and there is NO shade whatsoever, so on an especially hot day the tour can be brutal. Be sure to bring plenty of water (they used to supply water but now charge a "donation" for it) and wear a good sunscreen.

    Another fun spot is El Dorado Canyon - there is a place called Nelson's Landing that looks like you stepped back into the Old West and you can take part in a tour of the mines:

    http://www.eldoradocanyonminetours.com/
     
  16. OnetimePLZ

    OnetimePLZ Tourist

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2011
    Messages:
    30
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    8
    Thanks for all the replys. You people are A+. Thanks
     
  17. Buddha

    Buddha VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Messages:
    1,470
    Location:
    Chicago 'burbs
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    As many people have listed, Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston, Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, etc. are all great places to see.

    Is there still a tour company that does the large floating Black Canyon river rafts from the down side of the Hoover Dam. We did that many years ago, but be aware, it's an all-day trip. Bus picked us up about 7:30 - 8:00 am, and we didn't get bussed back until close to 6:00 pm.

    Also, if you're out at Red Rock Canyon, and looking for more driving .... continue south on Blue Diamond Road, to where it branches off west on Rte. 160 to Pahrump (check a map). It's probably a 50 to 60 minute drive out through wide-open territory, to a nice town, with all the basic amenities. The Pahrump Nugget is a nice little casino, and if you have the ACG coupons, the Nugget has a $25 free-play coupon for new members, plus a 2/1 entree coupon for their diner.
     
  18. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 1999
    Messages:
    44,189
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    I thought of something else. Years ago, when my husband used to come to Vegas with me, I sent him on a mountain bike tour with these people:

    http://www.escapeadventures.com/activity/las-vegas-dayweekend-tours/las-vegas-day-tours-mountain-biking

    They picked him up at our hotel in the morning and brought him back, tired and in one piece. He's not a big gambler and I can spend all day at the vp machines, so it worked out great for us. They provided transportation, bikes & gear, lunch and some great trails out by Red Rock.
     
  19. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2011
    Messages:
    19,790
    Location:
    Somewhere in Middle America
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    70
    The coffee shop there is surprisingly good and very reasonable. (A slice of cake fed the whole table of four!)

    Good place to stop if you're on the way to Death Valley, Reno, Rhyolite or wherever.
     
  20. La$Vega$

    La$Vega$ Fun until cops show up, then we play Hide n' Seek!

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2014
    Messages:
    775
    Location:
    CA-FL-NJ-NC-SC-IL-IN-OH-KN-TN-WI-TX-AZ
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    42
    Hello OnetimePLZ!

    Oh yes, 'The Dam Tour'...the ol' bottleneck, not bad with the bridge now!
    [​IMG]

    Never been to Lake George, Virgin River Canyon,Valley of Fire/Lake Mead or some of the others mentioned.
    Valley of Fire: Besides the petrogyphs, the view I read is amazing either going to or coming from Overton? to Lake Mead area.

    Been to Red Rock and picnicked (sp) hiked, climbed, great trails 'Tyler Trail' (found out I was a papa there!)
    On the way you see a lot of burros, horses

    Blue Diamond Ball Field Burros!
    [​IMG]

    Stop at Blue Diamond when you are in Red Rock Canyon area
    [​IMG]

    Blue Diamond TMI (nice maps)
    http://www.city-data.com/city/Blue-Diamond-Nevada.html
    Shop at the Village Market/Sheriff's Department
    [​IMG]
    Nice Photos on this web site
    http://redrock.org/blue_diamond/index.html

    One side trip I thoroughly enjoyed was out to Mt. Charleston
    Hiking as others have mentioned, etc. Found the stand of Bristlecone Pines. The trip back to Vegas from the top to the desert floor with the changes in flora is amazing.
    http://www.hikinglasvegas.com/MtCharleston.html
    Overview Mt. Charleston (aka Charleston Peak) is the highest peak in southern Nevada, and one of the most popular hikes in the state.
    It is the 8th most prominent mountain in the U.S. with 8,259 feet of prominence.

    Tantalize your olfactory senses as you breath in the scent of ancient pine trees on Bristlecone Loop – an easy trail that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
    You don’t have to work too hard for the dramatic views of surrounding peaks that rise up on either side of the trail.
    You may even spot an ancient Bristlecone Pine, the oldest living tree on the planet.The Wheeler Peak grove of Bristlecones is part of the same genus of Bristlecone Pine from Mt. Charleston to California's White Mountains:
    The oldest tree is in the White Mountains of CA "Methuselah"
    Quick Description: Earth's oldest living inhabitant "Methuselah" has reached the age of 5,065 years".
    Mt. Charleston had a long lived tree, but sadly they cut it down for science
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_(tree)
    The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest encompasses all of Nevada and the far Eastern edge of California.

    The name “Humboldt” comes from the explorer John C. Fremont. He named the East Humboldt Mountain Range and the Humboldt River after German naturalist Baron Alexander von Humboldt. “Toiyabe” is an ancient Shoshone word meaning “mountain.”
    http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMQDF
    http://www.sonic.net/bristlecone/intro.html

    The Mt. Charlseton Lodge
    http://www.mtcharlestonlodge.com/#/mtcharlestonlodge/


    Hiking
    http://www.birdandhike.com/Wilderness/_Wild_index.htm


    Nevada's Las Vegas Region Parks
    http://www.stateparks.com/las_vegas_nevada_parks.html


    [​IMG]

    The West Rim of the Grand Canyon isn't too far

    Just a little info...
     
Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.