This is the beautiful view of the Las Vegas Wash from the Bluffs Trail. Bluffs trail begins in the Las Vegas Bay campground which is located just south of Lake Las Vegas in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The canyons, colors, and topography just a few miles from the Las Vegas Strip immediately transport you to a different world.
That’s what Vegas is all about, something for everyone. world class shows, headline performers, elite athletes and top sporting event venues, high end boutiques, Michelin Star restaurants, and of course top resort style hotels and casinos. This is part 3, Las Vegas more than gambling. It is an overview of local activities and destinations. Links and websites are provided to help you find activities you will love!
Emerald Cave
Kayaking in the Colorado River with our family and friends to emerald cave was one of favorite experiences. We purchased a tour with Blazin’ Paddles which was complete with equipment, transportation and guide. The tour company also procured proper permits and paid associated fees. Double and single kayaks are available and we had our choice.
Our day started at their staging location at the Hoover Dam Lodge Hotel & Casino, we had a rental vehicle and preferred to drive ourselves there so we could do more sightseeing in the evening. I believe for an additional fee transportation can be arrange from the Valley. Via a simple and efficient process, we were fitted for our equipment and given paddles. We then boarded our shuttle and took the short ride the our entry point, just below the Hoover Dam. Because we were a group of eight family and friends we enjoyed our own private tour.
Entering the Colorado River at this location and seeing the dam rise up before of us is an amazing sight! This is a vantage point which few get to see. If the trip ended right then I would have been completely satisfied but we were just getting started. Our guide provided some basic safety instructions and we were off. In just a short time our guide had us all pull over and helped us climb a steep slippery slope. He was taking us to explore a cave that included a hot spring.
Hot Springs
As we stepped into the cave the air temperature change and the humidity was oppressive, I took a couple deep breaths as my eyes adjusted to the pitch black of the caves interior. What an experience we each carefully walked to the spring at the end of the cave guided only by our leaders cell phone light. There were several more stops and short hikes to various hot springs. It was amazing!
Emerald Cave, pictured above, is a huge and incredible cave we paddled into. The sunlight creates this beautiful color. It’s a magical place and a highlight of our trip. The river although fast flowing was smooth and an easy paddle. Our guide was terrific and provided cultural and historic information about the areas we were visiting. This is a trip we hope to be able to do again!
Smith Center
The Smith Center is a world class performing arts center in Downton Las Vegas just north of the strip. The center opened in 2012 with a vision to combine education and the arts through great performance, with a goal to inspire future generations. Amazingly, before the center opened, Las Vegas which was known as the “Entertainment Capital of the World” did not have a performing arts center outside off the strip, which could host musical, dance, and theatrical performances.
The Center has three separate theaters which have cutting edge technology and acoustically advanced systems, which combined create an elite performance space. Top artists and performers are commonly seen in hit Broadway shows at the Smith Center. While simultaneously promoting student development and matinees. On average over 70,000 students experience a matinee performance at no cost to the schools.
Between the 2050 seat Reynolds Hall Theater, the 240 seat Myron Club and 200 seat Smith center Troesh Studio Theater, over four hundred shows are produced annually. The entire Symphony Park is 60- acres and located in the Downtown district, It is an incredible place full of art, sculpture and serenity. A wonderful contrast to the Las Vegas Strip.
Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge was an amazing show! It was advertising on the local network and we were unfamiliar with the Smith Center. Jess looked up tickets and they were quite reasonable. So, we decided to go. Our tickets included a pre-show event where we were able to purchase drinks and snacks. The facilities are fantastic and service was wonderful. Our view was great and we are excited to see more shows in the future!
Reynolds Hall theater.
Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire is located just a short beautiful drive from the Las Vegas strip. This is another one of our favorite places. Valley of Fire requires a small entrance fee and provides big time adventures for everyone. The Visitor Center is located in the center of the park so I recommend picking up at map at the payment station. There are many short hikes and unique attractions prior to reaching the Visitors Center.
The pictures do not do justice to the colors and textures of the rocks in this place. We have traveled in Sedona, AZ and been treated to incredible colors and rock formations, however, Valley of Fire is different. The layers of colors, which have been exposed because of years of weathering, are incredible. On my first visit I felt like I was standing in a topographical map, like I made when I was in grade school.
Additionally, for a small amount of effort and a short hike there are a multitude of slot canyons and interesting formations. Big horn sheep live in the valley and put on a show of their own. We have hiked most of the trails in the park and I have decided to dedicate an entire blog to this beautiful place. A day in this place is special and it’s one of my favorite places to bring family and friends.
Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Life zones is something we all learn about in school and then like myself some of us forget. This incredible wildlife refuge is just a few miles from the Las Vegas Valley. It is 1.6 million acres across the Mojave and Great Basin deserts, and includes six major mountain ranges. The park includes seven distinctive life zones from high elevation bristlecone forest to low elevation saltbush shrubs. Plant and animal habitats are influenced by many factors. Including elevation, rainfall, and seasonal temperatures.
As we drove through the park these distinctive zones became very evident. It was amazing. The Desert National Wildlife reserve is the largest wildlife reserve in the continental US. Every National Wildlife Reserve is created with a purpose. The purpose of this reserve was to provide protected habitat for Big Horn Sheep. Additionally, the reserve provides habitat for over 500 plant species and hundreds of animals.
The Visitor’s center, completed in 2013, is open from sunrise to sunset. The roads in the park, during our visit, were well graded dirt. The refuge recommends a 4-wheel drive high clearance vehicle with good tires. The road conditions are subject to seasonal challenges such as rain and snow it’s best to check the website before visiting.
We took this photo below of a spiral nautilus on our drive through the Yucca Pass on Fossil Ridge. These rocks were once at the bottom of an ancient sea over 450 million years ago. Surprisingly the approximate elevation of Fossil ridge is about five thousand feet. It’s a lot to wrap your mind around. It was an awesome adventure!
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Nascar came to the Las Vegas Valley first hosting a Nascar truck series race in 1996. Then in 1998 the Nascar Cup series ran their first race with Mark Martin winning the inaugural event. Since then Jimmy Johnson is the winningest driver at the speedway. After a recent renovation at the speedway the tracks has seating for eighty thousand and has hosted at least one cup series race annually.
Las Vegas motor speedway is a one and a half mile tri-oval. With twenty degree banking in the turns, and racers reaching speeds up to two hundred miles per hour. It is just one of the many tracts on the property, additionally there are infield and outfield road courses, separate dirt and road courses, and even a drag strip.
RV’ing and Nascar go hand and hand, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway has a lot to offer. There are four separate campgrounds located throughout the property. Each offer a different vibe and race experience as well as available services. The website provides booking options and answers to any questions you might have.
Mt. Charleston Recreation Area
We first arrived in Las Vegas in our LTV on November, 1 of 2022. This began our official full-time RV adventure. We were here just a short time and surprised to see snow on some high peaks surrounding the valley. I had never seen snow in the Vegas valley on my many previous wintertime trips to the area. We were intrigued by this s0 we researched the surrounding mountains.
Mt. Charleston is the highest point in Clark County and has an elevation of 11916′. Mt. Charleston is located in the Spring mountains on the northwest side of the Las Vegas Valley. The spring mountains rise up from the desert valley. They are not connected to any other ranges and because of this, they are referred to as a desert island. Throughout the southwest there are many of these desert islands.
There is an incredible loop drive through Kyle Canyon road and Lee Canyon road off 95 north of Las Vegas. Highway 156,158, and 157 provide an opportunity to see the high desert and an alpine region and the incredible changes in habitat along the way.
Upper Lee Meadows
Lee Meadows combines an upper and lower section which provides recreation space throughout the year for visitors. We were excited to see all the families playing in the snow! There were coolers and BBQ grills and lots of kids sledding. When there is no snow the Meadows is popular for hiking, birdwatching and picnicking.
Overnight use is forbidden as well as fires, only stoves with an on/off switch are allowed. Parking is also regulated from December to March violation of the rules will result in a hefty fine. Check the rules and bring your lunch and prepared to be wowed with an awesome experience.
St. Thomas Ghost Town
St. Thomas ghost town has quite a history. Founded in 1865 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter Day Saints (Mormans). The towns location is at the confluence of the Muddy and Virgin rivers just south of modern day Overton, NV. The original settlers were acting on behalf of Brigham Young to build a community along the Arrowhead trail primary freight route between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, UT.
The town struggled initially but with lots of determination irrigation systems were built and crops were planted. Community wells were built and the town began rise out of the Mojave desert. In 1870 property lines were surveyed and it was determined that St. Thomas was located in Nevada. The settlers thought they were in Arizona or Utah territories. Nevada wanted back taxes to be paid in gold or silver coins immediately. The townspeople voted and decided to abandon the town and move into Utah.
Eventually the town again filled with residents who primarily worked in farming and mining. In 1928, everything again changed for the town of St. Thomas. With the construction of the Boulder dam, St. Thomas which is only fifty four miles upstream would eventually become part of Lake Mead. The towns last resident left in 1938 when water reached his home.
Over the years the amount of water covering the ghost town has fluctuated with lake levels. At the highest over seventy feet of water has covered the town. In 2007 with dropping water levels the remnants of the town again rose out of the Mojave desert. The National Park Service protects and manages the remains..
Remnants of the bridge which traversed the river.
Fashion Show Las Vegas
Fashion Show Mall brings fashion to life it has over 250 stores and 30 restaurants and is a great place to spend the day shopping and relaxing. The original mall event was a high-end fashion show, which took place on weekends, providing a unique adventure in Las Vegas. Today the mall offers a robust schedule of events and entertainment options. DJ’s, live music, open markets, art shows, block parties, corn hole competitions, face painting, hair braiding and more. Check their website for details.
Fashion Show Las Vegas is dog friendly. So long as your pets behave well, they are welcome in dog-friendly stores, public spaces, and common areas. Additionally, many restaurants have patios where dogs are welcome and water is provided, there is even a dog park. Dogs must be on a leash or in a pet carrier and if your pup has an accident it must be cleaned up immediately.
ATV Experience
ATV’s (All Terrain Vehicles) are more often referred to as OHV (Off Highway Vehicles) in the Southwestern areas we have been traveling in. There are many wonderful companies located throughput the Las Vegas Vally who provide rental equipment and organized rides. The Nellis Dunes OHV Recreation Area provides incredible riding opportunities with some companies offering nighttime rides.
We decided to go off-road with a company out of Eldorado Canyon. They had 4-wheelers and side-by-sides for us to choose from. It was an awesome day! Several miles of riding through canyons of all widths following our guide. She was wonderful and we stopped in several locations, including an abandoned town. She shared stories about the history of the area and was very knowledgeable and funny.
If you have never ridden an OHV or are an experienced rider this trip provided something for everyone. Hill climbs, uneven trails at a pace acceptable to the group. There were eight of us and we were all experienced riders and moved along at a fun and challenging pace. We enjoyed some lunch and then toured a gold mine before leaving the area. There are many ride options to meet your time frame and budget. We chose a half day of riding combined with the gold mine tour. This will be included in Las Vegas More than Gambling Part-4.
High Roller
The High Roller opened in 2016 and is the largest observation wheel in the world. The massive 520′ diameter ferris wheel has twenty-eight passenger cabins, which each hold up to forty passengers. The height of the wheel is 550′ offering passengers incredible views of the Las Vegas strip and beyond.
The High Roller moves at a pace of one foot per second, which allows passengers to simply walk on and off the attraction without the wheel ever having to stop. It takes a full thirty minutes for the High Roller to make one complete rotation, which is the duration of the ride. Because this is Vegas, of course you can be married on the High Roller, they even offer cooperate events.
The High Roller is just one of the attractions which are located at the Linq Casino. The Line offers more than 2200 hotels rooms and an awesome promenade area with restaurants, shopping and unique activities. The High Roller, Flying High zipline, Museum of Selfies, VR Adventures and an Ice Bar are some of the most popular. The promenade light show in conjunction with over two thousand lights on the High Roller are an amazing sight!
Events
Vegas, the “Entertainment Capitol of the World”, in addition to long standing shows and top musicians, is built to host one-of-a-kind events. We watched the pro-bowl one year and participated in Super Bowl events the following year. I never would have imagined, as a kid watching the pro-bowl on TV with my pepere, that one day I would be sitting in the stands watching it first hand. The Pro-Bowl, previously always played in Hawaii, is now played in a variety of cities.
It takes place during the week before the Super Bowl and is now a week long competition. It combines football skill events imagined in entertaining ways, including a heated dodge ball game. The conference that wins each event is awarded points. These points are combined with the scores of the three modified flag football games which take place on Sunday. The overall winning conference, in addition to bragging rights, gets paid twice as much as the losing team.
There has been lots of debate about this new format and much negativity, however we really enjoyed it. Tickets were only $35 each and many kids were enjoying the events with their families, it was wonderful to see. Throughout the week there were additionally opportunities to meet players and participate. I enjoyed seeing these elite athletes having fun and competing in the spirit of the game.
NFL Super Bowl Experience
Super Bowl tickets in the nose bleed section of the stadium are priced higher than I will ever consider paying. However, being in the Super Bowl City prior to the big game is awesome! There were many reasonably priced events. Some events suited for family fun and others geared towards the nightlife. One of the events we chose to attend was the NFL Super Bowl Experience.
It took place in a huge convention center attached to the Mandalay Bay Casino. We were not sure what to expect and wowed as soon as we walked through the door. Sitting behind glass with lots of security was the Vince Lombardi trophy. Another few steps and we saw Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby talking with fans. The place was huge and it took us a few minutes to make our plan.
Skill events, which were included in the price of the ticket, we only had to wait in line to participate. Additionally, a kid only section with modified games and events. A huge display chronicling pro football, including larger than life tickets from every Super Bowl. Replica lockers containing the top players gear and equipment. A beautiful enormous beaded football, and so much more.
We each had one attempt to kick a field goal, which was awesome! There were obstacle events, throwing competitions and more. Unfortunately we were not recruited for our football prowess. We were exhausted and had a wonderful night.
What’s Next
More awesome adventures from Las Vegas Nevada! Again I hope this information will be helpful to you if you’re planning to visit the City which never sleeps. Be sure to check out Las Vegas more than gambling Part One and Two. The final installment Las Vegas more than Gambling Part four will be coming soon.
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