Nevada offers much more than fancy hotels, bright lights and gambling.
Outside the city limits of Las Vegas begins a world much different from the artificial, mad-made glitz and lights of "The Strip." In as little as a half-hour by car, tourists can immerse themselves in a world of natural wonders, historical sites, relaxing explorations and educational tours.
Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon invites hikers, bikers and drivers for a colorful journey.
Red Rock Canyon offers some of America's best hiking and touring adventures. It lies about 15 miles west of Las Vegas and in 2009 attracted 1,200,000 visitors. Visitors can get up close to the crimson-colored sandstone cliffs, some as high as 3,000 feet. Hikers have 19 different trails to choose from and can spot natural springs, waterfalls, wildlife such as deer, kangaroo rats, roadrunners and more. For a quicker trip, a drive along the 13-mile loop rewards visitors with historical landmarks such as the pictographs at Willow Springs.
Valley of Fire
When the sun shines, the Valley of Fire lives up to its name.
Right next to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas, lies the Valley of Fire, Nevada's oldest state park, founded in 1935. Eroded sandstone and dunes along the floor and cliffs of the park appear to be on fire in the sun's rays. Exhibits in the park's Visitor Center depict the history and geology of the area.
"The Zoo"
Just 15 minutes northwest from the Las Vegas Strip, the non-profit Southern Nevada Zoological Botanical Park, often called "the Las Vegas Zoo," exhibits over 150 different plants and animals. This is an interactive and authorized learning center used by the Clark Country School District, where students of all ages come to observe in-depth zoological studies.
Trails and Slopes
Hiking and biking trails surround Las Vegas, beginning in the city itself and going in all directions for miles. Further away are other areas of adventure such as Lake Mead, Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, Zion Canyon and Bryce Canyon. A half-hour's drive from The Strip rises the Spring Mountains on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada range. In winter, skiers and snowboarders enjoy the snow. In summer hikers and mountain bikers frequent the wilderness trails.
Tags: Rock Canyon, Valley Fire, about miles, Lake Mead
