While the recent tragedy put Las Vegas, Nevada front and center in our lives, I would like our thoughts to stay there in a more positive light. Sometimes events like these can cause us to fear visiting these places. So along with wanting us to continue to pray for the victims, and provide love and support to their families and the city; maybe we can consider visiting when we get a chance. It just so happens I was there two weeks prior to this event looking for something to do; besides gamble. Although I did do some of that and well let’s just say, I did not leave with a big pocket full of change. Instead, I asked a few people who used to live there, for some advice on places I could see. They provided some great ones and well I thought I would pass them on.
First, let me start by saying, if you are a city person, then you will love a city that never sleeps. There is enough to do to keep your brain active and your adrenaline going; gamble, shop, see a concert, watch a show, wine and dine, view the venues, ride some rides, zip line, take a walking tour, and I could go on and on. If you are, however, exactly like me and prefer your life a whole lot calmer, there are places within reasonable distance to visit to slow down the pace for a short while. This way you get the best of both worlds; a night on the town and a day out with nature. Sadly, because I was in Las Vegas to work that was all I had – a day, and I made it well worth my while. The pictures I will provide do not do either place justice based on the only available camera I had at the time, but maybe you can imagine the same view in deeper, richer hues.. Keep in mind you could do this in reverse. Make your stay out in nature and take excursions into the city.
So on my day off, I started my day early and headed 35 miles Northwest of the city to Mt. Charleston. According to Wikipedia – “Charleston Peak is at 11,916 ft. and is the highest mountain in both the Spring Mountains and Clark County, Nevada. It provides both hiking trails and ski area”. On my way up, I decided to bypass The Resort on Mt Charleston, which you can check out by clicking on the link – https://www.mtcharlestonresort.com/?campaign=yahoo, and instead continued my trek upward to 7,717 ft. to have breakfast at the Mt. Charleston Lodge. If you wish to check that out here is a link – www.mtcharlestonlodge.com. There are some small cabins to stay in adjacent to the Mt. Charleston Lodge owned by a different proprietor. Snapping a few pictures from here I could only imagine what it would be like in winter, snugly warm in the cabin, looking out at the majestic snow-covered mountains.
About 3 hours after my arrival and taking in the sites and breakfast, I began my trek downward and toward another beautiful location about 30 miles west of Las Vegas called Red Rock Canyon. You can check it out here – www.redrockcanyonlv.org. Among other things, this website tells you about the features “a one-way 13 mile scenic drive, hiking and trails, plants and wildlife, geology, camping, and more”. It was 52 miles and roughly 1-1/2 hours between the two destinations and I still had plenty of time to enjoy the canyon and make it back to my hotel before dark.
I decided to take the 13 mile scenic drive and exited my vehicle at every stopping point on the drive to do a little walking in the canyon, sure to keep my eyes peeled for rattlesnakes and scorpions. Partly, because I love wildlife and love to see it in its natural environment and partly for my own safety. Lucky me or unlucky me, as far as the wildlife is concerned, still undecided, only thing I caught was some really spectacular views. As you can witness here:
Though these were my two choices in the limited free time I had to look around, there are many others you can take excursions to on your next visit to Las Vegas. Just to name a few; Hoover Dam – Hoover Dam – is 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Lake Mead – www.nps.gov/lake – is 26 miles east of Las Vegas, and Valley Of Fire State Park – http://www.valley-of-fire.com/ is 50 some odd miles northeast of Las Vegas.
So the next time you are in Las Vegas and have some time to roam, keep these gems in mind, or add your own. Either way it goes I hope you enjoy adding some busy to your calm or calm to your busy, just remember to try to keep the balance.
Red Rock Canyon is where Oscar from the Brady Bunch got lost! Just a little humor and I am certainly at this point dating myself. Unless you have visited it is hard to fathom that Las Vegas is a city dropped into the heart of the desert. Las Vegas must be an incredible vortex/energy portal. I am one who likes balance and on my excursion there took in the sights of the Hoover Dam etc. There is no judgement in this but I found Las Vegas to be an incredible illusion. The Casino that looked as if it was directly across the street from me was actually a 15min or 4 to 6 block trek. I certainly am not an avid gambler but enjoyed every sight I saw there and recommend to others to travel there.