Las Vegas Adventures for Nature Lovers
Vegas…it is not just for gamblers! Yes, you can find plenty of beautiful casinos in town, of course. But save that for the epic nightlife. By day, let’s explore the surrounding countryside. And yes, you will want to rent a car this time around.
HOOVER DAM
The obvious first choice, if you have not yet visited, is Hoover Dam.
According to a recent article by U.S. News & World Report, the dam sits about 35 miles southeast of Las Vegas, spanning the Colorado River and the Black Canyon (which separates Nevada and Arizona). This immense concrete structure – which confines Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States by volume – has helped provide power to Nevada, Arizona and California since 1935. In addition to keeping the lights on, the site welcomes more than 7 million visitors each year as one of America’s most recognized landmarks. Some of its most noteworthy sights are as follows:
Visitor Center: You can learn more about the Hoover Dam with a stop at the Visitor Center, which is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and costs $10 to explore. The facility’s Exhibit Gallery features various audio, visual and interactive exhibits, such as a generator model you can walk through, while the theater shows a 10-minute film about the dam. Don’t forget to head to the top-floor observation area to snap some memorable pictures of the massive structure, Lake Mead and the Colorado River, as most visitors recommend doing.
Winged Figures of the Republic: Across the street from the Visitor Center, these bronze statues were created by sculptor Oskar J.W. Hansen. Featuring a 142-foot-tall flagpole that sits between two winged figures, the pieces are surrounded by a terrazzo floor with a celestial map noting the dam’s dedication date: Sept. 30, 1935. Bronze seals of the seven states that are home to the Colorado River Basin are also on display by the statues.
Hoover Dam Powerplant: Located 530 feet below Black Canyon’s surface, this power plant is where you’ll find the dam’s 17 generators, plus a tunnel drilled in the 1930s and a platform that sits on top of a 30-foot-wide water pipe. Both on-site guided tours include stops inside the power plant, but only the Hoover Dam Tour offers a look at the facility’s inspection tunnels. If you’d like to take a power plant tour, you’ll have to pay $15. Dam tours cost $30 per person and include access to the visitor center, among other areas of the facility.
Top of the Dam: This open-air section features sidewalks and some of the property’s best lake, river and dam vistas. Each tour inside the property concludes at the Top of the Dam, but the area itself is free to visit.
Hoover Dam tours are available with on-site staff members and third-party guides. If you prefer not to rent a car, I can help you find a tour that travels from Las Vegas.
RED ROCK CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Located about 17 miles west of the strip, the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers travelers an escape from downtown Las Vegas’ unnatural neon landscape. You can choose to follow the 13-mile scenic car route through the desert but be sure to make the most of your visit by stretching your legs along the numerous hiking and biking trails that dot this one-way route. This stunning place encompasses 195,819-acres, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by the beautiful Mojave Desert and its signature red hills.
A trip here is well worth leaving the casino floor behind. We suggest you plan hikes or biking excursions during the cooler mornings rather than the sweltering afternoons. Reviewers also say the road is well-maintained and appreciate the abundance of restrooms along the way. Travelers also suggest stopping by the visitor center to peruse the informative exhibits.
The scenic drive is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily from April to September. The visitor center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you’re driving to Red Rock Canyon, you will have to pay a $20 vehicle entrance fee; motorcyclists pay $10; bicyclists pay $8; and pedestrians are charged $5. Note that timed reservations are required for accessing the scenic drive from Oct. 1 through May 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit the Recreation.gov site for more information. The speed limit along the scenic drive is 35 mph. Oh, you can set up a tent in the campground here. To learn more about Red Rock Canyon, visit the conservation area’s website.
High Roller Observation Wheel
Take a ride on the High Roller at The LINQ. Standing 550 feet tall and 520 feet in diameter, the observation wheel is the largest in North America. The massive Ferris wheel features 28 handcrafted pods made out of Italian glass that can hold up to 40 people each. A trip around the observation wheel takes about 30 minutes. It’s a great place to snap photos of the nearby casinos and attractions. This is listed as one of the top things to do in Las Vegas!
Adults ages 21 and older can opt for a ride within the Happy Half Hour pod, an upgraded experience that includes a complimentary open bar during your trip around the wheel. Recent visitors said the High Roller was worth the trip to see the views, either day or night; others were especially pleased that the pods are air conditioned. However, many also described the experience as overpriced.
The High Roller opens daily from noon to midnight. Daytime tickets (noon to 6:59 p.m.) start at $23.50 for adults and $8.50 for kids ages 4 to 12; nighttime (7 p.m. to midnight) tickets start at $34.75 for adults and $17.50 for kids ages 4 to 12; children 3 and younger ride for free. Adults will have to pay extra for a ride in the Happy Half Hour pod. You’ll find the High Roller observation wheel located at the LINQ hotel and casino across the street from Caesar’s Palace.
ATV on the Sand Dunes
According to “The Tour Guy”‘, The Nellis Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle area is more than 10,000 acres of dusty terrain that you can explore by off-roading in a truck, ATV, or dune buggy! SunBuggy Fun Rentals lets you explore the Nevada desert in the best way using any of their off-roading vehicles.
Do you love to go FAST? The SunBuggy website mentions that they offer “chase experiences,” in which they encourage adventurers to “drive like you’re trying to get away with something.” You can select the Vegas Mini Baja Chase, which includes a Strip view from the top of the dunes or check out their night chase. It’s a nighttime race through the desert which is an adrenaline-pumping way to start the rest of your night in Vegas. There’s a large variety of heart-pumping ATV and dune buggy tours offered, so pick your favorite and have a blast!
Here you go. The website for Sunbuggy.com.
Cost: prices vary — ATV tours start at $129
