| Las Vegas parks and recreation and Nevada National | | | | similar to Red Rock, the park also offers early Native |
| Parks | | | | American culture and their rock art and petroglyphs |
| Las Vegas is known for its casinos, wild nightlife, | | | | are found throughout the area. The area was |
| gambling, girls and shows; but the greater Las Vegas | | | | frequently visited by the ancient Basket Makers and |
| area offers much more. From hiking, biking and | | | | Anasazi, who used the area for hunting and religious |
| horseback riding to amazing Nevada National Parks, | | | | ceremonies. A popular scenic drive is around the |
| lakes and canyons, the Las Vegas area is a | | | | "White Domes." For recreational activities there is |
| recreational playground. Whether you have an | | | | climbing, picnicking, camping and rock scrambling. |
| afternoon to spare or a weekend, there are plenty | | | | Mount Charleston |
| of Las Vegas outdoor activities for everyone. After | | | | Get away from the slots and visit Mt. Charleston for |
| spending the week drinking and gambling in dark | | | | fresh air, amazing views and majestic mountain |
| casinos, a little exercise and sunshine can do you | | | | scenery and wildlife. |
| some good and Nevada National Parks will offer just | | | | Only 35 miles from Vegas, Mt. Charleston Recreation |
| that. | | | | Area is a welcome relief from not only the city |
| Red Rock Canyon | | | | bustle, but the stifling desert heat during the summer. |
| Only 20 miles from downtown Las Vegas, the Red | | | | At an elevation of 11,918 feet, Mount Charleston is |
| Rock Canyon National Conservation Area covers | | | | the third highest peak in Nevada. |
| nearly 200,000 acres of multicolored sandstone and | | | | The recreation area offers 180 campsites, 150 picnic |
| limestone, canyons, mountains, washes and | | | | sites, hiking, biking, picnicking, horseback riding, skiing |
| waterfalls, a variety of desert flora and fauna, and | | | | and snowboarding. |
| wildlife, including bobcats, desert bighorn sheep and | | | | Zion and Bryce Canyons |
| wild burros. I don't know how "wild" the burros | | | | If you're feeling a bit adventurous, cross the border |
| actually are though. While hiking, biking, rock climbing | | | | to Utah and visit Zion National Park and Bryce |
| and seasonal camping is offered, the most popular | | | | Canyon National Park. |
| choice is the 13-mile scenic drive through the park. | | | | Zion has everything from amazing river carved |
| Whether you spend the afternoon or weekend, Red | | | | canyons to scenic waterfalls. The area also has |
| Rock Canyon offers up natural scenic beauty and is | | | | amazing wildlife consisting of 75 mammal species, |
| worth the visit. | | | | including mountain lions and mule deer to hundreds of |
| Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam | | | | bird varieties and 32 reptiles and amphibians. An hour |
| Lake Mead is the perfect place to cool off from the | | | | further away from the 2 ? hour drive to Zion, Bryce |
| summer heat. Located 25 miles east of Vegas, the | | | | Canyon is a geologic wonder of colorful limestone, |
| Lake Mead National Recreation Area has about 1.5 | | | | with thousands of arches, spires and mazes. Don't |
| million acres of desert land and clear water, with 550 | | | | miss the Grand Staircase, which is a series of colored |
| miles of shoreline for swimming, boating, sunbathing, | | | | sandstone cliffs, stretching from Bryce Canyons to |
| water skiing and fishing. Other activities include hiking, | | | | the Grand Canyon. |
| camping, horseback riding, roadside sightseeing and | | | | Recreational opportunities include camping, biking, |
| wildlife photography. Lake Mead wildlife include bighorn | | | | backpacking, cayoneering, climbing, swimming and |
| sheep, mule deer, coyotes, kit foxes, bobcats, ringtail | | | | tubing. |
| cats, jack rabbits and the endangered desert tortoise | | | | Grand Canyon |
| and peregrine falcons. The amazing Hoover Dam is | | | | Depending on which rim of the Grand Canyon you |
| also nearby with daily tours. | | | | venture to, it will be a good day's drive from Las |
| Valley of Fire | | | | Vegas, but well worth the visit. Carved over millennia |
| Located only six miles from Lake Mead and 55 miles | | | | through the rocks of the Colorado Plateau, the Grand |
| from Las Vegas, the Valley of Fire is Nevada's first | | | | Canyon never ceases to be awe- inspiring, with its |
| state park and its largest. This Nevada National Park | | | | beauty and size. If the scenic views aren't enough, |
| is named for its fiery sandstone formations of reds, | | | | there's hiking, backpacking, biking, bird watching, |
| purples, tans, whites, oranges and yellows, which | | | | boating, camping, cross country skiing, fishing, |
| were formed from shifting sand dunes, years of | | | | horseback riding, nature walks and more. |
| erosion, wind and climate. Although the geology is | | | | |