Every year, millions of people from around the globe flock to Las Vegas, Nevada. While many will invariably drop some coin at the city’s slot machines, video poker terminals, and blackjack tables, many more will save their hard-earned paychecks for safer bets, in the form of the many National Parks and Monuments that surround this jewel in the desert.
If you’ve already made the rounds of Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell and/or Mead, and even Death Valley, yet find yourself with an extra day to play with before heading back to your daily grind, you’re still in luck: there are tons of cultural, scenic, and historic sights within easy access of The Strip. One, or more, would surely make the perfect “capper” to your Las Vegas vacation!
Valley of Fire State Park: Less than one hour’s drive Northeast of “Sin City” is a place where the devil himself might feel right at home, especially in the scorching heat of summer. Any time of year, however, you will find 40,000 stunning acres to explore, featuring Aztec sandstone cliffs, arches, hoo-doos, and slot canyons, as well as petrified trees, and petroglyphs. Once in the park, you can enjoy a scenic self-drive along the 6-mile White Domes Road, or go further into the backcountry on hikes of varying lengths and degree of difficulty. Easily accessible scenic highlights include but are not limited to:
- The Beehives
- Atlatl Rock
- Petrified logs
- The Seven Sisters
- CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) cabins from the 1930’s
- Elephant Rock
Pack a picnic lunch and plenty of water. And here’s an unexpected bonus: if you skunked out on getting a permit to The Wave, ask at the visitors center for directions to the Fire Wave. It’s a much easier hike, no permit required, and the colorful stripes and swirls bear such a striking resemblance to its Arizona counterpart, you’ll still retain bragging rights to experiencing some of the coolest scenery in the American Southwest! Guided tours to Valley of Fire State Park are available from Las Vegas. If you wish to stay overnight in this area, tent and RV campsites are available within the park. The nearest hotels are located in the towns of Mesquite, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV.
Techatticup Gold Mine/Eldorado Canyon: Long before metaphorical gold was discovered in the form of legalized gambling and international tourism, real gold and other precious metals were discovered about 50 miles Southeast of Las Vegas, NV, at the Techatticup Mine in Eldorado Canyon. From the 1880’s to the 1940’s, Techatticup and neighboring Queen City Mine produced tons of gold, silver, copper, and lead. In its heyday, it was the most densely populated area of Nevada, and the epitome of “Wild West” lawlessness: with the nearest sheriff residing over 200 miles away (over a week’s journey at the time), crimes as serious as murder were rarely prosecuted, and Civil War deserters found it the ideal place to elude the eyes of military authorities, and make a little money while doing so. Today, Techatticup Gold Mine and Eldorado Canyon offer up treasures of a different sort. It now draws photographers, tourists, and even Hollywood producers wishing to immerse themselves in iconic desert scenery, and unforgettable adventure. Though the old mining camps and nearby ghost town are now privately owned, visitors can take their pick of ways to explore and enjoy this area that played such an important part in Nevada’s history. Popular ways to experience Techatticup Mine/Eldorado Canyon include:
Some guided tours offer round-trip transportation from Las Vegas hotels; others require that you drive to the nearby communities of Nelson, NV, or Searchlight, NV. Most Techatticup Mine Tours are family-friendly, but potential visitors should exercise caution during the summer months. It’s super-hot out here (but the interior of the mines remain a constant 70°F), cell phone reception may be spotty, and the nearest hotel lodging can be found in Henderson, NV, approximately 30 minutes North of Nelson.
Area 51/The Extra-Terrestrial Highway: With an early start, and an active imagination, this formerly-forgettable corner of Nevada that may or may not play host to outer-space denizens, or may or may not be the scene of time travel research or other off-the-record, on-the-QT, and very “hush-hush” activities, could make for an interesting and rewarding addition to your Las Vegas vacation. At 2-hours-and change one way, Area 51 and its gateway community of Rachel, NV, is a bit of a schlep. And, chances are, you’ll see nothing out-of-the-ordinary or otherwise unexplainable. Still, lunch at the Little A’Le’Inn, or a stop at the Alien Research Center, will more than adequately occupy your day, and give you some good stories (or at least some ET Fresh Jerky) to share with the Earthlings back home. Just don’t travel too far off the beaten path. You might have a “close encounter” of the kind that leave you with fuzzy memories and a criminal record. Better yet? Go with a guided tour to Area 51 out of Las Vegas, so you and yours can continue to “live long and prosper.”
Mount Charleston: There’s no doubt about it: Las Vegas, NV, is crazy-hot during the summer months, as in 120℉-plus hot! What if we told you that less than one hour’s drive from the Strip, there’s a place where you can strip down to shorts and a tank top and savor a cool breeze on your skin, with nary an AC unit in sight? It’s a real place, and it’s called Mount Charleston! Located within the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 316,000 acres of gorgeous are calling your sun-weary self to get out of the city and back into nature. Toss aside the stench of stale cigarette smoke and breathe in the fresh scent of juniper, fir, oak, aspen, and bristlecone pine trees as you take in the trails, activities, and viewpoints along the 3 scenic byways roads (Deer Creek, Kyle Canyon, and Lee Canyon), including:
- Joshua Tree forests
- Desert View Point
- Robber’s Roost Cove
- Mary Jane Falls
- Stanley Springs
- Fletcher Canyon
- …and much more!
Other ways to experience the Mt. Charleston area include, but aren’t limited to, horseback riding, ATV/UTV touring, mountain biking, rock climbing, and skiing. Even if you don’t have the time or inclination to hike one single step, you can make the trip from Las Vegas and back in about half a day, including time for photo ops and/or a picnic lunch. There are several Forest Service campgrounds in the area; Mount Charleston Village has one lodge with cabins, a restaurant and lounge. Since Mt. Charleston is nearly 12,000’ above sea level, individuals with heart or respiratory problems should consider carefully whether this activity would be advisable.
The Las Vegas Neon Museum: Granted, this “one-day trip” will take you only a fraction of said day, since it’s just North of downtown Las Vegas. But in our humble opinions, this place is too cool to pass up! Someone, don’t ask us who, was reputed to have said that “there was no room for sentimentality in a town like Las Vegas.” Indeed, the period between the 1980’s to the present would seem to bear that out, as many classic casinos, such as the Aladdin, the Stardust, the Sahara, the Hacienda, the Dunes, and others, met their demise. Some were imploded with fireworks and fanfare; others quietly fell victim to the wrecking ball. Thankfully, someone recognized that the old neon signs that graced these and other vintage Las Vegas landmarks were works of art in their own right that should never be forgotten.
In 1996, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization was formed, dedicated to “collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment,” and the Neon Museum was born. Today, visitors can enjoy Las Vegas’ most colorful history in many ways. From the restored lobby of the La Concha Motel that now serves as a Visitors Center, self-guided or professionally escorted tours are conducted daily through the 2.5 acre campus that houses signage, statuary, and other artwork from now-legendary Las Vegas locales such as:
- Benny’s Binion Horseshoe
- The Silver Slipper Casino
- The Bow & Arrow Motel
- Society Cleaners
- The Hacienda Horse & Rider
- The Landmark Hotel
- Fifth Street Liquor
- The Lucky Cuss Motel
- The House of Lords Steakhouse
- …and many more!
Due to the Neon Museum’s ever-increasing popularity, reservations for tours are strongly recommended. Though children are welcome at the Neon Museum, parents should exercise caution in the boneyard area as broken glass, exposed metals, and rusty sign components are usually present. Those with a fascination for organized crime and its seemingly unseverable connection to Las Vegas history can easily dovetail a tour of the Las Vegas Mob Museum onto their day’s agenda.
Is that all there is to choose from for One Day Trips From Las Vegas? Hardly! These are just a few of our favorites. For more suggestions, inquire at your hotel or the nearest tourist information center.
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