These mega resorts all sport everything under a single roof. Gambling, fine dining, shopping, entertainment, meeting facilities and more are all on site, so it’s very possible to enter the building upon arrival and never get a glimpse of the Great Outdoors until the ride back to the airport.

But sticking with manmade excess belies the true Las Vegas story. Believe it or not, some of Mother Nature’s greatest hits are out there just past the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip. OK, some of these natural wonders have actually been tweaked by man made ingenuity, but it’s still a great respite from the city’s over the top excess and makes for a more refreshing, well balanced getaway.

Nearby highlights include Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead, Mount Charleston and Valley of Fire. The Grand Canyon is a little farther away, but makes for a special day.

Of course seeing past the neon will require a car, but fortunately 54 percent of all visitors arrive by ground transportation, says the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. For those without a car, most of the hotels and casinos rent cars on site. That makes getting a vehicle for a day trip or longer as easy as calling the concierge.

Red Rock Canyon

Located just 17 miles (about a 30 minute drive down West Charleston Boulevard, rte 159) from the Las Vegas Strip is the stunning Red Rock Canyon, Nevada’s first National Conservation Area. It’s a great destination for experienced hikers and climbers as well as nature novices who simply want to drive around some stunning scenery. Of course there are red rocks aplenty, a signature of southwestern United States rock formations.

There are more than 30 miles of well marked hiking trails and picnic areas and many great places to set up the camera to capture fabulous vistas. There’s a 13 mile scenic drive here too, which is a great way to see the highlights of the park - especially if the mercury is over 100 degrees. Be sure to let your clients know this drive can take several hours, especially if they get out of the car frequently to check out many of the unique looking land formations and plant life.

A daily vehicle pass is only $5 and the scenic drive is open from 6 a.m. Closing times vary depending on time of year, with the drive closing at 5 p.m. from November through February, until 7 p.m. during March and October and 8 p.m. from April to September. Pets are permitted. Call (702) 515-5350 for more information. 

Valley of Fire

Nevada’s oldest and largest state park, Valley of Fire is located about an hour’s drive (55 miles) from Las Vegas. Highlights here include swaths of petrified wood as well as petroglyphs created by Native Americans 1,000 years before the birth of Jesus.

Start at the visitor center, which is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to learn more about the park’s history and geology. Staff there can also suggest particular hiking trails that match the skill level and amount of hours available to explore. Then be sure to check out the sites, which are accessible via car.

Atlatl Rock features myriad petroglyphs while the Arch Rock scenic loop highlights many of the park’s unique rock formations. Fire Canyon features views of rich red sandstone formations as well as Silica Dome, one of the more unique features of the park. Suggest a stop by the Rainbow Vista for photographers looking to capture a wondrous view of multicolored sandstone. Tell your clients to pack a picnic lunch and suggest the Seven Sisters area for a delicious backdrop of many red rock features that seem to come straight out of the movies. It’s only $6 per car to enter and $14 to camp, which is on a first come first serve basis. Pets on leashes are welcome. For information call (702) 397-2088.

Part II of Great Outdoors Vegas

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