Although Las Vegas is known as the gambling mecca of the United States and possibly the world, there is more to do in the area than lose your money. Many outdoor enthusiasts travel to the Nevada desert outside of Vegas to enjoy many different sports and activities. Here are five of the places that you may wish to go to when traveling in the Las Vegas area.
Visit Hoover Dam
The dam separating Arizona from Nevada is only 40 minutes from the Las Vegas strip. While there, you can enjoy kayaking on the Colorado River that spills into the dam, hiking to the nearby hot springs, or going underground to tour the dam and see its electric generators. Instead of staying in pricey hotels, consider a Vegas RV rental and stay at one of the many RV parks in and around the city.
Travel to Fire Valley
Fire Valley lies about one hour northeast of Las Vegas and offers views that you’ve probably only seen in many western movies. There are several interesting rock formations including the Arch Rock, the White Domes, and Mouse’s Tank. If you go hiking, make sure to wear sunscreen, take plenty of water, and be on the lookout for the petroglyphs drawn by Native Americans.
Go Camping at Lake Mead
Instead of going into the desert for recreational activities, visit Lake Mead, which is a large manmade lake about 40 minutes outside of Las Vegas. There are several things to do on the water including jet-skiing, taking a dinner cruise on the lake, or renting a boat. You can go camping and rent an RV site at Boulder Beach.
Take a Snow Ski Trip
No, really, you can go skiing in the desert about an hour northwest of the city’s famed strip. The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort is mainly for beginners and immediate skiers and provides runs for both skiers and snowboarders. It is open between late November and early April so you will need to plan your trip to the Las Vegas area accordingly and then you can boast of skiing in the desert.
Drive a Dune Buggy
If you want a more extreme experience while in Vegas, go out to the LV Motor Speedway and rent a dune buggy. You can drive a mini Baja rally for 30 minutes and race friends up and down the large sand dunes located just outside of the city. If you don’t want to drive there, park your RV at Circus Circus or one of the other casinos with an RV park and take the round-trip shuttle.
There is much more to do in Las Vegas than spend your time in the casinos or walking around the strip. Try jumping off the Stratosphere tower and floating back to the ground, go mountain biking, or, for something slightly more sedate, try blasting a machine gun at an indoor range. Driving your RV to Las Vegas can be a fun adventure in and of itself and but there are several RV parks right within the city limits.