The Scenic Side of Vegas

When someone says Vegas I'm sure you automatically think glitz, glam and gambling but an outside world awaits. Las Vegas easily caters to outdoor enthusiasts and to those who just want to discover and enjoy scenic desert landscape. Here are just a few things it offers:

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

For those of you who love to hike, rock climb and experience the desert nature Red Rock Conservation Area is the place for you. This state park is located about 15 miles off the Las Vegas Strip and will leave you breathless with its 3,000 foot high red rock formations (The highest point being La Madre Mountain, standing at 8,154 feet). The vibrant, unique red color comes naturally from the iron oxide in the rock. Within the park is a 13 mile scenic loop that is popular for biking, slow drives in the car and Harley riding. There are plenty of stopping points along the way for selfies and unforgettable family pictures. The Red Rock Area offers something for everyone whether you want to hike, go horse back riding, rock climbing, biking, motorcycle riding or camping during the designated season. The Visitor’s Center is well worth a look as they have different exhibits that will teach you the history of the area and offer maps that show the various hiking trails. You will have the chance to see an assortment of wildlife (as the park is home to more than 200 species!) including burros, rabbits, eagles, mountain lions and coyotes. If you are a culture buff like me make sure to check out the Willow Springs area which contains authentic and original Indian handprints and petroglyphs through out. During the summer season be sure to carry plenty of water as the temperature can exceed 105 degrees most days. Always be on the look out for rattlesnakes and flash flooding that can occur in the off trail areas without warning. Above all, have fun and enjoy the beautiful landscape of the one and only Red Rock.

Red Rock Conservation Area

Mount Charleston

Moving up to the Northwest area of the city is where the locals go to escape the summer heat or hit the snow for some winter sports. Mount Charleston is the beautiful green (or in winter, white) escape from the desert. About 45 minutes off The Strip it will offer you activities for all seasons. During the summer you will find plenty of outstanding camp grounds to pitch a tent and go explore but if glamping is more your style you’re in luck! There is a resort on the mountain where you can stay for a couple nights and enjoy a comfy bed and a hot meal in the restaurant. You will also find a bar and lounge area where you can have your favorite cocktail. They offer different packages ranging from a romance package to a ski and snow one. There are several hiking trails to be enjoyed during good weather that lead to rich scenic areas, such as Mary Jane Falls. In the winter you can head up to Lee Canyon to go tubing, snowboarding or skiing. It could be a day trip but I would really recommend you stay at least one night to really enjoy it and be able to relax.

Mount Charleston in the Winter

Mount Charleston in the Spring

Valley of Fire and Lake Mead Recreational Area 

Moving along to the North East part of the valley if you go about an hour off The Strip you will find the absolutely stunning Valley of Fire. This area gets it's unique name from the way the rock formations seem to be on fire as they reflect the sun's rays. This is our favorite place to hop on a motorcycle and spend the day riding. The rock formations and array of colors make for some wonderful snapshots. I promise you, the scenery is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. There is a Visitor’s Center that has facilities for you to use, maps of camp grounds and RV parking areas, trails and other areas such as the petrified wood yard and places to see Indian petroglyphs that date back up to 3,000 years. There is also a range of wildlife including foxes, roadrunners and black tailed jack rabbits. There are endless places to set up camp, stop for a picnic, go hiking and take pictures! As you exit the park you will have the opportunity to take the Lake Mead scenic route and find yourself driving along the entire stretch of Lake Mead and end up in the adorable town of Boulder City. The Lake Mead region is perfect for the water junkie - jet skiing, boating, fishing, camping on the beach and water tubing and all of it right behind the famous Hoover Dam! There are places nearby where you can rent any equipment you might need to make for a memorable weekend. Remember to bring a tub of sunscreen and plenty of water. 

Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire

Lake Mead

You see, Vegas does have a crazy and lively reputation but it also has a laid back and outdoor adventurous side too. Some come, relax and enjoy nature.

A Kids Dream in Denver, Elitch Gardens

Elitch Gardens

A Kids Dream in Denver  

When in Denver the list of family activities is plentiful but there is a fun and historic place to go that the kids will be begging to go back to. Elitch Gardens is located near the Broncos Stadium in downtown Denver and offers fun for all ages. It first opened in 1890 as a botanical garden and zoo and has slowly evolved into the modern day amusement park locals enjoy today. 

What You Need to Know:

-        It’s $15 to park per day.

-        Your ticket purchase covers both the amusement and water park.

-        No outside food or drink is allowed (with the exception of baby food). They will confiscate it at the entrance.

-        They have metal detectors upon entering so make sure to leave pocket knives or anything similar at the hotel.

-        Check the online calendar as there are places in the park where concerts, movies and other performances and festivals are held for your family to enjoy.

-        They sometimes run a Groupon, so double check before you go for some extra savings.

-        You can add a Rapid Ride Pass to each ticket purchased so you can skip the long lines for some of the rides. From what I've read, most people don't think this is a good deal though.

-        There are a couple of different VIP experiences that may be well worth your dollar. Some including credits for the carnival games and other park perks.

Overall, we had a good experience at Elitch Gardens. The most challenging part was the beginning where there are two lines to wait in, one to buy your tickets and one to actually get in the park, both of which can be quite long. We waited about 45 minutes in total so be prepared with little ones. After going through the metal detectors at the entrance, we walked into an adorable little scene of shops. They looked like something straight out of a 1930s movie scene, some of the shops selling funnel cake, some selling souvenirs and some selling hot lunch items. Once we exited that area we came to the fork in the road, if you will, go straight and you go to the water park, take a left and you go to the amusement park. I can only speak to the amusement side as we did not go to the water park…so off we go! I love that the walk to the amusement park area is done up like an old Americana Main Street. There are charming little store fronts - places to eat, grab coffee and shop. The atmosphere is nice as there is music playing to get you hyped and in the mood for some rides! To the left of the centerpiece Ferris wheel is the Kiddie Land, an entire area dedicated to the kids. This was a surprisingly large area for a local amusement park and it was filled with unique rides that I’ve never seen before for children. Our son’s favorite was the motorcycle merry-go-round. With each spin the motorcycles you sit on pop up and do some wheelies. They even have a few thrill rides for the little ones as well as plays on a stage that are fun and educational. We spent a good 2 hours just enjoying the rides in Kiddie Land. After we let our little one enjoy himself it was time for us to go out and feel like kids again! The adult rides are equally fun, although I will say you won’t see anything too different from any other theme parks. The lines for most rides were between 10-40 minutes and while we were there, there were more than a couple of rides down. A couple of which we already waited 20 minutes or so for before they were closed. At one point, all the roller coasters were shut down due to some lightening moving in but it was quickly lifted and we were able to hop on and scream until our hearts were content. I have to say my favorite attraction (although not necessarily a thrill ride) was the Ghost Blasters ride. A journey that takes you through a spooky ghost house with a gun attached to your cart and lets you shoot at little targets pinned onto ghosts and ghouls. Since I love shooting guns in real life I was overly competitive and totally didn’t notice my poor son scared out of his mind…thank God daddy was there to comfort the little man (on the upside, I did score a 1200 which made me an EXPERT ghost hunter…yay me!!). There are carnival games throughout that are an extra cost ($3-$5 per game), face painting, Henna tattoos and photo booths. In my opinion, the food is overpriced and poor in quality (we paid $13 for 3 drinks, YIKES!) and I was disappointed that where we stopped to grab some snacks had no high chairs for my baby. As we were eating, I noticed several security guards and armed Denver police officers walking around and I realized how safe I felt the entire time. After looking into it, the Elitch Gardens website makes a point to say they have worked with Homeland Security and the Denver Police Department to come up with their firearms policy and create a safe and secure environment. I also love that they have a dress code within the amusement park that certain bathing suits are not allowed and cover ups must be worn on the amusement park side. I felt confident that my son wouldn’t be exposed to something inappropriate while enjoying himself.

I love this little town set up

The centerpiece Ferris wheel is a must go for everyone

A world all to themselves

This was my favorite ride in Kiddie Land!

Mike's Bikes - where ever kid can feel like a bada** for a few minutes

Free plays for everyone to enjoy

I thought I was going to pass out on this ride, talk about a thriller!

So many cute carnival games set up through out the adult side of the park

Taken as a whole, we had a fun and memorable day and at $36/adult and $32/child (these are ONLINE prices so make sure you buy in advance) for a day of enjoyment is kind of hard to beat. Our son is already begging to go back and the next time we are in Denver we just might treat him to a magical day of fun. 

Happy Travels!