Part 6: DRIVING Outside the City Limits

Roydio + I have been coming to Las Vegas for many years. It is only a 4-hour drive from our home in California so it’s a great spot for a quick getaway. And because there are so many things to do in town it took us several years to venture out + boy were we pleasantly surprised to find this gem. Not far outside of Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert, maybe a 30-minute drive, you will find an absolute treasure.

a. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Red Rock is absolutely stunning. It is said to have taken millions of years to create these colorful rock formations + you will be amazed by this natural beauty. You can drive through the canyon, hike the trails, visit the museum. We spent several hours roaming about in this beautiful place.

Red Rock is available to you for the bargain price of $15 per car. Seniors 62+ get a discount + you can get an annual pass as well.

b. Hoover Dam

About a 20-minute drive outside of Las Vegas on the border of Nevada + Arizona you will come upon the 80-year-old Hoover Dam + one of the Top Ten Construction Achievements of the 20th Century. Wow! You have got to see this – what an impressive site!

It is free to see + accessible from 5am to 9pm if you just want to drive through. Parking will cost $10 or it’s free if you are handicapped but you can’t stop your car when you are directly on top of the dam to take pictures. To take the full tour it’s $15 per person ($12 for seniors 62+) between 9am + 5pm. 

It’s also a tradition to take a picture on the Nevada/Arizona border. 

c. Laughlin, Nevada

The Colorado River between Laughlin, Nevada + Bullhead City, Arizona is the place to be in the summer.

About 90 minutes outside of Las Vegas + also on the Nevada-Arizona border you will find this exciting Colorado River town of Laughlin. In the summer the river is packed with speed boats, jet skis, parasailers + everything else that floats in the water. They even hold their Annual Regatta here which is what is pictured above. Temperatures rise well up into the 100’s (sometimes even over 120) so the water is the perfect place to hang out.

Don Laughlin’s Classic Car Museum

At the Riverside Resort in Laughlin you will find a museum featuring old cars dating back to the 1920’s. Don Laughlin’s Classic Car Museum is a free exhibit (but they do take donations) so take your time admiring all of these old relics. It’s nostalgic to say the least. I’m not necessarily into cars but I had to admit these were pretty cool to see.

New Year’s Eve

I know Las Vegas is known for having over-the-top New Year’s Eve celebrations. But Laughlin holds its own. It’s more of a sleepy town version of Las Vegas during NYE but let me tell you their fireworks display is awesome + since they shoot the fireworks over the river you have full view of this incredible show from any vantage point. We like hanging out on the river outside the Golden Nugget.

If you’re like me + prefer a more laid-back celebration into the new year, try Laughlin.

d. Ghost Town in Nelson, Nevada

A little town near Lake Mojave, Nelson is a historical landmark within the Eldorado Canyon area where some famous music videos + movies were filmed. I found this little town a couple of years ago when searching out locations to have a photo shoot for my business Laga Handbags. No, there are actually no ghosts that live in this cute little town. Not even sure why they call them ghost towns – maybe because no people live there?

Nelson is a photographer’s dream location. Here you will find old buildings, amazing rusted-out + antique cars, breathtaking scenery with winding old roads, gas station signs + even old mining equipment used back when the local Techatticup gold mine was in full swing. It’s a great place to visit, approximately 42 miles outside of Vegas + you’ll drive through the Sloan Canyon Conservation Area to get there.

e. Sloan Canyon Conservation Area

Sloan Canyon has been called the Sistine Chapel of Native American rock art due to its size + significance. The centerpiece is the Sloan Canyon Petroglyph Site, one of the most significant cultural resources in Southern Nevada. They have trails for biking, hiking as well as horse trails so if this appeals to you it may be a great stop for you.

Click here to check out Sloan Canyon.

Click here to book your hotel, flights + shows. Viva Las Vegas!

So there you have it! Just a short list of what there is to see + do in + around Las Vegas. You can see there is more to Vegas than meets the eye. Even if you are not interested in the nightlife Vegas has to offer, I hope I’ve convinced you that you can still have a fantastic time here. Take in the sites I’ve recommended or go out + explore for yourself. If you have recommendations or suggestions, be sure to let me know what they are + if I haven’t gone there I’ll be sure to check it out!

Have you been to Las Vegas? What did you think of it? And what were some of your favorite things to do + see there? I’d love your feedback!

The post 6 Things That Happen in Vegas That Don’t Need to “Stay” in Vegas – Part 6 appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.