Planning Your Stay in Las Vegas: Hiking Trails, Accommodations, and More
Have you been planning a trip to Las Vegas, but want to do more than just stay on The Strip?
Although it's true that the majority of Vegas tourists come for the casinos — earning establishments a whopping $1 billion last March alone — Nevada's famous urban center has much more to offer.
We’ve touched briefly on this before in our vanlifer’s guide to 24 hours in Las Vegas, but now we’re hear to chat about if 24 just wasn’t enough for you.
From top-of-the-line accommodations to hiking trails to more extreme guided outdoor adventures, there's a multitude of experiences to discover. So jumpstart preparations for your next vacation with this quick guide to things you can do in Vegas!
Where to Stay
Las Vegas offers a variety of places to stay, ranging from peaceful to historic and even novel.
The Golden Gate Hotel, for instance, opened way back in 1906, and Excalibur, a giant castle complex on The Strip, exemplifies the city's reputation as a "Disney park for adults." For those wanting to get away from the city's hustle and bustle, there's the Mandarin Oriental, with its five-star spa and brilliant view of the Las Vegas sunset.
To have a truly authentic Las Vegas trip, you have to play poker at least once. One of the best poker rooms in Las Vegas is located in the Red Rock Resort, and the place’s main draw is its easy-to-beat low stakes Hold’em games. It’s a great option for travelers who want to have fun without worrying about breaking the bank.
Casino interior at the Red Rock Resort. CREDIT: J.R.Ramos under CC BY-SA 2.0 - No changes were made to the image
Speaking of budgets, you can always opt to stay in a refurbished van.
Whether it be your own or a local rental, it's sure to make for a fuller, more immersive vacation. Plus, with hotel rooms in Vegas costing anywhere from $40 to $1,000 a night, the #VanLife can help you fund the more exciting activities on your trip.
If you're being joined by a partner or spouse, there are a few things you might want to consider before the trip. As previously discussed here on Always the Adventure, it's a good idea to be open, honest, and generous with each other (especially in a place where it’s easy to lose a lot of money on an impulsive decision).
After all, conflicts in a confined space aren't an ideal way to spend your break!
In-city Delights
Believe it or not, you can have an exhilarating outdoor experience within Vegas itself.
The zip line on Fremont Street, for instance, lets you zoom superhero-style at a height of 1,750 feet — more than 10 stories up!
Multiple buggy rentals also offer you the experience of riding on the dunes outside Vegas at a rough, hair-whipping speed.
If you crave something more extreme, hop on the New York New York rollercoaster, which snakes and dives at massive G-forces around the outside upper towers of the hotel and casino after which it’s named. Or head to Stratosphere Tower and do one of the three adrenaline spiking rides at the top.
Since 2010, SkyJump Las Vegas has let visitors do a controlled free fall from over 100 stories high.
For a more laid-back afternoon, you can visit any one of the city's award-winning golf courses. In particular, Angel Park is a great choice for its location and clubhouse fare, and it has 3 highly playable courses to choose from.
Desert Pursuits
You don't need to stay within the city limits, though: There are so many places within an hour's drive from Las Vegas that are sure to satisfy your need to head outdoors!
The Valley of Fire State Park, just 54 miles from Vegas, is home to trails like the 1.2-mile Fire Wave, where you're sure to be mesmerized by the colorful bands that ring its stone hills. You can also try hiking along its canyon, White Domes, a popular filming location for many a movie and commercial.
This shot of the Valley of Fire State Park, taken in 2014, highlights the beautiful striation found in its stone hills. CREDIT: cjarv2010 under CC BY-SA 2.0 - No changes were made to the image
Meanwhile, Mt. Charleston and Red Rocks Canyon National Conservation Area are prime rock climbing spots for beginners and experts alike. The shade of the former helps you climb in comfort, but its limestone courses provide a challenge to even the most experienced climbers. When your skin is sore from rough limestone, give it a break on Red Rocks’ soft sandstone.
If you want to cool off, you can always kayak along the Colorado River or take a boat out to Lake Mead.
In the winter, you can even visit the nearby Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort — and brag that you've skied in the desert afterward!
If you’re not super experienced in outdoor adventures, but don’t want to let that stop you, 57 Hours offers tons of guided adventures across all manner of outdoor pursuits.
Before You Drive Away…
From the poker room to sandy dunes, striated hillsides and rushing rivers, Las Vegas has many surprises in store — both in and outdoors.
Whatever you choose to do, you're guaranteed to have one hell of a trip.