Category: us tourist attractions

Wild things at the Springs Preserve

09 September 2011

Each year during the months of April, May and June, a little bit of the Roos-N-More Zoo arrives every weekend at the Springs Preserve to entertain visitors who flock here to meet rare and beautiful creatures that they have only ever seen on TV or in photos.

These welcomed weekend guests at the Springs Preserve are otters, lemurs, boa constrictors to name but a few of the many unusual and sometimes endangered animals from around the world that are bought to the Springs for visitors to see and meet them up close, interact with them and get to know something about the little critters that inhabit our planet.

Shows are held twice daily and visitors can learn all there is know about the animals they meet by listening to great tutorials from members of the zoo staff. Just by watching the animals visitors can get to know their personalities as they watch them fool around.

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The Valley of Fire Tour in Vegas

02 September 2011

The Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest state park and a trip to this amazing place will take you through some fantastic scenery including incredible rock formations and color reflections on the eroded sandstone through the valley that will simply take your breath away. The sand dunes here are as ancient as time is itself leaving you feeling very small indeed. People call the Valley of Fire an ‘awe inspiring’ and it really is just that.

Just 50 miles from Las Vegas the valley is 150 million years old and was named the ‘Valley of Fire’ because when the sun hits these ancient rocks it often gives the impression that the whole valley is on fire. Touring through it is like going back in time, 3000 years back in fact.

The tour encompasses authentic Pueblos, pottery, baskets, arrowheads, tools along with other ancient artifacts and the Great Anasazi – the ‘Lost City’. Once the spiritual centre of these great people, driving through it you understand why it was, and you will certainly come away having had a spiritual experience yourself. Over centuries nature has carved the sandstone rocks into unbelievable shapes that are a photographers dream.

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Grand Canyon Helicopter and Ranch Adventure

08 July 2011

The Grand Canyon is undoubtedly one of the most breath take natural sights in the world.  But it can be hard to really appreciate it in all its glorious wonder from the ground.  So why not view the canyon from above, and while you are there, you can satisfy your inner cowboy and enjoy the experience of a real cattle ranch.

Your journey will start from McCarran International Airport where you will board an exclusive jet helicopter.  All of the seats on the helicopter will offer you an unrivalled view and your pilot will provide you with a running commentary of the tour through your headphones.  Feel free to ask any questions about this memorising natural wonder, your pilot will be happy to assist where they can, as they take you over the Grand Canyon and then descend into it – some 1,500 feet below the rim!

The Grand Canyon itself is around 280 miles long and was carved out by the Colorado River some 17 million years ago.  Nearly 2 billion years of the earth’s geological history have become exposed due to the formation of the canyon and this lead to the site becoming one of the first National Parks in the United States.

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Le Reve at Wynn Las Vegas

07 July 2011

The Reve at the Wynn Las Vegas can only be described as a fabulous, thrilling and visually stunning spectacle which captures an audience’s imagination from the very beginning to the very end. The cast of 85 actors plays to the crowd throughout the performance with their superbly choreographed aerial acrobatics. Their performance immerses the entire audience in their fantasy world of adventure and intrigue and the whole spectacle takes place in a unique aqua theatre-in-the-round that is perfect for the show.

The Reve is the dreamlike work of the internationally acclaimed director Franco Dragone and it is his concept of creating a visual masterpiece whilst giving the audience an impression of being involved with the show that adds to the thrill of being a spectator. His wonderful creative vision allows an audience to enter this dream world that borders on reality and pure imagination.

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New York City Harbour Lights Night Cruise

30 June 2011

New York is one of the most memorising cities in the world.  From Broadway to the Statue of Liberty, almost every street is legendary.  However it’s only the roads and boardwalks that are special, the river and harbour have their own unique stories to tell.

The best way to witness and understand this is to take a night time cruise.  Make your way to Pier 83 and step aboard your vessel.  Here you can sit in comfort and marvel as your host guides you with a full commentary of your journey.

You can sit and watch the sun setting and the moon rising over the Manhattan Skyline.  As darkness descends you can watch the reflection of the city lights as you view the riverside landmarks.  Some of the sights on the tour include the Brooklyn Bridge, the Ellis Island immigration centre and the Statue of Liberty herself.  Some 12 million immigrants passed by Liberty and went through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954, making it one of the major points of entry for migrants entering America.

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Washington DC Day Trip from New York

19 June 2011

New York is a great place to visit, however what if you want to go and explore a little bit of the United States, well one option is a day trip to the capital city, Washington DC.  The trip takes place on a fifteen seater, fully air conditioned bus, providing you with comfort and a good view of the scenery.

The Bus will pick you up from Grand Central Station.  Building of the current Station was completed in 1913, although there has been a rail road terminal building on the site since 1871.  Get there early and look around the architecture, especially the astronomical ceiling, devised by brothers Warren and Paul César Helleu.  

Once aboard, the Bus will take you on a brief stop to Madame Tussauds.  Here you can have your photo taken with President Obama and visit a replica of the Oval Office.  You won’t be allowed to visit any of the other areas of Madame Tussauds, but nor would you want to as you’ll be missing out on a fantastic journey.  

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City review of Lake Havasu City

04 June 2011

The state of Arizona hosts a variety of cities with good tourist attractions.  Lake Havasu City is one of the most popular, and is the largest city in Mohave County.  A former World War II Army Air Corps rest camp, the city was established in 1963 as a planned community, and currently has a population of around 53,000 inhabitants.

Lake Havasu itself was created in 1938 when Parker Dam was built in the Colorado River.  This followed the creation of our significant lakes such as Lake Mohave (at David Dam) and Lake Mead (at Hoover Dam).  Of all of these lakes on the Colorado River, Lake Havasu currently has the highest levels of nitrate and uranium.

The city gain world wide exposure in 1968, when it purchased London Bridge from the City of London for $2.5 million.  Over the course of three years, the bridge was taken apart piece by piece and reassembled on the opposite side of the Atlantic from where it originated.  The whole operation cast a further $7 million and since it’s opening in 1971, has become a major tourist attraction.

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Grand Canyon Rafting Trip from Las Vegas an Unforgettable 15 Hours

29 May 2011

The Grand Canyon has attracted visitors for hundreds of years. The sheer size of the canyon has awe inspiring views that are out of this world whether you are walking along the top of the canyon or white water rafting down below.

The Colorado River offers the best water rafting in the world and with hundreds of thousands of people enjoying this once in a lifetime trip it is no wonder that many tours are now available. The Colorado River is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and it flows through the Grand Canyon, rafting down this river is an experience that will thrill and enthral you.

The South Rim and the North Rim of the canyon are linked via Las Vegas, Nevada and the Hoover Dam. The Grand Canyon was a favourite hunting ground for President Roosevelt who was a major influence into the entire area becoming a national park.

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City review of Albuquerque, NM

26 May 2011

Bugs Bunny often commented that he "should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque", if he had have stayed there instead, he wouldn’t have kept bumping into Elmer Thud that’s for sure.  He would have also experienced the largest city in New Mexico.

At the turn of the 20th century, Albuquerque thrived and prospered and the town boasted many modern amenities, such as an electric street railway.  This provided the 8,000 inhabitants with good access across the city and some of the buildings from this era still survive.

The popularity of Route 66 brought many travellers to the area and a growth in motels and restaurants followed.  The path of Route 66 changed slightly in 1937, however there are now brown, historical highway markers placed along the pre-1937 route, so those of you with an interest in motoring from that era can follow the original roads.

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Las Vegas Night Strip Helicopter Tour

21 May 2011

To tour Las Vegas by night in a helicopter, any time of year, is one of the top things to do on your visit to the city.  Tour companies offer spectacular views from six-seater state of the art helicopters.  These jet helicopters are renowned for their excellent manoeuvrability and many passengers have praised them for the smoothness of their flight.  This is an excellent way to see the dazzling Las Vegas Strip and is available between 6pm and 8pm, depending on the time of year.

The flights themselves last around twelve minutes, which may sound comparatively short, but it’s sufficient for you to see all the sights.  You will need to allow around an hour and half for the whole tour, due to loading and unloading plus your special champagne toast before you board.

Departing from the heliport close to the strip, you’ll start by flying past the large pyramid at the Luxor hotel, with its bright light shining up into the night sky.  You’ll see the magical dancing water fountains of the Bellagio and the legendary Caesar’s Palace, which has hosted many sporting events including World Championship Boxing Matches and Formula One Grand Prix.

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A review of the new Phantom show in the Venetian Las Vegas

15 May 2011

In keeping with any project or show that hits Las Vegas, the budget for the theatre that houses it’s version of Andrew Lloyd Webbers ‘Phantom of the Opera’ was as grand as the sets themselves. A massive $40 million went into the custom build theatre at the Venetian. Audiences have been mesmerized by this shorter version of Lloyd Webbers Broadway hit which is now called ‘Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular’ and it is not only the show itself that has them raving about the show but the 1,800 seat theatre with its elaborate seta and special effects too.

The theatre has been built to look very like the Opera Garnier in Paris with red seats and curtains, gold statues and carvings with a hand painted ceiling and eighty foot dome and typical private boxes along the sides of the theatre. There are 70 mannequins placed in each of this boxes are constant spectators, they are dressed in authentic period costume and each of these characters is an individual person as not one of looks alike.

In the centre of the theatre is a chandelier which weighs 2,100 pounds and was designed at a cost of $4.5 million. This centre piece of the hall plays a major part in the show. There are nearly 30,000 crystals that were hand strung to this amazing creation. At the start of the show this chandelier appears to be in four pieces that dramatically reassemble themselves into a single light again.

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Around the Canyons of Hurricane City

15 April 2011

Hurricane City in Washington County, Utah is a small city in the western side of the United States. It has a considerably small population of around 10000 persons but the city does maintain a steady growth pattern over the years. The name for the city came about after Erastus Snow, a church official experienced a whirlwind which blew the top off of a buggy that he was in and said: "Well, that was a Hurricane. We’ll name this Hurricane Hill.”

The city had a historic Hurricane Canal to direct the water from Virgin River which had once caused flood around the surrounding areas. A lot of effort was put into the project which spanned over 10 years and with the assistance from the neighbouring Virgin and Grafton areas. Amazingly, the long canal was built using only picks and shovels!

The canal has since been preserved and maintained by the locals since 2000. Visitors can visit the historic site and take a stroll along its steep slopes and many have commented that the steep slope has the effect of making the canal to seem floating in the air. The lime kiln and sandstone kiln to make the cement for the canal can be seen at the side of the narrow canal.

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Get Down with the Beat: New York Hip Hop Tours

13 April 2011

The music world is revived with the upbeat tunes of a new genre in late 1970s. This genre has not only brought about new entries into the music scene but has developed a culture of its own, namely hip hop. The hip hop culture originated from the urban South Bronx in the United States by the African Americans.

The Harlem-Bronx New York Hip Hop Tours provide the opportunity for people to explore and learn this distinct culture; starting at the birthplace itself! The offered tours provide an insight into the basic elements of the hip hop culture; music, dance and art graffiti. There are selections of tours which can be booked through the two main companies; Hush Hip Hop Tours and Harlem Hip-Hop Tours.

Hush Hip Hop Tours have more varieties of tours to choose from while the Harlem Hip-Hop Tours offer just one type of tour which is the “Hip-Hop On. Hip-Hop Off. Tour”. One thing in common though, the tours by both companies are conducted by hip hop legends whom are sure to provide a lively tour experience to the crowd.You will sure be entertained by the live DJ and emcees throughout the tour.

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On the Route 66 Highway: Barstow, California

13 March 2011

Like any Californian city, Barstow enjoys the Mediterranean weather. However, it is not located by the famous beachside that California is so famous for; the city is actually part of the also-famous Mojave Desert. The Mojave Desert plays a key part in the development of this city as the line of transportation is built through Barstow thereby making it an inter-city transportation centre.

The perfect time to visit Barstow is during the spring or summer as the climate will be extremely cold during the winter times. This is mostly contributed by the low moisture level in the atmosphere as the day turns to night, the city experiences rapid change of temperature. The locals find the weather just fine because they get just enough sun during the day and an enjoyable night sleep with the cold breeze at night.

Barstow is a quaint, little Californian city with a small community and low living standards. It oozes the wild western feeling despite being small. The city of Barstow has been trying to up its ante to attract more visitors over the years and it certainly serves as a perfect destination for adventure seekers.

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Niagara Falls Day Trip from New York by Air

19 February 2011

If you are visiting New York then you just have to visit Niagara Falls, even if you are just on a weekend break there is no excuse with the Niagara Falls day trip, from New York by air.  The day trip to this magnificent thunderous product of the last ice age is now possible in as little as 12 hours.  With round trips from mid town New York to Upstate, then on to Buffalo airport for a quick transfer to the Falls.

The River Niagara stretches across the Canadian – United States border in both the state of New York and the Province of Ontario, carved by relentless ice sheets 18,000 years ago.  Niagara Falls is the second largest water fall in the world to the Victoria Falls of South Africa.  The awesome power of the combined 750,000 gallons of water dispersed over the American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls every second makes this an inspiring place to visit.

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City Review of Anchorage, AK

21 January 2011

The city of Anchorage is nestled amongst the snow capped mountains and forests of Alaska, rich in culture, wildlife and friendly greetings it is a place to be welcomed and explored.   The cosmopolitan city of Anchorage has no shortage of culture which you can see expressed through its music, dance and art in many of the cafes and restaurants dotted around the city.  With the city sitting on the edge of the coast and the abundance of marine life available, it is no wonder that you can find some fabulous seafood restaurants in Anchorage.

If wildlife and outdoor pursuits is your thing then you will be excited to get out into the wilderness to experience this breath taking scenery first hand.  You can literally lose yourself in the beauty of the fjords, glaciers and waterfalls of the small bays on the outskirts of the city. The array of different wildlife; from fish catching bears, bounding deer to the occasional whales tail  or dolphin breaking the surface of the still waters, will seem like time has stood still in Anchorage.

There are various tribes of natives that live across Alaska but they only make up about 16% of the population.  The cold climate of has taught them excellent survival skills and they have learnt over the years to live of the land even in the world worst extremities.  You can see an array of culture and heritage in the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Centre.  There is a mix of Russian and native history in the Museums’ with a strong sense of the indigenous natives coming through in the art work on display.

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Black Canyon River Rafting Tour

14 January 2011

The Black Canyon River is situated in the Lake Mead National Recreation area near Las Vegas, Nevada.  Created by the 500 mile stretching Colorado River the Black Canyon lies just beneath the Hoover Damn, it was used by early Native Indians as a life line to the irrigation of crops until the fickle river made the area uninhabitable some 800-850 years ago.  After much research in the 1920’s to find a suitable Damn location, Hoover Damn was finished in 1935 backing water up to create Lake Mead and one of the biggest water recreation areas’ of the Southwest.

The 2000 feet high cliffs from the waters’ edge make this a spectacular rafting area with some of the most breathtaking views of the whole Canyon.  A typical rafting tour of the Black Canyon will consist of; being picked up from your Las Vegas hotel and transported to the Hoover Damn recreational area where you will welcomed on board a purpose built raft.

The raft launch area is at the base of the Hoover Dam and gives you a spectacular view upward of this fete of concrete engineering.  Over 100 people lost their lives in the construction of the damn out of the 5000 people working day and night to complete the build over a 7 year period.  The damn now offers an incredible resource for the surrounding area.

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Romance Package at the Venetian Hotel The Romantic Getaway

02 January 2011

The Romance Package at the Venetian Hotel is a great experience for couples or simply for people who believe in romance. The package includes a trip to Madame Tussauds museum, followed by a Venice-like Gondola ride with a meal at Zeffirinos thrown in for good measure.

 It is without doubt great value for money. Madame Tussauds is an out of the world experience, almost surreal and one leaves the place with a feeling of déjà-vu.

The tickets are easily available with no long queues to battle.  The Gondola ride can only be booked for the day while Madam Tussauds and the meal can be availed any time during the day. Almost everyone who visits these places comes out with raving reviews and a promise to oneself and others to return soon.

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Las Vegas Tandem Skydiving experience A Thrilling Experience

31 December 2010

The tandem SkyDive in Las Vegas is an adventurous getaway for those with a penchant for thrills. The diving site is located in Nevada at a height of about 15000 feet. The experience has been aptly termed as the ’Ultimate Las Vegas Adventure.

One starts off on the adventure trip with a short ride from the Strip in Vegas to the Boulder City and is subsequently trained on diving and landing positions. Once the training gets done, the person is ready to be appropriately dressed in safety gear and is all set to go!

The event can best be defined as an exhilarating experience that makes a person wonder the reason for not undertaking that trip to Vegas for the SkyDive earlier. The support staff at the SkyDive Las Vegas makes a person feel safe and one can relax with the knowledge and also the fact that one is constantly under professional and experienced guidance.

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A Review of the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam Day Trip from Las Vegas with Optional Skywalk Walking on the Air

30 December 2010

The Grand Canyon Skywalk and Hoover Dam day trip from Las Vegas is an amazing experience in everyway. If one gets a choice to accommodate the helicopter ride as well, it is recommended that one gets it added, as it is the best way to see the canyon. The helicopter ride and the skywalk is a completely breath taking experience that should be on the must-do lists of every one who visits Las Vegas.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk and Hoover Dam day trip starts with an entertaining bus ride to the site which was nothing but comfortable. The bus picks the visitors at 6.30 AM in the morning and the ride is very entertaining.

One gets ample time to see a minimum of two of the three primary tourists draws on the west rim. The bus driver is generally very chatty and offers a lot of anecdotes and keeps the conversation flowing. The Hoover’s Dam is an added attraction and it is great to be able to view it from such close quarters.

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Major Attractions Surrounding Las Vegas - Gold Butte Back Country Byway

28 July 2010

There’s certainly no shortage of sights to see if you’re ever planning to make a trip to Las Vegas. The surrounding areas are scenic and historic, and anyone thinking that Vegas is a desert wasteland has simply never been there to experience the “portal to the west” feel of the land. The Gold Butte Back Country Byway is consistently one of Vegas’ most traveled roadways.

Gold Butte was a mining town established in the early 1900s. It was essentially part of the Old West atmosphere and only had around 1,500 residents in its heyday. This makeshift town was never meant to be a permanent home for people. The miners and their families were looking to strike it rich and jump over to California. The entire town was made up of tents and a few buildings.

The Gold Butte Back Country Byway is named after this town, but travelers of this scenic route get to experience much more than the remnants of one of Vegas’ oldest mining towns. Altogether, it usually takes a scenic driver about 5 hours to travel the 62-mile stretch of road. It is also suggested that drivers take a truck or a high-clearance vehicle, as not all the road is smooth sailing.

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US Attractions - Duck Creek Trail of Clark County Wetlands Park

25 July 2010

Over the years, the city of Las Vegas has started showcasing a lot more than the casinos that initially made it famous. With the natural formations and huge mountain range surrounding Clark County, places like the Duck Creek Trail in Wetlands Park have become increasingly popular destinations for folks who want a break from the ordinary.

The Wetlands Park is a crucial component of the area’s ecosystem. Even though there are quite a few sources of water around, with the Colorado River and many natural mountain springs, the Vegas/Clark County area is still a desert. It wouldn’t take much at all for a wetland area to dry up and seriously cripple the ecosystem.

Because it’s so valuable, the Wetlands Park is fully protected. The area encompasses over 2,900 acres of widely varied wildlife and plant life. There’s a delicate balance existing right now, and folks do all they can to ensure the habitat is protected. The wetland receives its water from the Las Vegas wash. This flow supports the frail habitat and the fluctuating marshes.

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California Tourist Attractions - Trail Canyon

23 July 2010

People visiting the southwestern United States often stop in on southern California. Los Angeles is one of the biggest cities in the world, and there’s certainly no shortage of sights to visit and to see while there. One of the more underrated activities in CA is a sightseeing venture down the Angeles Forest Highway. Locations like Trail Canyon make this trip worth the effort.

Directions to any destination on the road, including Trail Canyon, are pretty much self explanatory if you’re driving on the Angeles Forest Highway. You’ll be cutting through the Angeles National Forest and thus have immediate access to a slew of overlooks, campgrounds, trails, recreation centers and other stops along the way.

Trail Canyon is found in the Big Tujunga Creek segment of the highway/forest. The driving gets a little bit more dangerous in this segment as the road narrows and rock slides are often a hazard, and this is why trails along this section do so well. It gives visitors a chance to get up-close-and-personal with the habitat.

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Las Vegas Attractions - Freedom Park

22 July 2010

Designated skate parks have been popping up all over the United States for decades. They first started being built for skateboarders to have a place to skate where they would be both safer and out of the way of the police who always tried to shut them down. A lot of these skate parks were inevitably named “freedom” park, and the Freedom Park in Las Vegas is one of the most popular.

Before the recent renovations last January, Vegas’ Freedom Park didn’t place much emphasis on skating, however. In fact, with the lackluster sporting environment, it didn’t place much emphasis on any sport. It was basically a designated area for kids to stay out of traffic. Now it has finally become a respectable and popular landmark of the community.

Anyone driving around Vegas would have to be blind to miss this massive park. It’s located right on Washington Avenue, across from the swank Desert Pines Golf Club, and covers an impressive 68-acre plot of land. This multi-use park is really attracting the sporting types and tourists now that the $17.5 million makeover is completed.

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Major Attractions Surrounding Las Vegas - Mummy Springs

20 July 2010

There aren’t many places to walk to in seclusion if you’re in Las Vegas. With the many restaurants, shops, casinos and other large buildings in the metro area, Sin City is basically the city life on steroids. Outside of the city, however, is a different story. The Clark County area offers plenty of hiking locations for visitors, including the popular Mummy Springs.

Mummy Mountain stands tall as the second highest peak of the Spring Mountain range in Nevada. It got its name due to resembling a sarcophagus of ancient Egypt. Mummy Springs is a trail found further down the mountain and makes for great hiking that even beginners can enjoy without having to worry about hardcore climbing.

Mummy Springs is a quaint location prized by the locals and a favorite of pet owners. Many people walk their dogs up the trail, so much so that there had to be laws passed for having animals on the trail. If you take a dog, you must have a leash no longer than six feet. All waste must also be removed. These rules are for the other visitors’ convenience.

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Nevada Attractions - Sandstone Canyon Overlook Horse Trail Loop

19 July 2010

Thousands of hikers around the globe make the trek every year to Las Vegas, Nevada, of all places, to experience a hike around the Spring Mountains and through the various red rock formations in the Red Rock Canyon area. The Sandstone Canyon Overlook Horse Trail Loop is one of the more popular destinations for hikers and sightseers in the area.

The Spring Mountains in southern Nevada are huge and offer a never ending assortment of activity potential for visitors. From a small Clark County community called Mountain Springs, you can get to the Sandstone Canyon Overlook and experience a difficult hike that will test the limits of anyone who enjoys hiking as a hobby.

The overlook is located on the actual Mountain Spring trail pass, so you have to go up the mountain a bit before you even get to it. This is the type of destination you go to, knowing full well what you’re getting into. All visitors should be ready for a hike; and if you’re bringing horses, make sure you’re an efficient rider before attempting to climb the trail.

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Nevada Attractions - Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest of Spring Mountains

17 July 2010

In recent years, Las Vegas has started to earn a reputation for the wild countryside in very close proximity. Most people think of the area round Vegas as a sprawling desert, but the southern border of Nevada is also a mountain range, and the Spring Mountains provide a lot of tourism potential, including Red Rock Canyon and other parts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

Due to its higher elevation and abundance of natural springs, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (HTNF) is a stark contrast to the surrounding desert only mere miles away. The mountain range is expansive and the declared national forest encompasses 6.3 million acres of green forestland and is the largest National Forest in the country outside of Alaska.

One of the most unique aspects of Vegas’ National Forest is that it’s not a continuous stretch of mountain. Instead, the entire forest area is spread out all over the southern part of the state and even parts of eastern California. All in all, there are 10 separate ranger districts scattered across miles, including the popular Santa Rosa Range.

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Major Attractions Surrounding Las Vegas - Bitter Springs Back Country Byway

15 July 2010

Nevada is absolutely jam packed with hundreds of tourist destinations, especially around Las Vegas. The desert oasis full of casino resorts is great for the gambling types out there, but Vegas and the surrounding area presents a tourist’s paradise in terms of scenery and historic locations. Driving the Bitter Springs Back Country Byway, tourists get to see a lot of what the area offers.

Anyone planning on venturing to Nevada to cruise this strip of land should know that it’s an unpaved road that can get a bit rough at times. It’s certainly not a drag strip and all motorists should take it easy and enjoy the scenery. It should take anyone about 2 hours to fully enjoy the scenic tour, although the byway isn’t that long.

Also, your run-of-the-mill rental car probably isn’t going to make the trek. This byway is something that needs to be planned out and not simply a route you can stumble across. You should have a high-clearance vehicle, a truck or an ATV, and you should make sure to bring some supplies just in case of a breakdown.

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Major Attractions Surrounding Las Vegas - Hoover Dam

13 July 2010

Nevada is far from the barren wasteland that some visitors of Las Vegas may think it to be. In fact, all the glitz and glamour of the city is possible because of the powerful Colorado River that runs through the state. That water is held off by the Hoover Dam, and besides also functioning as a power plant, the dam also serves as one of the country’s hottest tourist attractions.

The Hoover Dam is located in the south of Nevada and shares a border with Arizona. The dammed water from the Colorado River creates Lake Mead (Nevada) and Lake Mohave (Arizona). Motorists can’t miss it on highway US 93.

Hoover is absolutely huge, standing 726 feet high and covering 1,244 feet in length. The structure is what’s known as a concrete arch-gravity dam, when it was built, it was years ahead of its time in terms of construction and sheer scale. The project was originally known as Boulder Dam.

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Major Attractions Surrounding Las Vegas - Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

11 July 2010

For a country of over 300 million citizens, wildlife preserves are certainly common in the United States of America. One place you might not expect to find one, however, is in the metropolitan area of Las Vegas, Nevada. The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is located in Henderson, Clark County and it has become a great tourist attraction in recent years.

A few places like this may be a bit difficult to locate if you’re not entirely sure how to navigate your way around Las Vegas. Luckily, the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is in prime position next to the highway, and it’s certainly large enough to be spotted. You’ll find the preserve on Moser Drive, right next to Boulder Highway and Sunset Road.

As far as what you’ll see in there, well, the name pretty much says it all. It’s not like a zoo with multiple types of animals. The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is for various types of migrating birds, endangered species, a large variety of waterfowl and other species of birds.

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Major Attractions Surrounding Las Vegas - Cathedral Rock Trail

10 July 2010

Hiking has always been a popular activity for those among us who like to stay active, but a simple walk around the block just won’t do. Real hikers want to get out and experience various trails and mountains from all around the globe, and many make the trek to Nevada to hike along the Cathedral Rock Trail.

There are many formations named “Cathedral Rock” around the globe, and most every one takes its name due to the temple-like shape of the rock. For the Cathedral Rock located in Nevada’s Spring Mountains, the red rock rises straight up out of the ground and has a flat plateau with plenty of room on and around the rock for hiking.

The actual Cathedral Rock Trail will take hikers around the formation and through other parts of the Spring Mountain range. The actual rock is just the focal point of the entire trail. This majestic rock rises in the air around 1000 feet above the road below it. Anyone climbing to the summit, if they don’t experience vertigo, will access a priceless view of the surrounding area.

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Major Attractions Surrounding Las Vegas - Mary Jane Falls

08 July 2010

Waterfalls are always popular tourist attractions, no matter where they’re located. These nature-made wonders seem permanent, but they’re extremely fragile. Even one of the world’s most famous waterfalls, Niagara Falls, is eroding at an alarming rate. Some of the smaller waterfalls of the world won’t be around long, so falls like the Mary Jane Falls in Vegas are a must-see feature if you’re a fan.

The Mary Jane Falls site in the Spring Mountains in southern Nevada is one of the most visited in the region. It’s not hard to find the trailhead if you follow the proper roads. Take I-15 N from Las Vegas to 95 N in Reno. Then you’ll drive to Echo Road, just past the USFS ranger station. You’ll see a fork in the road and the marked sign at your destination.

You’ll find trails to multiple falls here. You can choose to check out the Big Falls, or you can proceed with hiking toward the Mary Jane Falls. Most likely, unless the weather is really bad, you’ll run into a lot of people at the parking area, picnic area, on the trails and especially at the falls. This is a highly visited destination, so it might not be right for you if you’re seeking seclusion.

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Major Attractions Surrounding Las Vegas - Lake Mead National Recreation Area

06 July 2010

While some people like to take their vacations to tropical islands and big cities, others like a more open and historic destination, and Nevada offers these types of vacation spots by the dozen. Obviously, Nevada brings in a lot of tourism due to Las Vegas, but many other landmarks in the area share the spotlight, including the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a large landmark made up of two huge reservoirs and is located in southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. The Nevada side is the Lake Mead side of the attraction, with the Arizona reservoir Lake Mohave making up the other half. Lake Mead is impossible to miss – it’s located at the Hoover Dam.

It’s really an all-in-one vacation to visit the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Not only can folks see the huge reservoir, but they also get to tour and experience the Hoover Dam. Because of the type of location and everything Lake Mead offers, nearly 8 million people make the trek there every year, making it one of the most visited sites in the United States of America, and certainly Nevada.

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Las Vegas Attractions - Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park

04 July 2010

Every major tourist attraction city in America has some type of zoo or botanical garden facility. It’s a family-friendly and informative experience for people of all ages, and Las Vegas is no exception. Although Vegas’ zoo has a fancy name, the Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park, it’s still a basic zoo and operates as a nonprofit organization.

With all the many casino resorts in Las Vegas, one might expect any zoo in the city to be a large, lavish piece of property with thousands of exotic animals from all over the globe. However, the Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park only covers a very small 3 acres and is a relatively small facility that mostly houses animals that can thrive in the dry climate.

From the outside, the zoo is very whimsical and even a bit outdated in terms of everything that surrounds it. The low faded walls are painted yellow and green, and the actual “Zoo” sign looks like something from a 1960s casino on The Strip. The inside of the facility is kept nicer, at least, and the animals are cared for by well-trained staff.

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Major US Attractions - Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park

30 June 2010

Las Vegas has many attractions to lure people to the city, as you could imagine, but one of their most notable attractions has nothing to do with gambling or the other activities you’ll find in Sin City. The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park is one of the city’s only remaining relics of the pre-gambling era.

The Mormon State Historic Park gets its name from the actual Old Mormon Fort located on the property. 50 years before Las Vegas received its name and long before it was known as the gambling center of the world, Mormon missionaries built a fort on the property and it was eventually declared a historic landmark and has remained untouched over the years.

Mormons are sure to stay clear of Las Vegas these days, as their religion strictly prohibits 99% of what Vegas has to offer, but back in 1855, the natural springs flowing through Las Vegas provided the Mormon settlers with a prime location for living.

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Major Attractions Surrounding Las Vegas - Red Rock Canyon

27 June 2010

Some tourist attractions in the world just stand out and you don’t really need any directions to get there. Like the Statue of Liberty in New York – you’re going to see her standing there if you’re anywhere near the Hudson. The same can be said about Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas. If you look west of the Vegas Strip, you’ll see the high-standing red rocks.

Red Rock Canyon isn’t one canyon, but rather a series of large red rock formations that are located on a large National Conservation Area (NCA). These red rocks are protected by the Bureau of Land Management as part of the National Landscape Conservation System. Not that anyone would want to destroy the rocks, but they do need to be protected.

With over a million people visiting this site every year, the area could easily be damaged if folks decided that they wanted to chip away at the structure and take a piece home with them. The red sandstone isn’t exactly tough stuff, and it can easily be damaged.

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