Hey Hey, lets do Vegas in May!
dougkuzo
Did a 17 day trip with my two boys (8 & 12), only spent two days in Vegas itself!
1 May 2006
based on 10 votes
Limitless daytrips from Vegas, honestly there are too many to list them all.
-
Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Las Vegas, Grand Canyon National Park, Nevada, Boulder City, Zion National Park, Overton, Amargosa Valley
- Category: Perfect week or more
-
Traveler type: Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors, Never been before, Repeat visitors
-
Appeals to: Couples/romantics, Honeymooners, Singles, Families with small children, Families with teenagers, Large groups, Students, Budget travellers , Active/adventure, Tourists, Pet owners
- Seasons: Spring
- Tags: daytrip, national parks, scenic drives, views, budget, family fun, kids
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here is the idea. You can get a package deal fly out, rent a car, and hit the road. You dump all the gear in your hotel room and only take what you need for the day. Travel light and relaxed. It's the best daytrip hub you could pick. LOW cost rooms (you shouldn't have to pay more than $39 a night for a great room with a great pool and great restaurants). Always something to eat when you get back from your day trip, no matter how late you get back! Wake up one day and the weather isn't so great--spend the day in Vegas. So much to do in Vegas indoors (that is really a seperate Go List in and of itself). |
|
|
|
|
|
MONDAY-You have to start your Vegas daytrips with the Big Daddy of all tourist attractions. Make a long day of it. It doesnt matter if you go north rim or south both are beautiful drives and spectacular views.
South rim is about 250 miles (about four hours). It's a long day that is why we do it up front. Have a buffet breakfast and get on the road by 8 you will be at the Grand Canyon in time for a scenic lunch. Spend four hours at the Canyon and you can still be back in Vegas before dark. What a great day. Talk about beautiful scenery the whole drive is majestic.
The North rim is our choice for the best view in America. You will not make the North rim (from Vegas) and back in the same day. It is about 400 miles (about seven hours to be safe). You will have to spend the night away from base. It is a small sacrifice but we think the North rim is worth it. |
|
|
3. Lake Mead National Recreation Area
|
|
| TUESDAY-The next two on the list could be done in one day together. Rent a boat a go out on Lake Mead. Fish, sightsee, sunbathe, picnic lunch, swim YOU GET THE IDEA. Top off the afternoon at the Hoover dam. You will still be back in Vegas for the evening buffet or poker tournament. |
|
|
|
|
|
| TUESDAY-Mere minutes from Vegas. Now this is a grand sight almost unbelievable. I recommend the dam tour. Watch out for the dam tour guide. The dam parking lot is sure to be hot as hell. Just a dam fine place to spend a day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY-Just over two hours drive (all interstate). Makes for a lovely day. As with all the parks on this list, a few hours is just enough time to see only the major attractions here (with some hiking involved). Each of these parks could fill a week by themselves, but we are doing daytrips here.
Make sure you drive your car through the Zion/Mt. Carmel tunnel. Stop at the visitors center and get on the tour bus (it has an open roof, because you will be looking straight up most of the time). It will take you on the 6 mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. You can stay on the bus the whole time or you can get off at the different stops and take a hike. When you get back from your hike go to the bus stop and another will be along in minutes. They run all day (5:30am-11pm) and you will NEVER wait more than 10 minutes for the next bus. |
|
|
6. Valley of Fire State Park
|
|
| THURSDAY-Other than the Hoover dam/Lake Mead this is the easiest day trip from Vegas. Only an hour north on Interstate 15. Nevada's oldest and largest state park. Look around feels like your standing on Mars. You can also add the Lost City Museum, Moapa River Indian Reservation, and the northern section of Lake Mead to this trip. |
|
|
|
|
|
| THURSDAY-Add this to you Valley of Fire day trip. |
|
|
|
|
|
| FRIDAY-Less than an hours scenic drive north on 95. You could not pick a better place to hike in the late spring. There is a very nice shaded one hour hike to Cathedral Rock. It starts at the picnic area at the end of highway 157. There are trails to the summit (North Loop Trail 11 miles long, South Loop Trail 9 miles long) but, obviously, these are only for experienced hiker/climbers. |
|
|
9. Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
|
|
| FRIDAY-Throw this in on your Mt. Charleston day and visit the Devil's Hole. Just outside Death Valley this is a limestone sinkhole that has filled with water. |
|
|
10. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
|
|
| SATURDAY-By now you may need a break from the hikes/long walks associated with all the parks. Boy have I got it for you. 10 minutes from the strip. Just off highway 159 is a 13 mile long scenic road. If you dont get out and do any hikes/trails (there are plenty available too) or picnic areas, you could be back on the strip in less than an hour. Or you could spend all day in the conservation area and hang out with the Big Horn Sheep they have there, I think they have about a hundred. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alrighty then, you've been in Vegas for a full week and haven't drop a dime in the casino (sounds like you are a winner already). Well it's the weekend now so cut loose hit the blackjack table, throw some dice, or better yet throw your kids in the pool and just hang out. You've spent a week in Vegas and done things that people who have visited 20 times have never seen, maybe even some stuff the locals have never done. |
|
Compliment dougkuzo
