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Home > Trip Reports > Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada!
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The road to Mount Charleston!
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On Cathedral Rock Trail
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Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop
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Ice Box Canyon inside Red Rock Canyon
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Dust Devil at Lake Mead
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A 'pull-off' on the Red Rock Canyon scenic loop
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McMullin's Pub near the Orleans casino
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Lake Mead
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Bellagio Hotel and Casino
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Luxor
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Trip Report
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Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada!
August 2007
Las Vegas , NV
posted by Summit Now
I think the first thing that people identify Las Vegas, Nevada with is gambling. That's a pretty obvious statement. The lights on the Las Vegas Strip is a wonderment in itself and the nightclubs and the "everything 24hrs/7days" is almost unimagineable anywhere else. To experience Las Vegas, Nevada as a "whole" I have found that it is best to just rent a car and drive! I just got back from Las Vegas and I saw it all! The first couple of days were obviously spent walking the Strip and taking in the lights and casinos and all they had to offer. I was also out there for a friend's wedding at the Bellagio, which was ultra extravagant and just damn beautiful. The other parts of Vegas can only be found via automobile.
I rented an economy car from Alamo.com and picked it up at McCarran airport and drove straight out to Hoover Dam on my "first day of adventure". The Las Vegas route 215 East takes you in through Boulder City, past Lake Mead and on towards Hoover Dam which is a "dam" wonder! This is a must see if travelling to Las Vegas. I parked on the Arizona side and walked across the dam to the Nevada side where you have the "dam" gift shop and museum. You can spend money to take a bus tour of the Hoover Dam area from here, I believe it is at least $25 dollars, but the exact amount has slipped my mind. I climbed the stairs at the "dam" gift shop and took in the marvelous overlook of the dam. This would be plenty if you don't want to pay for the guided tour via bus. Get some cool digi snaps for memories from up here...you'll thank yourself! I then went back down to the dam...lingered on its crest for awhile staring down the "dam" wall and out at Lake Mead. I spent about an hour or a little more then it was off to Lake Mead!
The Lake Mead Recreation Area is about 10 minutes from Hoover Dam. The best thing to do is to stop first at the visitor center. A bit of a "touristy" thing to do, but it is very informative and will help you plan your drive around the lake. From here you follow the lakeshore road, pay $5 to get into the area and then off you go! I stopped at the Lake Mead Marina, which was cool and you can rent boats or take a boat tour from there. I kept on the road and stopped off at the beach for a little while...stopped again at a lookout where there was a huge dust devil not far from me and kept on going. This is a very remote, dry and HOT area of Nevada, so bring lots of water, sunscreen, sun glasses and a hat. The lake road takes you around and you will hit Las Vegas Bay, which was dry when I was there, but is usually filled up and sporting a nice blue hue that will bewilder the mind. If there's one thing about Lake Mead...it's that she's as blue as the Blue Man Group who just held there breath for 10 minutes! It's a sight, no doubt.
The other area of Las Vegas that is apt to make you wonder about how small we humans really are is Red Rock Canyon. From the Las Vegas Strip, the best way to go is to take Las Vegas Blvd south, turn right onto Blue Diamond Road that leads right to the canyonland. I went to the visitor center, which was alright...nothing too extravagant, but they had some cool information on area wildlife and area history. I'd say it's worth the stop. From here you take the one-way scenic loop which is $5 to explore, but well worth it! This loop will lead you to all the trails! I stopped by a couple trailheads and walked in just a little ways to get some cool digi pictures. The one trail I did hike was Ice Box Canyon trail. It's only about 1 mile and moderate, very "do-able". There is some slight scrambling over and between rocks. Keep the kids behind and wear some sturdy hiking boots. I did this because it was short and sweet and always remember that hiking alone has it's dangers, so keep prepared for the unknown and ultimately, don't hike alone! I know I did and sound kind of hypocritical, but sit down and have a pint and relax because I have experience. Watch out for mountain lions! I didn't see any, luckily.
The Red Rock Canyon Loop is about 13 miles roundtrip with great views outward toward Las Vegas. The road back into Vegas is a desolate roadway that will bring you back in to town on the West side near Summerlin, which is North Las Vegas. Just don't end up here after dark. This area is the drudgery of the city and needs to be avoided. I must say though, the Chicago Brewing Company in this area is great! I bought a growler of beer, which is a half-gallon glass jug, of the stout and finished it off!! They are located on Fort Apache in Summerlin. Great stuff!! After this stop, I went over to McMullins Irish Pub...drank two pints of Guinness...which they pour very well...and then went back to the condo. What a great day.
So the last thing I did in Las Vegas was drive the 45 minutes out to the Toiyabe National Forest area. Here you will find Mt Charleston standing 11,918ft above sea level and as glorious as any mountain should be. Her hinterland is a vast array of aspen trees, ponderosa pines, joshua trees and desert sage. The Kyle Canyon road, route 157 will take you all the way up to Mt Charleston Lodge, where you can catch the South Loop trail to the summit or Cathedral Rock trail, which I hiked up. The lodge has a restaurant and is great for lunch after a hike or a beer...whatever your pleasure. The Cathedral Rock hike was fairly steep. I had my hiking poles which helped mostly on the way down. I brought lots of water and camera space on my digi. The view is glorious and lain out as if to say, "look at me...I'm gorgeous". It is a breathtaking view and a must do. From here I went to the South Loop trail and hiked about a mile in...the same with the North Loop trail which was off route 157 up route 158 towards the Hilltop campground. The North Loop trail is awesome! Take the time to go driving around out here and take in the view and stop at the 'pull-offs' and take some fantastic digi pics!
So after spending time in the Spring Mountains and Toiyabe area...I ventured back to Vegas. My last night was spent at McMullins Irish Pub, which is right next door to the Orleans casino on Tropicana Blvd, and sent gallons of Guinness down my tracheal tract and ensured quite the buzz before flying back home the next day.
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada! This line actually does kind of sum it all up. Happy travels! Slainte!!
SUMMIT NOW
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