Mention a vacation to Las Vegas and one of the first things people think about is the hotels and gambling. And while these are major attractions to the city, they aren’t the only things you can do in and around Las Vegas. Here are five ideas for fans of adventure holidays.
Helicopter trips
One of the best ways to see Las Vegas from the air is from one of the helicopter trips on offer around the area. These offer a unique view of the city and its startling hotels. It is also a great way to see more of the surrounding area – the Grand Canyon, the red sandstones at the Valley of Fire State Park and even the Hoover Dam. Helicopter trips are great fun and often come with extras such as rafting tours along the floor of the Grand Canyon or exploring the area on an ATV.
Hiking
Las Vegas may be a largely desert area and pretty flat, but it is surrounded by mountains and that makes for great hiking opportunities. Mount Charleston is just to the west of the city and has some great locations to hike including Mary Jane Falls for beginners or Mummy Mountain for more experienced hikers. Look out for Raintree, the 3,000 year old Bristlecone Pine that is believed to be the oldest living thing in the state. If you want to upgrade the experience, look out for the rock climbing schools around the city that offer climbing for all levels.
Kayaking
As well as kayaking as part of a helicopter tour, you can go for a more comprehensive kayaking experience in a number of spots around the city. The Colorado River is one where you can visit spots like Emerald Cove that really lives up to its name. Lake Mead is another ideal kayaking spot and somewhere you can also try stand up paddle boarding. There are lots of little islands to explore around the lake, but the winds can be testing so don’t forget your safety gear.
Biking
Hire a bike when on vacation in Las Vegas and you get the chance to see some of the best of the area. The Red Rock Canyon Loop is a 20-mile loop that includes the famous Joshua trees as well as the red rocks that give the area its name. A lot of the loop is quite flat. There are also some good routes around Lake Mead including more challenging ones that use the landscape carved out by lava when there was volcanic activity.
Snowboarding
Being in the desert, Las Vegas isn’t a place you would associate with snowboarding. But for a few months of the year, the Lee Canyon near Mount Charleston becomes a snowboarding heaven. It offers something for beginners and also some challenging areas for more experienced snowboarders including some good trails above the lift drop off point. There is even a lodge that offers hot chocolate and other drinks to warm up between runs.