When visiting Las Vegas people come for one reason– to gamble and win. When that doesn’t work out sometimes they have a day or two to kill and they don’t want to be anywhere near a casino. I will help guide you out of the city and help you discover the outer beauty of Las Vegas.
The most spectacular drive you can take is through the Valley of Fire. Undoubtedly you will recognize the scenery as your traveling through. Plenty of car commercials are shot on this very road traveling through the spectacular mountains and red rocks. Valley of Fire State Park is located only six miles from Lake Mead and 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas on Interstate 15 exit 75. Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park, and it leads to Lake Mead. Pretty much every road leads to Lake Mead.
The Red Rock National Conservation Area is located 5 miles west of Las Vegas. Red Rock is a beautiful drive you can take to clear your head. Windows down or preferably top down on your convertible. It can be accessed by taking Charleston Blvd past the Red Rock Resort and through a small town named Blue Diamond. This brings you to Blue Diamond Rd. From here you have a choice. You can make a left and head east back to Las Vegas. The other choice is head west and travel to Pahrump. The drive to Pahrump is pure desert but some people like desert scenery.
Next on the list is my personal favorite. The drive to Mt Charleston is 35 miles from Las Vegas in the mountains above Las Vegas. Take 95 North heading to Reno. Turn left at the Mt Charleston exit. Mt Charleston is 11918 ft above Las Vegas you can escape the 100 degree temps in Las Vegas and enjoy 78 degree weather in July and August. In the winter Mt Charleston is covered in snow and is nice change of pace from the intensity of Las Vegas.
Fourth on the list is a trip to through Boulder City and a visit to Nevada’s next largest tourist attraction, the Hoover Dam. It is about a 25 mile trip from Las Vegas. To get there take 95 South towards Phoenix. On your trip keep an eye out for bighorn sheep you might see them in some unusual places like the softball fields along the highway leading to Lake Mead. As you cross over the Dam and enter into Arizona don’t forget to check the clocks.
Last but not least is a road that not many know. It is an old school area of East Las Vegas. Hollywood Blvd is at the top of Sunrise Mountain and has a spectacular view of the Las Vegas Strip. To reach Sunrise Mountain and Hollywood Blvd take Sahara Ave east from the strip. It ends at Hollywood Blvd. Turn left at Hollywood and drive to Lake Mead Blvd. 20 years ago Hollywood Blvd was “Inspiration Point” for the old time Las Vegas residents.
On your next trip to Las Vegas if things aren’t going your way, now you have an alternative. Take off in any direction and you will hit one of these road trips.
