Read this post to find things to do around Las Vegas when want to venture off the strip.
And read this post to find things to do on the strip that doesn't involve gambling.
My mom's favorite pastime was playing slot machines and her favorite place to play was Las Vegas. We celebrated her 90th birthday there, 6 years ago, with about 40 of her family and friends coming from NY, Florida, Arizona and California to join us. We were planning one last vacation for her in Vegas this past February but sadly she passed away a couple of months before the trip. My sister, Sandie, and I, and a few others, decided since we had our reservations already that we would not cancel them. We thought that Mom would want us to go. Because my mom was such a fan of Vegas, we have been there many times. She was happy to sit in front of the slot machines all day but we needed to find other things to do and it was always very easy to find lots of things to do. There are so many things to do on the Vegas Strip including the Vegas shows, the aquarium at Mandalay Bay and thrill rides like the roller coaster at New York-New York. There are also so many things to do that are free or cost very little. (Look for that post next week!) And there are very good deals on hotel rooms or packages that include flight and hotel which makes Las Vegas affordable on a retirement budget. And if you want to venture off the strip, you can find some very fun things to do in the area.
This year Sandie and her husband, Mini, rented a car and we drove about 25 minutes to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. At the entrance, we were given a map with a detailed list of the different trails running through the canyon. The terrain was different and the level of difficulty differed with each trail. They were rated from being easy, with the trail being wheel chair accessible, to challenging and not accessible unless you had an off road/4 X 4 vehicle to maneuver around in.
We hiked the easy to moderately strenuous trails. The most challenging for us was the trail that led to a waterfall. There were huge boulders to climb over and a stream to cross over. Trying to select the flattest and least slippery rock to balance and stay on, without hiking boots, made this a bit of a treacherous adventure but gave us a sense of accomplishment, and relief, when we navigated across it without falling into the water! We were treated to a beautiful sight once we made our way past all the obstacles.
We had so much fun exploring all the trails and took lots of pictures.
Yes! That's Sandie posing for a photo after she wedged herself into the rock!
I would highly recommend a visit to Red Rock Canyon if you are ever in this area but make sure you bring your hiking boots!
If you have an entire day that you can spend off the strip, I highly, highly recommend finding a bus tour to take you to the Grand Canyon. We took the tour the year we celebrated Mom's birthday and had a great time spending the day with many of the party guests. For $75.00 per person, which includes the entrance fee, you can have a bus pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, give you snacks and water, take you to a buffet lunch and do all the driving as you nap on your way to and from one of the most breathtaking places on this earth. I had seen many photos of the Grand Canyon before I actually went and even the most professional shots don't do it justice. It was much more incredible than I ever imagined!
I found a gorgeous spot to sit in front of that I thought would capture the awesomeness of the canyon but this shot doesn't come close at all. The Grand Canyon definitely needs to be seen in person.
Another popular tour to take from the strip, or a short ride if you rent a car, is Hoover Dam. We rented a car with our good friends Susan and Frank when we vacationed in Las Vegas, with Mom of course, almost 20 years ago.
Soko, Frank and Susan paid $15.00 ($12.00 for seniors 62 and over) each to take the 30 minute Power Plant tour and that fee included entrance into the Visitor Center. I paid $10.00 to enter the Visitor Center but took a pass on going into the Power Plant which is not recommended for people with claustrophobia! They decided on not taking the hour tour that cost $30.00 and included a tour of the dam passageways because they didn't want to leave me that long. I heard from the three of them that they had a good time on the tour and that it was very interesting and informative. I am taking their word for it!
Speaking of fees, the entrance fee for the Grand Canyon is $12.00 per person for a day pass and $7.00 per vehicle or $3.00 per person if you are walking or bicycling into Red Rock Canyon. Something to consider if you are planning a trip to see both of these sites, is purchasing an America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass - Annual which costs $80.00 but admits the vehicle of the pass holder and their passengers into parks that have vehicle entry fees and/or admits the pass holder and 3 adults into per person fee areas.
Important note to all seniors 62 and older: Seniors can purchase a lifetime pass for a one time fee. It works the same as the annual pass described above. If you act very quickly you can purchase a lifetime pass at the rate of only $10.00 (plus a $10.00 processing fee). The cost of this lifetime pass is being raised to $80.00 starting August 28, 2017. I won't be turning 62 in time. I can't believe I'm actually annoyed that I'm not older than I am!
I couldn't end this post without a picture of Mom in her favorite place. In front of a slot machine. She sat down at the first machine she saw at the airport when we landed in Vegas. "Let's get this party started" was what she was thinking for sure!!
Have you ventured off the strip in Las Vegas and found interesting and fun things to do? Please let us know about your adventures by posting a comment!