With the weather warming up and several events about to take place, the Las Vegas Territory is gearing up for a busy travel season. If you have yet to make your summer plans, take a few minutes to virtually tour around Las Vegas Territory and get just a few ideas of experiences you can take in this summer!
Cruise along the Colorado River
Our tour kicks off 98.5 miles away from the Las Vegas Strip in the town of Laughlin where you can still get your gaming on, while also satisfying your thirst for adventure. Many of the hotel/casinos in Laughlin are located on the banks of the Colorado River, making it a short walk away from outdoor river adventures such as kayaking, jet skiing, boating, river cruises and more. Check out a complete list of things to do from our friends at the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce.
Gaze at Art in the Desert
Nevada is home to two large-scale public art installations. One is City, which just opened in Northern Nevada while Southern Nevada is home to the other – Seven Magic Mountains, located approx. 21.3 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, just outside Jean, NV. Seven Magic Mountains opened in 2015 and was expected to have a two-year run, but the popularity of this attraction has led to the art display becoming a more permanent fixture. The beautiful colors amidst the natural beauty of the desert make this a prime location to take photos.
Ignite your Outdoor Adventure
Also located in the town of Goodsprings, just 33.2 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, is Adrenaline Mountain. True to its name, this 400-acre outdoor area will get your adrenaline pumping with experiences like UTV/ATVing in the desert, shooting a handgun and sniper rifle, driving a monster truck, crushing and moving objects with an excavator, throwing axes, tomahawks, and knives, or shooting bows and arrows. There are several combination packages available for every interest and experience level.
Visit the Oldest Bar in Southern Nevada
Tour the town of Goodsprings, a once a vibrant area during the mining boom in the early 1900’s, but now sits as a ghost town with a very small population remaining. The Pioneer Saloon, which opened during the rush 1913, is one of the few living relics of the past that is still in operation today, making it Southern Nevada’s oldest bar. Belly up to the bar, which is still the original, and features indentations where Clark Gable sat and awaited news of Carol Lombard’s plane crash in Mt. Potosi, and even a bullet hole demarking the aftermath of a card game gone wrong.
Find the best DAM view
There’s the typical tour of Hoover Dam, then there’s Evolution Expeditions‘ kayaking adventures. With several tours to choose from, we recommend opting for the Kayak Hoover Dam & Hot Springs Hike for the best DAM view, plus who doesn’t love relaxing in a hot spring? Nearby Boulder City offers lodging options and a quaint city filled with history and adventure to explore.
Crawl the Red Rocks
Las Vegas Rock Crawlers is just one of our members who can take you on a wild adventure to Moapa Valley’s Logandale Trails, Red Rock, and Valley of Fire. Explore the desert’s natural beauty in a totally unique way by taking their Jeep or UTV tour. While the experience is totally guided, rest assured you’ll be the one driving. No experience necessary.
Stargaze in the wild
When you escape the bright neon lights of Las Vegas, you’ll find plenty of areas where you can stargaze and see the universe as you’ve never seen it before. Gold Butte National Monument, located between Mesquite and Moapa, offers incredible opportunities to view the night sky as well as enjoy hiking, hunting, birdwatching, 4×4 routes, and more. Friends of Gold Butte offers monthly events and guided hikes to help you recreate responsibly in the area.
Tee off on majestic desert golf courses
The avid golf enthusiast will not want to miss out on playing a round or two in Mesquite. Featuring 9 golf courses within a 10 minute drive of the hotels, it’s safe to say golf is a top attraction in this city. Mesquite is just 85.5 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, and you can learn more about things to do in the city from the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce.
Get your snow on
There are more than 100 hiking trails in the Las Vegas area, including a few popular hikes on Mt. Charleston. But in the winter you can change up your boots for boards and tour the mountains in a winter wonderland. Lee Canyon Ski & Snowboard Resort is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding all winter long.
Mount the majestic desert canyons
Hiking and leisure drives through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area sure are beautiful. But did you know the climbing in this area is one of the finest in the world? For those seeking a higher challenge and to just be at one with nature, dare to scale the walls of Red Rock Canyon. Climb into the details here.
Haunt ghost towns
Nevada got its Silver nickname from the silver mining boom that happened all around the state around the 1900’s. Once the silver dried up, plenty of ghost towns were left behind. Many of these can still be visited today – such as Gold Springs, Gold Butte, and many other towns in the northern part of Nevada. Adventure awaits at the Gold Point ghost town in Nevada Silver Trails Territory (photo credit: Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada). And if you really want to ante up your ghost town adventures, take a look at those featured in the Death Valley Rally road trip.
Ready to plan your trip? We’ve got plenty of resources for you!
Thank you for taking our tour, and to all of our above listed partners who contributed photos for inclusion in this story and other Las Vegas Territory materials to help promote the southern half of the Silver State.