Las Vegas area recreation

Your guide to Las Vegas area recreation. Preview outdoor excursions, national parks, sports-related attractions and much more. Find relevant information and get to know Las Vegas for more than its neon and glitz.

Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge A popular location for photographers and city folks alike, Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge features unique plants, endangered pupfish, nature trails and picnic areas just outside Pahrump. 

Brian Head Resort It's just three and a half hours from Vegas, but you'll feel a million miles away. The abundant greenery, lava flow formations and numerous lakes bring you into an entirely different world. Ski in winter without worrying about long lift lines. For a cool, crisp escape from the city.

Bryce Canyon The gorgeous Bryce Canyon National Park offers amazing views of vibrantly-colored rock formations as well as a diversity of trees, flowers and wild animals. Located in Utah, approximately 270 miles northeast of Las Vegas, visitors can enjoy 50 miles of hiking trails for all fitness levels.

Cedar Breaks National Monument Located in between Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks sits at an altitude of 10,000 feet. Marvel in the beautiful red sandstone cliffs and catch views of wildflowers, green meadows, lakes and an abundance of trees.

Death Valley National Park Death Valley is known for more than just heat. It also features the Racetrack dry lake bed with famous rolling stones -- after rain, winds blow the stones hard enough to fall off the cliff. 

Floyd Lamb State Park Escape the city hype and sit amongst ponds, scenic paths and picnic areas at the historic Floyd Lamb State Park, located in northwest Las Vegas. Get up close and personal with peacocks, duck and geese. Visitors can plan a fishing trip here as well.

Grand Canyon Located 300 miles southeast of Las Vegas, the world-famous Grand Canyon offers breathtaking views of its towering, colorful cliffs and the ultimate escape from the city life. This well-known landmark measures one mile deep and almost 280 miles long.

Grapevine Canyon Located in the Newberry Mountains between Searchlight and Laughlin, witness ancient petroglyphs left by early Native Americans. For a little humor on your day trip, make sure to check out Christmas Tree Pass, where you'll see trees decorated with beer cans, plastic jugs and unmentionables.

Hot Springs Want the Jacuzzi experience, but don't want to skip out on the nature scene? Believe it or not, Nevada is home to approximately 300 hot springs.

Lake Mead Considered the largest man-made lake in the United States, Lake Mead is a short drive from Las Vegas. Visitors can swim, jet ski, sunbathe and relax at this attraction. Hoover Dam is also right next door.

Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort Skiing and snowboarding in Las Vegas? Yes, it is indeed possible. Located at Mount Charleston, the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort is only a 45-minute drive from the city. 

Mount Charleston Popular for its crisp, fresh breezes and various hiking trails, Mount Charleston is a short trip from the Strip. Part of the Spring Mountain Range, Mount Charleston rises as high as 12,000 feet in elevation. Wildflowers, waterfalls and a variety of trees can be seen here. 

Red Rock Canyon Located only 15 miles west of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon offers a quiet, secluded escape filled with greenery, unique plants, petroglyphs, wild animals and much more.

Red Rock Climbing Center Located only 15 miles west of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon offers a quiet, secluded escape filled with greenery, unique plants, petroglyphs, wild animals and much more.

SoBe Ice Arena Hockey fans, rejoice! The 31,000-square-foot Sobe Ice Arena houses up to 500 people during hockey games and events. Free ice skating is available, but be prepared for a full house. Skate rentals are available.

Spring Mountain Ranch Inside Red Rock Canyon, the 520-acre Spring Mountain Ranch is a perfect place for a picnic. The sprawling green pastures, quietness and fresh air make for a pleasant and relaxing lunch. 

Valley of Fire Don't forget your camera! Valley of Fire offers radiant views of its fiery red sandstone rock formations. Visitors can climb and explore the 35,000-acre park and capture close-up views of this spectacular wonder. Valley of Fire is located about 50 miles north of Las Vegas.

Zion National Park For a one-of-a-kind scenic experience, visit Utah's Zion National Park, located two and a half hours away from Las Vegas. Here, you'll have the opportunity to see canyon walls as high as 3,000 feet as well as the 6,555-foot-high Watchman at the south entrance of the park. 

Museums, Galleries and Collections

The Art of Richard MacDonald With two locations (one inside the Bellagio, one at CityCenter), visitors can see world-renowned Richard MacDonald's bronze statues of dancers, models or animals.

Auto Collection at The Quad The Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace is the auto enthusiast's dream. Featuring 350 classic cars that span more than a century, every single one is available for purchase.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art Featuring exhibitions of art and objects from all over the world, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is sure to attract art lovers.

Bodies...The Exhibition Bodies showcases 13 whole-body specimens and over 260 organs and partial body specimens in an educational experience like none other.

Discovery Children's Museum More than 100 hands-on exhibits in the arts, humanities and sciences at one of the country's largest children's museums.

Ethel M Chocolate Factory Tour and Cactus Garden Ethel M Chocolates panders to the sweet tooth in all of us. After the tour, visitors can stroll through the ocotillo, prickly pear and saguaros in the cactus garden.

Las Vegas Natural History Museum Marine life, Nevada's wildlife and animated dinosaurs are featured, plus a children's hands-on learning room.

 

M&M's World M&M's World delivers four stories of colorful fun to the Showcase Mall, offering a brilliant spectrum of the candy-coated treats and various items, including everything from T-shirts and caps to limited-edition lithographs.

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas Madame Tussauds features more than 100 exquisite wax figures of the world's most famous stars.

 

 

Marjorie Barrick Museum Located on the UNLV campus, The Marjorie Barrick Museum houses modern and contemporary art from the former Las Vegas Art Museum as well as an extensive collection of Pre-Columbian Art.

Martin Lawrence Galleries Located inside the Forum Shops at in Caesars Palace, the 26,000-square-foot showcase features hundreds of works including pieces from Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Erté, among others. Call (702) 991-5190 for 

 

Mob Attraction Las Vegas Mob Attraction Las Vegas takes you into the world of the mob with character actors, hologram celebrity guides and unusual artifacts

Mob Museum Located in heart of downtown Las Vegas, the 41,000-square-foot Mob Museum is an interactive attraction showcasing the history of these famed gangsters.

 

National Atomic Testing Museum The National Atomic Testing Museum captures all of the history, propaganda and controversy of the nuclear tests that once took place only an hour away from Las Vegas. See 10,000 square feet of interactive displays, short films, timelines and much more. You can even test your own radioactivity!

Nevada State Railroad Museum Fun for all ages, visitors can ride an authentic train along the same tracks that once carried the cargo for the construction of Hoover Dam. The narration during the train ride offers fun facts about Boulder City and the Southwest desert.

Nevada State Museum The museum depicts Southern Nevada's plants, animals, fossils and history from the Ice Age to modern times.

P3 Studio at the Cosmopolitan P3 Studio on the third floor of The Cosmopolitan features contemporary artists from around the world creating interactive installations as part of an innovative artist-in-residence program.

Penske Wynn Ferrari Maserati A longtime fan of the exquisite craftsmanship of Ferraris, Steve Wynn has created the ultimate tribute to the Italian carmaker with the opening of Penske Wynn Ferrari Maserati.

 

Peter Lik Mandalay Located inside the Shoppes at Mandalay Bay, the 3,266-square-foot gallery features 55 of Lik's world-famous photographs, including his famous shots "Sacred Sunrise" and "Eternal Beauty."

Pinball Hall of Fame Pinball aficionados, rejoice! Featuring a total of 141 pinball machines, Pinball Hall of Fame exhibits popular games from the 1950s through the 1990s, including retro arcade games like Super Mario Brothers. 

Score! Sports Fan Attraction This 10,000-square-foot exhibit combines authentic sports memorabilia, pro athlete appearances and a live broadcasting station.

 

Springs Preserve From interactive learning stations and an indoor flood exhibit to the eight-acre botanical gardens and walking trails, Springs Preserve celebrates the colorful nature of Las Vegas.

 

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Featuring more than 300 artifacts, as well as breathtaking replicas from the famous ship, the Titanic exhibit truly brings history to life.

Free Attractions

Las Vegas is packed with unique and interesting things to do -- and a lot of the attractions won't cost you a penny. Imagine raging battles, mythical creatures and sweet treats. Vegas truly has something to delight everyone. And would you believe that a lot of the city's best shows don't take place in the showrooms? From dancing fountains and erupting volcanos to sinking pirate ships, you'll be amazed at all of the spectacles you can see without even having to purchase a ticket!

The Aquarium at the Silverton Located within the cozy Silverton Hotel, a 117,000-gallon saltwater aquarium provides entertainment on a scale one can enjoy only in Las Vegas.

CBS Television City Research Center Ever thought you could do the job of a network executive, deciding which shows are put on the air and which ones end up in the waste bin? The network jobs are hard to come by, but you can weigh in on the decision-making process by letting your opinions be known at the CBS Television City Research Center at MGM Grand.

Conservatory at Bellagio Crafted by a team of 100 horticulturalists, the Bellagio's conservatory features elegant, elaborate arrangements of plants and flowers in its bright, airy atrium.

Ethel M Chocolate Factory Ethel M Chocolates panders to the sweet tooth in all of us. Located seven miles from the Strip, its free admission entices us to the factory, through which many a visitor goes for a behind-the-scenes look at the candy-making (and tasting) process.

Fall of Atlantis at Caesars No civilization put on a greater spectacle than ancient Rome, and now you have a chance to witness the glory for yourself at Caesars Palace's Fall of Atlantis.

Fountains of Bellagio Every evening, a water and music show plays again and again in the spectacular fountains filling the quarter-mile-long lake in front of the Bellagio.

Fremont Street Experience The Fremont Street Experience will have you dancing in the street with its $70 million light canopy and 540,000-watt sound system.

 

M&M's World M&M's World may be the most delicious attraction in Vegas. And judging by its scores of visitors, M&M's World must be doing something right.

 

Marjorie Barrick Museum With displays of Western culture, desert life and the history of ancient Mexico, the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History is both educational and vibrant.

P3 Studio at the Cosmopolitan P3 Studio on the third floor of The Cosmopolitan features contemporary artists from around the world creating interactive installations as part of an innovative artist-in-residence program.

The Sirens of TI Part muse, part temptress, part pirate, watch as the Sirens of TI battle a band of pirates in Sirens' Cove, located at the front entrance of the popular hotel and casino.

 

Streetmosphere The Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian adds a little 'Streetmosphere' to the shopping experience, providing fun and entertainment for all that visit.

Sunset Stampede Take a symphonic journey through the Wild West at Sam's Town.

Volcano at The Mirage Every hour after dusk, the Mirage volcano explodes forth for crowds of curious Strip onlookers.

 

Welcome to Las Vegas sign Guests can park their cars right next to Las Vegas' 50-year-old iconic sign and take plenty of memorable photos.

Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo The Flamingo's brilliant neon sign is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable on the Strip. And visitors can take a closer look at the creatures who inspired the bright display at the hotel-casino's very own wildlife habitat.

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Las Vegas Attractions

Attractions for Kids ... MORE

Free Attractions Las Vegas is packed with unique and interesting things to do -- and a lot of the attractions won't cost you a penny. Imagine raging battles, mythical creatures and sweet treats. Vegas truly has something to delight everyone... MORE

Museums, Galleries and Collections
Whether you're seeking to avoid 115-degree temperatures or the occasional thunderstorm, lets guide you to museums and galleries in the Entertainment Capital... MORE

Recreation
Your guide to Las Vegas area recreation. Preview outdoor excursions, national parks, sports-related attractions and much more. Find relevant information and get to know Las Vegas for more than its neon and glitz... MORE

Thrill Rides 
Vegas is a thrill seeker's paradise with scream-inducing, heart-racing roller coasters, race cars and rides that are sure to get your adrenaline pumping... MORE