Hoover Dam
One of the most popular day trips in Las Vegas is the trip to Hoover Dam. Self-guided tours of this modern day wonder of the world reveals that this monstrously huge dam is much more than just a big wall of concrete. Take advantage of the overlook to get a view that can quite literally take your breath away, especially if you're scared of heights. Few people know how the technology of a dam used to create electricity really works, and a trip to Hoover Dam manages to educate in a truly entertaining way.
Hoover Dam
Boulder City, NV 89005
(702) 494-2517
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/
Lake Mead
Lake Mead was created by the construction of Hoover Dam, and its 700 miles of shoreline provide ample opportunity for water fun at Boulder Beach, Echo Bay and Overton Beach. If you came to Vegas in an RV, you can take advantage of the hookups for more than a day trip. The Lake Mead Recreational Area is just an hour or so drive from Vegas, but pack your beach clothes and plan to spend the entire day hiking, swimming and exploring.
Lake Mead
601 Nevada Way
Boulder City, NV 89005
(702) 293-8990
http://www.nps.gov/lame/
Grand Canyon Tour
Visiting the Grand Canyon by car is going to wind up being much more than a day trip, but you're in luck if you only want to get away from the country club for a day to witness one of the most awesome natural wonders in the world. Several companies exist that will take you to the Grand Canyon by either helicopter or plane. The length of your day trip to the Grand Canyon will vary from a simple picnic at the canyon that lasts around 3 hours to a full-day adventure lasting 11 hours. If you made it all the way to Las Vegas, it would really be a shame not to take advantage of the opportunity to see the majesty of the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon Visitor Center
Canyon View Information Plaza
Mather Point
(928) 638-7888
http://nps.gov/grca
Petroglyph Canyon
Petroglyph Canyon is located in the Valley of Fire. The canyon is named for the American Indian symbols carved into stone. What makes this such a fascinating place to visit, aside from its ancient historical value, is the mystery. No one has yet forwarded a completely acceptable theory on exactly what these strange symbols mean. The theories range from the utilitarian idea of signposts to the mystical idea of deeply religious significance. Take a day trip here to do a little "X-Files" style investigation of your own.
Valley of Fire State Park
P.O. Box 515
Overton, NV 89040
(702) 397-2088
http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm
About The Author
Timothy Sexton is an award-winning author who started writing in 1994. He has written on topics ranging from politics and golf to nutrition and travel, and his work appears online for Zappos.com, Disaboom, USAToday.com and MOJO, among others. He has also done work for "Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy." He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of West Florida.
Photo Credits
Ronen Perry, Wikimedia Commons
