Lake Mead
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers visitors more than a million acres of land to explore and enjoy. The lake is massive, stretching from north and east of Vegas down to the Arizona border. There are countless activities you can take in at the lake, including fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, kayaking and boating.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
601 Nevada Way
Boulder City, NV 89005-2426
(702) 293-8906
nps.gov/lame/
Valley of Fire
Just north of Lake Mead and about an hour out of Vegas lies the Valley of Fire, Nevada's oldest and largest state park. The Valley gets its name from the red rock formations of the Mohave Desert. Exploring the area will uncover numerous unusual surprises with petrified trees and Indian drawings. Before journeying in to the Valley of Fire, stop by the visitors center to find out more about the area, whether you are interested in hiking, biking, exploring or taking pictures.
Valley of Fire State Park
P.O. Box 515
Overton, NV 89040
(702) 397-2088
parks.nv.gov/vf.htm
Hoover Dam
It's not natural, but it is beautiful. The Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s and sits a mere 30 miles south of the Las Vegas Strip. Supplying water and power to the area, the Hoover Dam is the largest dam in the world. It took five years to build with more than 21,000 people having a hand in its construction. The Hoover Dam is open every day of the year, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is very reasonable with tours a mere $11 for adults and $9 for kids.
Hoover Dam
Boulder City, NV 89005
(702) 494-2517
usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/index.html
About The Author
Patrick Cameron is a freelance writer with 10 years of diverse experience in consumer goods branding, promotions and retail communications. He works out of his home in Denver, Colo. He received his Bachelor of Arts in mass communication from the University of Minnesota.
