WET 'N WILD
A 15-acre water theme park,
Wet 'n Wild offers visitors surfing, swimming, rafting and a huge array of water
attractions and slides including Bomb Bay, the ultimate in a 76-foot-high water slide
experience. For the less stouthearted, a large sunbathing deck loaded with lounges
is also available. From April 1 to June 3 Wet n' Wild is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
from June 4 through Sept. 4, hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and from Sept. 5 through
Oct. 3, the park is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
HOOVER DAM
Hoover Dam, an arch-gravity dam
726 feet high and 660 feet thick at its base, is an engineering wonder of the world.
The dam forms Lake Mead, a recreational destination for fishing, camping, boating
and water skiing. Thirty-five-minute guided tours of the dam are available daily.
The Hoover Dam project, which included the dam, the All-American Canal, the town
of Boulder City, highways, railroads and various other works, cost $165 million to
build.
The 1930's price tag on the dam
itself was just under $60 million, about 6 percent of the $1 billion MGM Grand Hotel,
Casino and Theme Park on the Las Vegas Strip. More than 9 million people use the
recreational facilities at Lake Mead each year.
LAKE MEAD
Lake Mead is 110 miles
long when filled to capacity. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a destination
for more than
9 million visitors yearly. A variety of activities can be enjoyed on Lake Mead including
camping, boating, water skiing and fishing. There are many species of game fish including
largemouth bass, crappie, blue gill, catfish and striped bass. Striped bass of more
than 50 pounds have been caught in Lake Mead. Although use of the Recreation Area
is currently free, the National Park Service will in the next few years begin charging
a fee to enter the area. Campers already pay a fee to stay the night in improved
facilities at the lake.
Marinas on Lake Mead rent houseboats,
ski boats and fishing boats. The 550 miles of shore around the lake presents some
great opportunities for outdoor recreation.
VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK
This beautiful desert park
is 52 miles northeast of Las Vegas. A visit to the park is a trip back in time where
centuries of wind erosion carved red sandstone rock formations into exotic shapes.
Still visible today are the petroglyphs that Native Americans cut into boulders and
rock faces. There is a $3 special use fee to enter the park.
In the city of Overton, a short
distance from Valley of Fire, the Lost City Museum contains artifacts from ancient
Native American civilizations that once lived on the banks of the nearby Muddy River.
RED ROCK CANYON
Once the home of ancient Native
American tribes, this magnificent canyon was formed by a thrust fault -- a fracture
in the earth's crust where one rock plate is thrust horizontally over another. Red
Rock Canyon is home to feral horses and burros, as well as various species of wildlife
including desert bighorn sheep and antelope. Stop at the visitors center for tour
information. Beginning in March or April 1997, the BLM charges a $5 fee to enter
the area or a $20 fee for an annual pass.
Within the Red Rock Canyon recreation
lands is Spring Mountain State Park. This picturesque ranch, once owned by Howard
Hughes and another time by German heiress Vera Krupp, lies beneath the cliffs of
the Wilson Range. Springs in the surrounding mountains provided precious water to
the early Paiute Indians.
The Bureau of Land Management,
which oversees the Red Rock area, reports almost one million people visit that area
annually. A BLM spokesperson said plans for Red Rock Canyon include limiting the
number of vehicles allowed in the area. A shuttle bus system may eventually be established
to reduce vehicle traffic.
MOUNT CHARLESTON PEAK
Part of the Spring Mountain
Range, Mt. Charleston looms 11,918 feet above sea level and is a one-hour drive from
Las Vegas. Some of the mountain's recreational sites between the 6,000 to 8,500 foot
level feature skiing and sleigh rides in the winter, and horseback riding, wagonrides
and hiking in the summer.
Full-service camping is available
from May 1 through Sept. 30, 7 days a week. Walk-in snow tent camping is permitted
if vehicles can be parked safely off the highway. Some sites are available on a first-come,
first-served basis, but other sites can be reserved. Reservations must be made at
least 10 days in advance. Facilities for recreational vehicles are available by reservation
only. To make reservations call 800-280-CAMP (2267). For additional information please
contact 702-873-8800.
RIVER RAFTING TOURS
Rafting tours, operated
by National Park Service concessionaires, are available including 3-, 6- and 8-day
trips of the Colorado River and its historic rapids. Black Canyon River Raft Tours
offers a leisurely Lake Mojave float trip starting at the base of Hoover Dam and
passing through one of the river's most beautiful canyons. For information contact
Grand Canyon National Park, 602-638-7779; or Black Canyon River Raft Tours, 702-293-3776.
GRAND CANYON, AZ/BRYCE CANYON,
UTAH
Visitors here can experience
some of the most spectacular views on earth. Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
and Zion National Park in Utah are both accessible by car and can be reached in one
day's drive from Las Vegas. Air tours of both areas are available through several
air tour companies based in Las Vegas. Some tour operators offer both air and air-ground
tours.
Source: (LVCVA)
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