The city of Las Vegas is famous for its colourful casinos, vibrant nightlife scene and exciting entertainment options. However, the city is surrounded by a large number of interesting natural attractions that are just waiting to be visited. The roads that lead to the area’s scenic spots are lined with refreshment stands where motorists can pause to take in the scenery and grab a bite to eat before continuing their journey.
Wheeler Peak National Park
A scenic road leads to this stunning natural attraction and visitors who opt for car hire complete with direct car excess insurance will be able to spend time exploring this area at their leisure. The impressive Wheeler Peak Scenic Driver stretches for 12 miles, while motorists can also follow the Baker Creek Road, which winds its way through the forest alongside a gently flowing river.
Grand Canyon
No visit to Las Vegas would be complete without embarking on a road trip to take in the stunning sight of this world famous natural wonder. It takes around four hours to reach the Grand Canyon by road and visitors will be able to spend time following the stunning hiking trails that can be found here as well as taking part in activities such as horse riding and cycling.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Taking a kayak out onto the large and lovely Lake Mead is the perfect way to unwind after driving here. The area also boasts a number of beautiful sandy beaches where visitors can spread out to soak up the sun for an hour or two, enjoy a picnic and swim in the crystal clear waters that lap the shore.
Great Basin National Park
This impressive national park was established back in 1988 and is situated just five miles to the west of the charming town of Baker. Hiking and trekking are popular activities here and visitors will find plenty of scenic spots where they can pause to take in the scenery will they look out for the area’s diverse flora and fauna.
Death Valley National Park
This is the lowest point in the whole of the USA as well as being one of the hottest places on earth. However, Death Valley National Park is rich with flora and fauna, including 350 different species of birds. Among the main highlights here are Artist Drive, Saltwater Creek, Zabriskie Point and the Visitor Center and Museum.
Valley of Fire State Park
This interesting natural zone can be found just an hour’s drive to the north of Las Vegas. The Valley of Fire State Park features several of well-worn trails that wind their way through the forest, while the nearby visitor’s centre is rich with local information.
These all sound like a lot of fun I hope I get time to do a couple of these next time i go to Vegas.