[jfkIII]

Wife and I have changed plans for the DDO...we are going to skip Laughlin and spend the full time in your lovely city. We've done all the touristy stuff, so I'm wondering what else there is to do, as my wife does not gamble. The pools in most hotels open in March...but somehow I think that they are still too cold to swim in, correct? Is Joshua Tree NP doable for a day trip?

What else is there to do....we've done most everthing I see mentioned in this forum, other than the Pinball museum. We'll probably catch a show or two.

Also, what's the best Irish bar (non-touristy) to hang out in for St. Patty's Day?

Thank you in advance.

[humboldtrat]

Death Valley Nat Park, Lake Mead & Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon Nat Park and I think you could do Joshua Trees in one long day.

About 25 miles west of Vegas (and I have never been here) is Bonnie Springs "old Nevada" wild west town Welcome to Bonnie Springs Old Nevada. This is within Spring Mountain Ranch State Park Nevada Division of State Parks - Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. It looks a little tacky and touristy, but you're going to Vegas after all .

[MomMom]

Originally Posted by jfkIII

Wife and I have changed plans for the DDO...we are going to skip Laughlin and spend the full time in your lovely city. We've done all the touristy stuff, so I'm wondering what else there is to do, as my wife does not gamble. The pools in most hotels open in March...but somehow I think that they are still too cold to swim in, correct? Is Joshua Tree NP doable for a day trip?

What else is there to do....we've done most everthing I see mentioned in this forum, other than the Pinball museum. We'll probably catch a show or two.

Also, what's the best Irish bar (non-touristy) to hang out in for St. Patty's Day?

Thank you in advance.

Clark County Museum on Boulder Higway, a stroll down Heritage Street located there, lined with authentic Las Vegas homes of long ago...

An hour drive to Valley of Fire State Park, hike along the many trails, enjoy the desert's beauty...drive over to Overton (right near the state park) and take in the Indian museum there..

The best place for St. Patty's Day is JC Woohlagan's Irish Bar & Pub at the Rampart Casino, JW Marriott in Summerlin. Good food there, too.

Check out Rhyolite, (a "ghost" town), drive past Pahrump to Death Valley National Park...take a winery tour in Pahrump.

Unfortunately jfk, because everybody LOVES LV..most places have been found out and are investigated by the tourists, even our wonderful Springs Preserve...it never ceases to amaze me how people find out about our "locals" places and make them their destination when visiting here...far off the beaten tourist path.

So, in answer to your question...no place is "not touristy" in LV...even our supermarkets and local malls are "touristy" places...

Can't your knowledgeable brother offer up some info? Didn't he live here and move back or something? Certainly he could bring you guys to some less traveled places or give better advice?

[Lola Granola]

Here's the best place I've found for all the wonderful hikes around the LV area:

Bird_and_Hike.com - Jim Boone's Home Page

Click on the link for "Hiking" and explore. This sites has pictures and detailed descriptions of hikes so you can choose one that is appropriate for your abilities.

I highly recommend Valley of Fire (mentioned by Mom above). It's really a must-see, if you haven't been out there. One of the best hikes in Red Rock is First Spring Falls... an easy 1.5 miles through the desert, then an easy 30 ft or so scramble down into a shallow canyon, where there's a waterfall, pond, and an oasis of greenery that will absolutely stun you. You'll be coming in at the perfect time; the waterfall will be stunning with the snow melt (it dries up in summer, although the pond is pretty much year round). Mary Jane Falls at Mt. Charleston is great, too... and it has a cave. It's a bit more difficult hike, and I'm not sure what the snow situation is up there in early March (my sister's coming in the same time, and we'll be going to Mary Jane Falls even if there is snow... since her name is Mary Jane, we pretty much have to!). And I haven't been, but there's a hike on the other side of the dam that leads to hot springs. There's places in Northern CA that have lava tubes. If you're into petroglyphs, there's a ton of those around. We have sand dunes, and not just at Nellis, but further away and more isolated.

It is possible to rent a jeep and explore some of the old mining roads. And I DON'T mean the "Pink Jeep Tours", just regular jeeps that you can take on some of the old dirt roads. There are a number of off-road groups that you could tag along with.

There are a number of ranches that offer horseback riding in the various parks (Red Rock, Mt. Charleston, etc.). That would be touristy, but still worth doing. Or you could spend a weekend at the Lodge up at Mt. Charleston... ski, hike, or just sit near the fire and enjoy looking out at the alpine landscape. Boulder City might be a neat place to spend an afternoon... I haven't been, but there's supposed to be a lot of neat little shops and restaurants. You could also stop and spend an hour or so exploring the wetlands (yes, wetlands) on the east side of Henderson near Boulder City.

China Date Ranch, near Pahrump, would be a neat trip... no, it's not a brothel of oriental girls. It's an actual date farm, where they grow dates. I believe there's a hike nearby to hot springs there, too. And it's close to Death Valley, which would make it a nice all day trip. Here's some links:

Las Vegas - National Geographic Adventure Magazine

China Ranch Date Farm

If you mountain bike, the trails near Boulder City are known worldwide. People go wind-surfing on the dry lakebeds, and sand-boarding down huge sand dunes (don't know if they do this at Nellis, I've only heard of it at the larger dunes further away). You could check out the speedway and see what's going on there.

You could hook up with the local UFO hunting group and camp out with them near Area 51... or just take an evening drive along the Extraterrestrial Highway to see what you can see. Stay overnight at the Little Ale-Inn..

Extraterrestrial Highway

Extraterrestrial Highway Photo Tour

Little A’Le’Inn “Earthlings Always Welcome�

OH, I almost forgot, what has to be about the most beautiful place in the world! Wire Pass and The Wave. Some of the info in the link is old (BLM is no longer limiting the number of day hikers). Check this out:

The Most Amazing Day Trip from Vegas, Las Vegas Tourism and Things to Do - IgoUgo

Make sure you check out the pictures.

But you haven't really given us much to go on. What do you like to do? What level of activity? How adventurous?

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

Death Valley Nat Park, Lake Mead & Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon Nat Park and I think you could do Joshua Trees in one long day.

About 25 miles west of Vegas (and I have never been here) is Bonnie Springs "old Nevada" wild west town Welcome to Bonnie Springs Old Nevada. This is within Spring Mountain Ranch State Park Nevada Division of State Parks - Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. It looks a little tacky and touristy, but you're going to Vegas after all .

Thanks...have been to all those mentioned, except Joshua Tree NP.

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by MomMom

Clark County Museum on Boulder Higway, a stroll down Heritage Street located there, lined with authentic Las Vegas homes of long ago...

Unfortunately, she hates museums as much as gambling. I love both...so if there's a way to lose her at shopping around there for awhile, I can do the museum myself. Please advise on the shopping around there.

Originally Posted by MomMom

An hour drive to Valley of Fire State Park, hike along the many trails, enjoy the desert's beauty...drive over to Overton (right near the state park) and take in the Indian museum there..

Been to VoF a couple of times...in fact my brother got married under the natural arch there. Got very disgusted at the "modern" graffiti and beer bottles at petroglyphs. Indian museum is probably out, as not much shopping to keep the wife busy out there.

Originally Posted by MomMom

The best place for St. Patty's Day is JC Woohlagan's Irish Bar & Pub at the Rampart Casino, JW Marriott in Summerlin. Good food there, too.

Thanks. Just wondering..since we'll be staying at The Orleans...how is that Irish bar there (Brendan's?)

Originally Posted by MomMom

Check out Rhyolite, (a "ghost" town), drive past Pahrump to Death Valley National Park...take a winery tour in Pahrump.

Been to Rhyolite and Death Valley NP...however the winery tour sounds like a great idea. Please advise if you have any particular favorite.

Originally Posted by MomMom

Unfortunately jfk, because everybody LOVES LV..most places have been found out and are investigated by the tourists, even our wonderful Springs Preserve...it never ceases to amaze me how people find out about our "locals" places and make them their destination when visiting here...far off the beaten tourist path.

Please tell me more about this...I want to see the places that locals find attractive...maybe I can change my own personal opinions.

Originally Posted by MomMom

Can't your knowledgeable brother offer up some info? Didn't he live here and move back or something? Certainly he could bring you guys to some less traveled places or give better advice?

Brother (who has lived in Summerlin since 2000) and I are not on speaking terms and haven't been since October '05 (family disagreement over care of my elderly father.)

[jfkIII]

Lola...thank you for such an extensive list! I am now culling out a list of things to do, based on all the suggestions by you, MomMom & humboldtrat.

We've been to Red Rock...but never at a time of year where a waterfall was visible. I really like that idea. I also love the idea of the day trip to Utah for Wire Pass & The Wave. Is it cold in that area of Utah during this time of year? Since we're looking for a warm break (from our winter), I'd hate to have to bundle up...especially if we're looking to spend a couple of hours there. My wife loves horseback riding...so I'll suggest that to her also.

Thank you so much to all of you for your suggestions.

[MomMom]

Well, you've covered just about everything I can think of...and honestly, I've been to Valley of Fire many times, and never seen grafitti.

Gosh, I hate that. People have no respect whatsoever.

If your wife likes shopping, leave her at Fashion Show, or the Premium Outlets, or even better would be the Galleria Mall...so you can head to the Clark County Museum.

I don't know why people come to LV to shop...the prices are so exorbitant, unless you head to our local stores, but we have all the same ones as does everyplace else, except Stein Mart (there's one in Henderson and in the Lakes, mostly women's clothing, small department store)...

We've gone on the Pahrump Valley Winery tour twice...it's lovely

Pahrump Valley Winery

Can't advise you on Brendan's in the Orleans..never been there.

Springs Preserve is new, however, they bus in tourists from the Strip

Springs Preserve - Official Web Site

Other than that jfk, if you don't gamble, have done "everything" here...and don't care for it...you'd better not waste $$$$, I'd suggest going elsewhere for your vacation...San Diego (a bit warmer) perhaps...visit Old Town, the origin of San Diego. Or head somewhere completely different...Hawaii or Canada..

[jfkIII]

Thanks, MomMom...shopping to my wife is what gambling is to me. She can spend hours doing it...wherever it is!

You know, I did actually consider somewhere else...but the LV value was too good...airfare is cheap and we have rooms for 6 nights for only $250. It's warm....and warm at such a reasonable price is so tempting to us! Plus...the DDO! Other than some of the things mentioned here...I can we can always just relax...after all, it is vacation.

Quick question...pools are open at the hotels...but does anyone actually swim this time of year...or is it too cold?

Also, that wine & cheese place (Grape Street? - I think) sound like a nice place to check out too.

[MomMom]

Grape Street Cafe is nice, it's closer to the West Side of Valley, closer to but not in Summerlin.

Pools are probably open at the hotels, they are all heated...but my opinion is that I should think it's a bit cold to be swimming. Still, I've seen the tourists bathing when it's 55 degrees out...

You probably already know, but we have a multitude of great local restaurants, bars, etc.

Jeez, the list is endless...