Las Vegas And Its Natural Surroundings

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Las Vegas? It’s the bright city lights, the music, the non-stop partying. Who would ever think of beautiful green spaces, nature walks, the still of the desert viewed in the light of the setting sun? But that’s exactly what lies just outside the glare of the city lights and all it takes is a short ride to get there and drink deep of this beauty.

Just 270 miles away, in Utah actually, is the Bryce Canyon National Park. You want breathtaking scenery? Here’s where to find it. You’ll have to pay an entrance fee of $20 for a vehicle but it’s worth every penny. The view is absolutely astounding and you should keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like the golden and bald eagles and the Great Basin Rattlesnake. If you are there in spring and summer, you could be treated to some wonderful blooms as well.

Just 20 miles away is the Floyd Lamb Park which became a state park in 1977. You’ll find a barbecue area here and some very interesting remains and fossils. Some of them have been identified as giant sloths, mammoths, bison, horses and camels. It also has four well-stocked ponds and if you have a fishing license for Nevada, you could fish here but do remember that the limit per person is just three fish.

Southeast of Las Vegas just 300 miles away is the Grand Canyon. This is a great trip if you have a whole day free. You’ll have to pay to drive your car in and park but it’s well worth it just to take in this glorious bit of American legend. Maybe you could take one of the tours to go round the canyon or opt for one that takes you right to the bottom and then up again. Or, maybe you would like to choose the helicopter ride instead.

Another place close by is Lake Mead where you enjoy the beauty of the Nevada desert at its best. This is a large man-made lake, amongst the largest in the world and is around 1½ million acres. It was formed by the Hoover Dam and the Colorado River and is a great place to do some swimming, boating and viewing wildlife.

Las Vegas and the great outdoors? It’s not an association that comes to mind easily but when you do look for it, you’ll find a plethora of wonderful spots where your thoughts can turn to green. So even if it was the bright lights of Vegas that attracted you in the first place, keep a day or two aside to unwind and look around. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Tix Corporation Achieves Another Milestone With 250,000 Discount Dinner Reservations Sold in Las Vegas in 2008 (GlobeNewswire via Yahoo! Finance)

STUDIO CITY, Calif., Jan. 5, 2009 -- Tix Corporation , a leading integrated entertainment company providing discount and premium ticketing services, event and branded merchandising, and production/promotion of live concert and theatrical events, today announced that during 2008, the Company sold more than 250,000 discount dinner reservations to Las Vegas area restaurants.

The top tours of 2008 include some with Seattle-area stops (Seattle Times)

Madonna, Celine Dion, Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen had some of the top-grossing tours of 2008.

Lone Star Adventure: Top O Hill Terrace (FOX 4 News Dallas - Fort Worth)

Most in North Texas don't know it but before there was Las Vegas, Arlington was a gambler's mecca. This Lone Star Adventure takes you to a Baptist seminary for the most unlike of history tours.

Monday January 05, 2009 - 15:53 EST (Rolling Good Times)

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Strip resorts, restaurants, show producers and exotic dancers reeling from slumping tourism will get a boost in coming weeks with four major conventions and trade shows each bringing more than 80,000 attendees to town.

Inqlings: Feury's picking up at Fork (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Chef Terence Feury is returning to the hubbub of the downtown restaurant scene. With Thien Ngo retiring this month from Old City's Fork after seven years - bound for Vietnam - owners Ellen Yin and Roberto Sella have hired Feury, most recently executive chef at Maia in Villanova after tours with the Ritz-Carltons in Georgetown (D.C.) and Philadelphia, the old Striped Bass in Philadelphia, and Le ...