Destination Las Vegas: An Outdoor Playground

National Geographic Adventure magazine recently named Las Vegas, Nevada, the best place to live and play in the United States.

Huh?

Indeed, Sin City–known for its glitz and glamour, bright lights and decadence, casinos and mega-resorts–has plenty to offer the outdoor enthusiast, too. In fact, NG Adventure determined that it has “more outdoor action in a 200-mile radius than any other town in the nation.”

And that’s what makes it so appealing to Las Vegas timeshare owners. On each visit to this desert city, vacationers can combine fine dining and Broadway-caliber entertainment with outdoor sports like mountain biking, hiking and skiing.

Where to have your ultimate outdoor adventure in Las Vegas? Here are four options, each less than an hour’s drive from the Las Vegas Strip:

Mount Charleston
In the summer months, nearby Mount Charleston is about 20 to 30°F cooler than the stifling city streets of Las Vegas. That’s because it’s the third highest peak in Nevada; at the base it’s about 2,000 feet above sea level, and it reaches 11,918 feet at its apex. Opportunities abound for hiking, camping, mountain biking and horseback riding. Wintertime brings skiing at the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort. Or embrace your inner child and go sledding or tubing on the snowy hills.

Red Rock Canyon
Nearly 200,000 acres of open space make up this National Conservation Area that is maintained by the Bureau of Land Management. The area includes a 13-mile scenic drive, more than 30 miles of hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and a visitor’s information center. It’s also revered among rock climbers for its challenging traditional and sport routes on the sandstone crags.

Valley of Fire State Park
This state park is so named because its intriguing rock formations appear to be on fire when they reflect the sun’s rays during certain parts of the day. The park’s buttes, spires and arches were formed by wind and water millions of years ago, and visitors can learn all about the geology at the Visitor Center. Hiking, biking, picnicking and camping can all be enjoyed here.

Lake Mead
Created when the Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s, Lake Mead is a paradise for boaters and anglers. Then there’s water skiing, swimming, kayaking and canoeing. Also in this National Recreation Area you’ll find loads of hiking trails. One route that sounds especially appealing is the three-mile trek to Arizona Hot Springs. Here you can soak in the heated groundwater before heading back to the trailhead-or back to the Strip’s gaming tables!

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