Located on the Strip, Vegas Indoor Skydiving is an exhilarating skydiving simulation that's safer than the traditional airplane dive. Customers are required to sign a waiver, watch a video demonstration and go over a short set of instructions before participating. After suiting up with a helmet, elbow pads, ear plugs and goggles, customers are led into a tunnel with padded walls, cushions and wire netting. Beginning fliers are lifted up to 7 feet in the air by wind gusts of up to 120 miles per hour. There are weight restrictions and age limitations. Children under 18 must have a parent present. The attraction is open daily from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., and as of 2010, the first flight is $75.
Vegas Indoor Skydiving
200 Convention Center Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-731-4768
http://www.vegasindoorskydiving.com
Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Gardens is a popular, and free, attraction for all ages located just 10 miles away from the Las Vegas Strip in Henderson. Visitors get a first-hand look at how Ethel's delectable chocolate treats are made and even get to sample the goods. After the tour, guests can visit Ethel's Chocolate Lounge to purchase gourmet chocolates. The botanical garden is located on 3 acres and features 300 plant varieties. During the holiday season, the property hosts a light display, carolers, dancing and even an appearance by Santa Claus.
Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Gardens
2 Cactus Garden Drive
Henderson, NV 89014
702-435-2655
http://www.ethelschocolate.com/about_us/factory_tour.aspx
Four thousand fish fill a 170,000-gallon tank that features several species of stingrays and sharks and serves as the centerpiece of the Silverton Casino Lodge, a resort just south of the Strip. If you visit in the afternoon or evening from Thursday to Sunday, you will even see "mermaids" performing shows from inside the aquarium. This attraction is free and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Aquarium at the Silverton Casino Lodge
3333 Blue Diamond Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89139
702-263-7777
http://www.silvertoncasino.com/
A mere 45 minutes from Las Vegas atop Mount Charleston, the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort offers a snowy escape from the neon below. The resort is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily between Thanksgiving and April. Clothing and equipment are offered for rent and private or group lessons are available. The resort boasts 10 ski trails and 30 acres of snowboarding terrain. As of 2010, tickets cost between $25 and $50, depending on age and time of day.
Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort
State Highway 156
Mt. Charleston, NV
702-645-2SKI
http://www.skilasvegas.com/winter/index.html
