Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a 130-square mile area that attracts more than 1 million visitors annually because of its unique landscape, which includes peaks extending more than 4,700 feet high. The area, located west of the Vegas strip, aptly received its name from the giant red sandstone cliffs that rest on a portion of the Mojave Desert. A noteworthy geologic aspect of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area includes the Keystone Thrust Fault, which dates back more than 65 million years and belongs to a series of faults that stretch all the way to Canada.
At the conservation area, visitors can enjoy a 13-mile scenic drive and take in the landscape that was formed millions of years ago while keeping an eye out for animals that inhabit the area such as the desert tortoise. The area also provides other activities for outdoor enthusiasts, including hiking, horseback riding, camping, picnicking, rock climbing and nature watching.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
1000 Scenic Loop Drive
Las Vega, NV 89124
(702) 515-5350
redrockcanyonlv.org
Hoover Dam, a source of water and power for the Southwest, is located on the Colorado River and borders both Nevada and Arizona. The structure, named after President Herbert Hoover, took five years to build and opened in 1936. Listed as a National Historic Landmark, more than 1 million visitors flock to Nevada to visit this engineering wonder. Hoover Dam consists of unique architecture, including Art Deco patterns along its four towers and modern bronze sculptures of winged creatures. Tours of the dam allow visitors to walk along the top of the dam and enjoy a scenic view of Lake Mead, the Colorado River, as well as the face of the dam. A power-plant tour allows visitors to discover how the dam operates through multimedia presentations.
Hoover Dam
U.S. 93
Boulder City, NV 89109
(702) 494-2517
usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam
The Bellagio Hotel Casino offers a free spectacular visual attraction with its Fountains of Bellagio. The fountains weave water jets together that can spay more than 200 feet high and change to the colors of the rainbow along with musical accompaniment featuring opera, classical, and Broadway selections. Experience a show every half hour until 7 p.m., when fountain displays occur on the quarter hour.
Bellagio Hotel Casino
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(888) 987-6667
Las Vegas Motor Speedway attracts thousands of racing fans annually. A racing complex situated on 1,600 acres, the racing facility includes a road course, a dirt track, a drag racing complex, as well as the 1.5 mile, D-shaped oval used for NASCAR racing. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway opened in 1996 at a cost of $200 million. Besides enjoying quality racing, visitors can tour the facility taking in a luxury suite, gain access to the infield and even take laps around the track.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
7000 Las Vegas Blvd. N.
Las Vegas, NV 89115
(702) 644-4443
lvms.com
