OFF-STRIP DIVERSIONS
In case you find yourself overwhelmed or slightly burned out by all the Las Vegas Strip madness, every once in a while it’s fun to escape and find your own fun, as long as it’s somewhere out of the heat and air conditioned.
According to Leslie Frisbee, Editor-in-Chief of Las Vegas Magazine and Vegas2Go, “Las Vegas is such a jewel outside of the Strip. And Loews Las Vegas, which is my favorite property at Lake Las Vegas, has one of the best sushi restaurants anywhere. Chef Fuji is a certified sushi chef by the Japanese Prime Minister and he does an amazing job there. Lake Vegas is a 20-minute drive and I recommend it if you’re looking to get away from the frenetic pace to go out there for the day. It’s a great family getaway and a romantic getaway.”
LAS VEGAS GUN RANGE & FIREARMS CENTER
Call it the gun range or the fun range but a stop at the Las Vegas Gun Range & Firearms Center will definitely liven up your day. From practical to tactical this is firearms galore, whether you’re looking to buy or just let off some steam on the gun range.
Popular with the bachelor party crowds you may have to wait for a gun lane to open, especially on weekends. With a variety of packages to choose from you can shoot everything from machine guns to Uzis to Mac 10s to a Smith & Wesson to a Grenade Launcher, yes a grenade launcher!
Whether you want to be a marksman and fire a scoped Ruger 10/22 or pretend you’re a cowboy and shoot a Winchester ’94 in .357mag this is a good, safe way to shoot a firearm in a relaxed, controlled environment. Go ahead and make your day.
The Las Vegas Gun Range & Firearms Center is located at 4610 Blue Diamond Road. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-7pm; Sundays 9am-5pm. Call 702-386-4867.
PINK JEEP TOUR…ENJOY THE RIDE
For 50 years, Pink Jeep Tours has been providing the most talked about off-road family adventures in the Southwest. Their award-winning excursions are known as the premier "must-do" tours in Sedona, Arizona and Las Vegas.
Their spectacular Broken Arrow, Ancient Ruin, Grand Canyon, and Valley of Fire tours will take you to places you never imagined existed. Whether you're seeking rugged adventure, Native American history and culture, nature, geology, or panoramic vistas, Pink Jeep Tours has a tour for you.
Offering several tours aboard their oversized pink jeep on steroids, think comfy monster truck with tinted windows and AC, this is a great way to get around and see the sights while avoiding the blazing heat. Tours offered include: Grand Canyon South Rim Classic, Grand Canyon West Rim Classic, and Zion National Park. Do note these are all day tours so plan accordingly.
Accordingly to Leslie Frisbee, Editor-in-Chief of Las Vegas Magazine and Vegas2Go, the Hoover Dam is “an awe-inspiring attraction” she considers a must see. On the Pink Jeep Hoover Dam Tour guests will be transported to the Colorado River by van on the Lower Portal Road, where original construction crews traveled each day. You'll see the original gauging station used to measure water level and flow, and dynamite storage bunkers used during construction. Then, a guided Colorado River float tour by raft offers you close-up views few people have ever seen of Hoover Dam, mighty power plants, and Black Canyon. You'll also learn historical facts and get an astounding view of the Hoover Dam Bypass project and construction of the nearly 2,000-foot-long bridge spanning over 900 feet above the river.
Because I didn’t have a whole day to spend sightseeing I opted for the Historic Las Vegas City Tour which is billed as approximately three hours long although our guide was aiming at closer to five hours which I had to put a stop to considering I already had dinner reservations and show tickets that night but that was a simple fix.
Sitting inside the spacious Tour Trekker we were soon riding down Las Vegas Blvd passing by the famous Welcome sign. Then, going off the beaten path we headed to the Springs Preserve ORIGEN Experience showcasing fascinating interactive exhibits that capture the spirit of the land, the earliest inhabitants and the many possibilities for the future of Las Vegas. There you’ll witness the transformation of a small desert town into one of the world's most popular travel destinations as you get a close-up view of the Mojave Desert and some of its more reclusive residents in natural settings while exploring state-of-the art galleries where you’ll learn about those who lived and cultivated what the Spanish called "The Land of Northern Mysteries."
If you chose the Upgrade Tour you are also be treated to a light and satisfying meal from Springs Café by Wolfgang Puck before you’re off to see more city sights including Fremont Street, home to Vegas Vic, the enormous neon cowboy that towers over Fremont Street this is also the world's largest mechanical neon sign.
Some people may not want to be cooped up in a car, even an oversized one, all day but if you’re curious about Las Vegas, and looking for a different perspective, especially if you’re no stranger to town, then you might enjoy this. I wouldn’t recommend this to first timers or novices as there’s just too much to see, do and experience. And if you’re all about gambling, there are no slots onboard so you’re probably better off gaming at the casinos.
Reservations are required on all Pink Jeep Tours. Call 888-900-4480.
ATOMIC TESTING MUSEUM
You may not think of going to a museum when making your Las Vegas to-do list but the Atomic Testing Museum does offer insight into a significant part of the city’s history.
Before Las Vegas was famous the world over for its bright lights, gambling and nightlife, it was also famous for the well-known secret of atomic testing that occurred only 65 miles outside of town. In the 1950s, visitors would travel to downtown Las Vegas to view the mushroom clouds that would rise from the Nevada Test Site. The site was the nation’s premier nuclear testing facility and operated from 1951 to 1992.
The self-guided tour’s final exhibit entitled Today and Tomorrow brings your experience full circle as you see a piece of the Berlin Wall and a beam from the World Trade Center proving that today these remnants of history are as significant as ever.
Who knew you could come to Las Vegas and learn something fascinating? And besides, it does get you out of the heat for a short while.
The Atomic Testing Museum is located at 755 East Flamingo Road. Hours: Monday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sunday from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Call 702-794-5161.
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