Located 20 miles west of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 

Red Rock Canyon DetailsHours of operation: Open daily, 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. The visitors center is open daily, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Payment options: Cash or check (out of state checks are accepted).
Location / Distance from Las Vegas: 20 miles west of Las Vegas.
Travel options: Private vehicle, cab.
On the way: Red Rock Canyon is located just outside Las Vegas.
Amenities: Restrooms are available at the Visitors Center.
What you'll need: Water, sunscreen, a hat, sturdy shoes. Be sure to have a full tank of gas before travelling to Red Rock Canyon.
Annual visitors/busy season: Red Rock Canyon is popular year-round.
Red Rock Canyon ReviewAdditional Red Rock Canyon information
A visitors center at the park's entrance displays trail maps, plant and wildlife information and a history of the area.
A few miles south of Red Rock Canyon is Bonnie Springs -- Old Nevada, an 1880s Western mining town reproduction and Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.
 
Red Rock Canyon, just 15 miles west of Las Vegas, presents awe-inspiring views most wouldn't expect to see near a major metropolitan city. in contrast to the bright lights and hype of the Strip, Red Rock offers desert beauty, towering red cliffs and abundant wildlife.

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area receives 1.2 million visitors a year.

The mountains in the Red Rock area were formed by a number of geological forces including fractured faults where the earth's crust collided over millions of years and fossilized sand dunes. Some cliffs reach up an astounding 3,000 feet.

From rafting down the Colorado River, an off-road adventure through the desert and a visit to the Hoover Dam, this 3-in-1 tour has something for everyone.

Your journey begins with a 12-mile, rapid-free raft trip down the Colorado River to Willow Beach, Arizona. As you gently float down the Colorado River from the base of the Hoover Dam, enjoy a view and perspective of the dam available nowhere else. Along the way, expert guides point out soaring birds of prey, gravity-defying bighorn sheep and unexpected waterfalls and bubbling hot springs.

At Willow Beach your adventure will continue aboard an SUV where you will be driven to beautiful Rainbow Canyon, an incredible and colorful desert experience.

On your way back to Las Vegas, you will stop at Hoover Dam where you will have the opportunity to photograph and explore the amazing structure and its monuments as well as experience the visitor center.

On your return to Las Vegas, you will be driven through Boulder City and see the historic buildings and markers.

Hoover Dam and River Rafting Tour Details
 
Departure time: Morning
Locations: Colorado River, Hoover Dam, Rainbow Canyon
Tour length: 9 hours (hotel to hotel)
Transportation type: Raft, bus, SUV
Air time: None
Meals included: Lunch
Special requirements: None

If you want to take a quick break from the hype of the Las Vegas Strip and see another side of Southern Nevada, then you'll enjoy this jet boat and bus tour, which takes you to various places like the Colorado River, Route 66 and the famous Oatman Ghost Town.
Your tour starts bright and early with pickup from your hotel. Then it's off to the Black Mountain range where you'll enjoy stunning views of the Southwest and even spot an ancient dry lake. On your way to the next location, you'll experience the amazing views of Christmas Tree Pass.

Once you arrive at Laughlin, you'll get to test the waters on a custom-built and air-conditioned jet boat. Sit back and relax as your tour guide shares with you fun facts about your beautiful surroundings. On your way to Lake Havasu and the famous London Bridge, you'll actually breeze through three different state lines -- Nevada, California and Arizona. Once you arrive at London Bridge, you'll have time to take pictures, explore the area and enjoy a deli-style lunch.

Ready to get your kicks on Route 66? Once you're done with your aqua adventure, you'll drive along the iconic Route 66 highway. Catch some of the prettiest scenery of the Southwest as well as some up-close views of the vast desert mountain range.

Your next stop is Oatman Ghost Town, which is one of the only gold mining towns in history. There's a great chance you'll see wild burros. Check out the saloon and take a picture with one of the local cowboys.

On your way back to Las Vegas, relax and take in the views of the city's surrounding areas.

This tour is available year-round, including major holidays.Tour dates may be postponed if there are high wind conditions at Lake Havasu.
 
Jet Boat Tour Details
 
Departure time: Morning
Locations: Colorado River, Laughlin, Lake Havasu, Oatman Ghost Town
Tour length: Approximately 10 hours (hotel to hotel) 
Transportation type: Bus, boat
Air time: N/A
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Special requirements: None

Enjoy smooth waters and blue skies as you explore the Colorado River on this guided raft tour.
Plenty of sunshine and spectacular scenery make this a wonderful sightseeing tour. Watch for bighorn sheep grazing along the walls of Black Canyon as you float along the rapid-free portion of the river.
Your tour will include a picnic box lunch with a choice of a sandwich, chips, fruit and a beverage to enjoy on a shoreline beach of the Colorado River.

Departure time: Morning
Locations: Colorado River
Tour length: 8 hours (hotel to hotel)
Transportation type: Raft, bus
Air time: None
Meals included: Lunch
 
A Day at Valley of Fire
Come and explore one of Nevada's most visually stunning sights. The surroundings are loaded with vibrant color, fantastic rock formations and world-class petroglyphs.

You'll see nature's work of art at Rainbow Vista, Atlatl Rock and Fire Canyon with petrified sand dunes sculpted into amazing shapes and contours only wind, water and time could create. Through your travels you'll experience the magnificent backdrop of the Mojave Desert and learn about many Native American cultures.
The vehicle used for this tour is a luxury six-passenger sports utility vehicle.

A Day at Valley of Fire Details
Departure time: 8 a.m.
Locations: Valley of Fire
Tour length: 6 hours (hotel to hotel)
Transportation type: SUV
Air time: Not applicable
Meals included: Snacks
Special requirements: None

Want to kick up a little sand? When you're visiting Las Vegas, plan to spend time exploring Valley of Fire on an ATV tour that will leave lasting memories.

Fiery red rock formations, desert plants and wildlife are just a few of the sights you'll see on this tour. You will operate your single-seat ATV on the southeast side of the Valley of Fire, in one of the most scenic private, off-road trail systems in the Southwest.

The tour begins with hotel pickup in Las Vegas. Before your ATV adventure, enjoy a scenic drive through the Valley of Fire on the way to Overton. See magnificent sights of nature, including the Seven Sisters, Elephant Rock, White Dome and Petrified Wood rock formations. Once you arrive at Overton, you will be fitted for helmets, gloves and goggles.

After a brief but thorough safety orientation, it's on to the trails to the start of your adventure. Enjoy this exciting two-and-a-half-hour ride of a lifetime and see a few surprises along the trail, including sand dunes, sand stones, washes and gullies, as well as a one-of-a-kind secluded picnic area.
A picnic lunch and bottled water are included.
Desert Adventure ATV Tour - Single-Seat ATV Details

Departure time: Morning, afternoon
Locations: Valley of Fire
Tour length: Approximately 6 hours (hotel to hotel)
Transportation type: ATV
Air time: None
Meals included: Light snack
Special requirements: Must be at least 16 years old to operate ATV. Guests under 18 years old must have a parent present. Hats and sunglasses are recommended. Tour not available on Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Located 278 miles from Las Vegas
Grand Canyon, AZ 

Grand Canyon DetailsHours of operation: South Rim - open daily, 24 hours. North Rim - open mid-May to mid-October, closed rest of the year. The Backcountry Information Center public information phone line (above) is answered only from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday.

Payment options: Cash, Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover.

Location / Distance from Las Vegas: About 300 miles southeast of Las Vegas, in Arizona. Take U.S. Highway 93 south to Kingman, AZ. Go east on Interstate 40 to Williams, Ariz. Go north on Highway 64 to the canyon.

Travel options: Private vehicle, air or bus tour.

On the way: Enjoy the desert scenery, including Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.

Amenities: Lodging is available at Grand Canyon Lodge in the park. Lodging is also available outside the park at Tusayan, 7 miles/11 km south of Grand Canyon Village. There are restaurants, snack bars and markets in the park.

What you'll need: Sunscreen, a hat, water, warm clothing for the evening, and sturdy walking shoes.
Annual visitors/busy season: Summer is the most popular season to visit. Over 4 million people travel to the Grand Canyon each year.

Grand Canyon ReviewGrand is an understatement. Glorious, exalted, divinely inspired — all are more apropos adjectives to describe THE canyon. One glimpse of its majesty is all it takes to understand why the Grand Canyon is considered one of the natural wonders of the world.

The canyon is a staggering 277 miles long. At its deepest, it is about a mile from the rim to the Colorado River far below and it is as much as 18 miles wide in some spots. The park encompasses 1,904 square miles and visibility on a good day can reach up to 100 miles.

The Grand Canyon has been visited and inhabited by people for centuries. Archaeologists believe that 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, the Desert Archaic people lived within the canyon. Around 1,000 B.C., the Anasazi Indians are believed to have inhabited the area. Ruins of adobe houses in the area show that Pueblo Indians also lived there, probably as early as the 1200s.

The first white men to discover the canyon were Spaniards from Francisco Vasquez de Coronado's expedition in 1540, but the canyon still wasn't widely known until 1869 when Major John Wesley Powell, a Civil War veteran, made the first recorded journey through the canyon on the Colorado River.

In 1919, the Grand Canyon received National Park status and it has been a major