Your parents will probably find this desert oasis "breath-taking". It may seem a little boring at first glance, but look closer. The grassy shorelines are full of fun creatures like toads, butterflies, dragonflies and muskrats. Take a good look at the ponds but don't fall in! Your parent's won't be pleased if you get the car seats wet. Besides, the fish don't care much for pond-mates!
Be sure to explore the springs, and visit the ranger's station where you can pickup a coloring packet and brochures. Make sure you bring a camera; you never know what kinds of cool critters you may find! Just be gentle,and remember: if it can eat, it can bite!
This fun little western-town re-creation has a petting zoo with all sorts of fun residents. You'll also find a pond with turtles, ducks and swans. None of which are particularly good desert survivors but they're fun to feed!
Enjoy a horseback ride in the trails of Red Rock Canyon or a warm mug of hot cocoa by the fire in the restaurant. The re-created old-west town offers a gift shop and all sorts of fun "wild west" shows including the occasional good ol' fashion stand-off!
It may not be a bad idea to stop at Red Rock Canyon either before or after Bonnie Springs; it's only a few miles down the road!
The Desert National Wildlife Range Corn Creek Field Station is lush oasis only a few miles north of Las Vegas on I-95. Enjoy the meandering hiking trails along a grass-lined creek, critter-filled ponds, historic ranching buildings, mature shade trees, and a refugium for the rare Pahrump poolfish. This natural spring has been home to many native desert animals and some more recent, less desirable tenants - bullfrogs, crayfish and various other invasive species. Humans have used this area as a vital water source since at least the 1700s, as is evident by archaealogical remains of the Paiutes. The has also been a critical watering hole for Mormon settlers (1850s), ranchers and pioneers (1900's) and eventually the U.S. Government in 1936. Be sure to visit the gift shop for a look at the fowl log. This spot makes a great side destination on a day trips to Mt. Charleston!
Don't let the name fool you; there is nothing "dead" about Death Valley! In the spring the wild flowers bloom; some years it's a blanket of color. Drag your parents on a walk on the "Bad Lands" salt flats and look up at the sign WAY up on the mountain marking "sea level". That's right, you'll be standing hundreds of feet BELOW the water level of the ocean!
Don't miss the visitors' center and the tour of Scotty's Castle; it's a must see! Other fun places are the "race track" where the rocks are thought to move on their own. Salt Creek and Saratoga Springs are fantastic attractions as well. These wetlands are some of the few places in the southwest where you can see tree frogs, caddis flies, and pupfish!
You may want to check out Rhyolite on your way back!
When you see this amazing wall of concrete, it may be hard to believe a structure so huge could have been built over 70 years ago!
The added bonuses: you can ask your parents to take you on the "dam tour" and not get in trouble but be careful not to over do it! And if you make it there in the winter, you'll even get to be in two different Time Zones if you stand on the state line of Nevada and Arizona!
This would be a good trip to take when visiting Lake Mead!
Whether you go, boating, hiking, swimming or site-seeing, you're always bound to find something to do at the state's largest lake. Lake Mead is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.
Take a hike through the old railway tunnels used while building the Hoover Dam. You may see some bats and owls if you're lucky!
Be sure to bring lots of water. After your day of fun and sun, stop for a bite to eat and take a walk down the main street in Boulder City!
See the Dinosaur Gallery as well as the Nevada and Wildlife galleries. Don't miss the live animal exhibits; they have several desert survivors vacationing there.
Spice up your visit by having everyone pick an exhibit or topic on which to be an "expert". On your way home, or maybe at dinner, take turns giving presentations on your new areas of "expertise"!
Another idea is to have everyone name three things they learned at the museum that they didn't know before. You may even find that your parents learned things you already knew, but be easy on them, you wouldn't want to hurt their feelings.
Spend a day at this exciting new addition to the Las Vegas Valley. It is a must see for residents and visitors of all ages, offering a full day of entertainment and priceless information for about the cost of taking the family to the movies or an amusement ride on the strip. Not only does the 180-acre property exhibit desert life past and present, it encourages desert friendly living to ensure a bright future for all desert survivors! Visit the Ori-gen exhibit for a hands-on learning experience highlighting our valley's past, see local animals up-close-and-personal, watch an exciting and informational movie in their IMAX-style theatre, experience a simulated flash-flood boasting 50,000 gallons of recycled water that repeats every 20 minutes, and even play video games that start YOU as the main character (really, you're right their on the screen)!
The Springs Preserve also offers several miles of hiking trails with native plants and animals front-and-center, the Sustainability Gallery with interactive exhibits designed for the whole family, the Design Lab where you and your parents can design an eco-friendly backyard or new home, a playground featuring a larger-than-live rattlesnake, and much much more!
This exciting interactive museum was especially designed for kids of all ages but seems to be geared more towards younger kids. It may be a fun place to go with your parents and younger brothers and sisters.
They also have special events such as presentations and movie nights! Check-out their website for a listing of their exciting special events.
Hiking trails, cabins, skiing/snowboarding slopes, sledding hills, picnic areas and lodges with restaurants are just a few of Mt. Charleston's offerings, not to mention some of Southern Nevada's most impressive high altitude organisms!
It tends to be a bit cooler compared to the Las Vegas valley, so bring warm clothes in the cooler months. On hot summer days, you can use the 10-20 degree cooler weather to convince your parents you all need a day trip!
Be careful with the animals. They're all wild. So even if they let you near, please don't touch them.
Just west of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon is a favorite destination for rock climbers, cyclists, joggers, hikers, photographers, painters, and picnickers. The vibrant red sandstone serves as nature's jungle gym while being a riot of color and life! Be sure to stay on trails, only climb in designated places, and please don't mark on the rocks. Enjoy the wildlife but try to avoid feeding the burros and other critters in the area. Not only is it illegal, it may make them sick.
You may want to pack a lunch, and of course, LOTS of water! Wear sunscreen, comfortable clothes, and sturdy walking/jogging or hiking shoes. Don't forget the camera!
This easy and close day trip is only a few minutes from the edge of Summerlin or the western edge of Las Vegas. Go west on Charleston Blvd. as far as you can, then follow the winding road to the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Route entrance.
You may want to think about stopping at Bonnie Springs on the same day since they are very close to each other.
As a generation that has never known a time without electricity, indoor plumbing, computers or air-conditioning, it's amazing to think that this place served as home to people in the middle of the summer for the last 10,000 years! This Rhyolite website is a great tour through a life kids, just like us, lived only 100 years ago but without many of the things we consider necessities.
After you visit this website, you may decide to visit the town and its open air art museum. Be careful, the buildings are mostly ruins, so listen to your parents and read the signs. This trip would be great on the way back from , or if you ever travel up I-95 to Northern Nevada.
Added Bonus: Make sure you stop at "Eddie's World" in Beatty, for what may be THE best homemade ice cream in Southern Nevada. Ok, while it may not be the best, Candice thinks it is. Thus if you wish to disprove this claim, you may need to provide her with a sample from a challenger.
With landscape similar to Red Rock Canyon, the gorgeous red sandstone provides an attraction definitely worth seeing. The Valley of Fire also offers a beautiful collection of prehistoric rock art: petroglyphs and Enjoy, but again, leave this fantastic park as you found it.
Unlike Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire is not a recreational area and rock climbing is not allowed. Please stay on the trails and enjoy all the cool prehistory and scenery!