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Off The Beaten Path in Las Vegas

Description:

Sure, everyone thinks of the Strip when they think of Las Vegas. But since the population of metropolitan Las Vegas is now about two million, visitors can also explore beyond the glitz. You’ll need a car to really explore Las Vegas, so keep that in mind when planning your trip. You’ll find museums, parks, animal sanctuaries, vast expanses of desert, and fun alternatives to Strip shows. Since finding a place to gamble is never a problem in Las Vegas—they even have poker machines in the grocery stores—you’ll have plenty of opportunities to test your luck, no matter how far off the beaten path you venture. ~Picture of Red Rock Canyon, Calico Basin~

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Author: Terrisa Meeks

Day 1 - Las Vegas

To see the lesser-known side of Las Vegas, stay off the Strip. The Alexis Park is a non-gaming hotel just around the corner from the Hard Rock, and the Red Rock Resort sits on the western edge of the valley. For your first day, explore some of Las Vegas’ outdoor destinations. Instead of Red Rock, Lake Mead, or Mt. Charleston, try the immense Desert Wildlife Refuge (at Corn Creek you can explore the remnants of orchards and building ruins), the animal sanctuary at Gilcrease, or the fishing ponds at Floyd Lamb, also known as Tule Springs. Tule Springs was one of the earliest spots settled in Las Vegas, owing to its water supply, and several old buildings are still standing. Peacocks wander the grounds, and paths meander through the shady park. For lunch, one of Capriotti’s sandwiches will fill you up, and for dinner, try Rosemary’s, the off-Strip restaurant sensation on the west end of town.

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Alexis Park Resort and Spa

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Location:

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375 East Harmon Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

+1 702 796 3300 / +1 800 582 2228

Red Rock Resort

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Location:

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11011 W. Charleston Rd
Summerlin
Las Vegas, NV 89135

Phone:

866/767-7773

Desert National Wildlife Refuge

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Location:

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HCR 38, Box 70
Las Vegas, NV 89124

Phone:

702-879-6110

Floyd Lamb Park

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Location:

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9200 Tule Springs Road
Las Vegas, NV 89131

Phone:

+1 702 486 5413

Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary

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Location:

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8103 Racel Street
Las Vegas, NV 89131

Phone:

+1 702 645 4224

Capriotti's

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Location:

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324 W. Sahara Ave
At Las Vegas Blvd. S
Las Vegas, NV 89102

Phone:

702/474-0229

Rosemary's Restaurant

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Location:

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8125 W. Sahara
Las Vegas, NV 89117

Phone:

702/869-2251

Day 2 - Las Vegas

Las Vegas may not have a reputation for museums, but the museums the city does have are probably unlike anything you have back at home. The Atomic Testing Museum traces the history of the atomic bomb. In the days of above-ground testing, the mushroom clouds were visible in Las Vegas, and the nearby Test Site played a critical role in the development of the bomb. The Liberace Museum is full of sequins, pianos, and kitsch. At the University of Las Vegas at Nevada, the Marjorie Barrick Museum houses displays about Southern Nevada, and you can also explore UNLV’s grounds. Forego a Strip spectacular for the small production of “Marriage Can Be Murder” at The Egg and I, where you can be in the middle of the show. Stop at Ricardo’s for delicious Mexican food, or if you’re more in the mood for pizza, place your order at Metro Pizza (both Ricardo’s and Metro Pizza are in the same shopping center).

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The Atomic Testing Museum

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Location:

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755 E. Flamingo Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

702/794-5151

Liberace Museum

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Location:

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1775 E. Tropicana Ave
At Spencer St
Las Vegas, NV 89119

Phone:

702/798-5595

Marjorie Barrick Museum

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Location:

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4505 Maryland Pkwy
On the UNLV campus
Las Vegas, NV 89119

Phone:

702/895-3381

Marriage Can Be Murder

Location:

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4533 West Sahara Avenue
(The Egg and I Restaurant)
Las Vegas, NV 89102

Phone:

+1 702 616 3322

Ricardo's of Las Vegas

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Location:

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4930 W. Flamingo Road
Decatur
Las Vegas, NV 89103

Phone:

7022279100

Metro Pizza

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Location:

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4001 S Decatur Blvd Ste 38-40
Las Vegas, NV 89103

Phone:

(702) 362-7896

Day 3 - Las Vegas

Las Vegas may have a glamorous recent history, but the city hasn’t forgotten about its cowboy roots. Visitors can take guided horseback rides in several places outside of the city, but a ride into Red Rock canyon will give you a view unlike the one you’ll get driving or hiking through this scenic area. If horseback riding isn’t your style, explore the museums and trails at the Springs Preserve, or take a drive to Boulder City, just outside Hoover Dam, where you can wander the tiny, historic downtown or ride the train at the Boulder City State Railroad Museum. For breakfast or lunch, eat at the Omelet House in Downtown Las Vegas. Go out for your last night in town—Wooloughans IIrish pub at the Rampart, or the Bootlegger, for some Old Vegas ambiance. If New Vegas is more your speed, try Sedonna, a sleek and modern Las Vegas restaurant.

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