Leaving Las Vegas

[Aggie_Ama]

DH and I are going to Las Vegas this weekend for a friend's wedding. To keep the price reasonable we are staying an extra day (funny how flights work). We were thinking we might rent a car and go somewhere really off the wall for a day trip on Sunday, taking most of the day. Any suggestions? I thought about the Grand Canyon bus trips but they are so pricey and the reviews are hit or miss. I don't want to spend that much.

[roguedog]

Hmm.. you could get up extra early (rent the car night before) and drive to the canyon. It's approx 4.5 hours 1 way though, if I recall correctly.

You can also just go see Red Rock Canyon, right outside of Vegas. Supposed to be beautiful. Or rent some bikes and ride the red rock canyon loop. :)

I've heard good things about these 2 shops:

http://www.lasvegascyclery.com/
http://mcghies.com/index.cfm

[zoom-zoom]

Death Valley! Hubby and I went to Vegas in late Dec. and spent a day at DV. It was amazing. I want to go back!

I'll be in Vegas in early Dec. this year for the marathon. I found the same thing...4 nights wasn't any more expensive than 3. I think flights returning on Tues were cheaper than on Mon.

[Pedal Wench]

We went hiking up Mt. Charleston, just right outside the city. It was suprisingly nice. Zion isn't too far away either, and Death Valley is close enough. To get to the "good" part of the Grand Canyon, you'll have to drive quite a bit - probably too much for a daytrip. I couldn't go there unless I could spend hours hiking.

[Tuckervill]

Red Rock was worth the trip. And then there's Hoover Dam, which really is very interesting.

eta: It's far away anyway, but skip the sky bridge thingy hanging over the edge of the south side of the Grand Canyon. It's beautiful (the canyon) but the bridge is not worth the $80 fee to be bussed out there, frisked for EVERYTHING in your pockets including your camera, and fight the blackbirds for your corn on the cob at the "free" lunch.

Karen

[Aggie_Ama]

Zoom-Zoom- Death Valley intrigued me because I can't imagine making a special vacation just to go there but it is an interesting part of the country. What would you suggest seeing?

Pedal- We have never been to Utah so Zion could be interesting as well.

I should have noted this is my 7th trip to Vegas and I have been to Hoover Dam three times. It is neat but been there done that. :)

The bikes was a great idea but with airline restrictions on checking bags I don't want to be lugging bike shoes, etc. :(

[Red Rock]

If you head up toward Zion, you could PM me and I could show you around St. George. There is Snow Canyon that is a State Park, smaller than Zion but still just as beautiful (different beauty), more or less right in the St. George area.

Red Rock

[roadie gal]

Check out the Valley of Fire, about 1 1/2 hrs north of Vegas. You can either just ride through or you can do some short hikes. The scenery is beautiful and there are petroglyphs in some places that are cool.

[zoom-zoom]

Zoom-Zoom- Death Valley intrigued me because I can't imagine making a special vacation just to go there but it is an interesting part of the country. What would you suggest seeing?

We stopped at Zabriskie Point, then had lunch at the Furnace Creek Ranch (not the Inn--we don't have that kind of coin). After that we drove through Artists' Drive/Palette, stopped and walked around in Badwater, then to Jubilee Pass and made our way back to Vegas via Shoshone. It was a wonderful, relaxed day. DH wanted to show me the route that he and the JDRF Ride to Cure team take when they do the ride in Death Valley.

[Tuckervill]

I LOVE petroglyphs. Do that! For me. :)

Karen

[Flybye]

Zion National park is stunning. We went last year. Amazing.

[Pedal Wench]

Can I change my vote? Zion should be saved for when you can actually do some exploring and hiking. Death Valley is great because it's a good one to see from the car with short hikes (like out onto the dunes and out to the Badwater area) to fill the day. Yeah, changing my vote to Death Valley.

[Aggie_Ama]

I am thinking Death Valley for the reason you mentioned Pedal or Valley of Fire. Zion sounds gorgeous but when we went to Muir Woods we didn't allow enough time and two years later we still talk about how big of a bummer that was.