Mount Charleston

Looking for some fun in the snow near Las Vegas then head to Mount Charleston. Charleston Peak, is the highest mountain of the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada and is about 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas. A 45 minute drive takes you to a different world where it is possible to ski, snowboard or have a snow ball fight. The ski area is not not nearly as big as the major resorts but with such a short drive it's worth a visit. Weekends can get busy so if you don't come on a weekday, you'll find yourself in line for one of the two lifts for quite a while. To get to the ski resort from Las Vegas, take U.S. Highway 95 north to Highway 156, Lee Canyon. Follow Highway 156 for 17 miles to the resort. The highway ends at Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort.

Springs Preserve Las Vegas Winter Lights Festival

Springs Preserve is holding it's annual winter light festival with over a half-million sparkeling Christmas lights decorating the grounds. Guests will enjoy entertainment from roaming performance groups, carriage rides, visits with Santa Claus and Theater Las Vegas' original puppet show "Dickens Done Over."
Holiday-inspired treats and green gift options will be available throughout the Preserve. The Festival runs 5 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday from Nov. 28 to Dec. 21, 5 to 9 p.m. daily from Dec. 22 to 24 and Dec. 26 to 30 (the Preserve is closed on Christmas). Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children ages 5 to 17 and free for Annual Pass members and children 4 and under. Entry includes admission to all museums and galleries. Springs Preserve 333 S. Valley View Blvd Las Vegas, Nevada (between US 95 and Alta Drive) Phone: (702) 822-7700 Map

Las Vegas City Center

Las Vegas City Center is located front row on the Las vegas strip. This massive construction project is the most expensive privately funded project in U.S. History. The first phase of MGM MIRAGE's CityCenter, a gargantuan, $11+-billion, 68-acre project, is under construction on the Las Vegas Strip between Bellagio and Monte Carlo. Phase two will eventually occupy the space behind and between Monte Carlo and New York New York. The Boardwalk Hotel was demolished along with a few local businesses to make room for this immense project. Harmon Road will meander through CityCenter and cross I-15 via an already completed bridge.
The massive city center will include:
- 4,004-room 61-story ARIA Resort & Casino (Cesar Pelli)
- 165,000-square-foot casino (Pelli)
- 400-room + 227 condos - Mandarin Oriental Hotel/Residences (Pedersen / Tihany)
- 400-room + 207 condos - The Harmon Hotel/Residences (Foster and Partners)
- 1543-unit Vdara Condo/Hotel tower (Rafael Viñoly)
- Twin, 337-unit luxury condo towers Veer (Helmut Jahn)
- 500,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space The Crystals Mall (Daniel Libeskind)
- $40 million worth of modern sculptures and installations by world famous artists
- 225,000 square feet of convention and meeting space
- 900,000 square feet for back-of-house operations
- 2,000-seat theater
- 70,000-square-foot spa
- 7,500-car parking garage
- Fire station
- People movers (trams)
- On-site power plant

When completed in late 2009 City Center CityCenter will have a 1/4-mile Las Vegas Strip frontage. The project's center will the 61-story ARIA Resort & Casino with 4,000-rooms, designed by world renowned architect Cesar Pelli. There will be plenty of glitz in the form of light shows projected against building facades. Reports from MGM MIRAGE state that a new Cirque du Soleil show, called Elvis, will premiere at the CityCenter Resort on opening day.

Las Vegas Monorail

The Las Vegas Monorail is a great way to see the sights in Vegas. Glide along at speeds of up to 50 miles an hour as the traffic crawls along the strip. There are seven stops: MGM Grand, Bally's/Paris Las Vegas, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah's/Imperial Palace, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas Hilton and Sahara. You can get an all day pass for just nine dollars. Park your car at your hotel and take a ride in the sleek air conditioned monorail.
Free things to do in Las Vegas

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

The Lake Mead Visitor Center is located off of U.S. 93, four miles southeast of Boulder City and should be your first stop if you have never visited before. The drive from Las Vegas to Boulder Harbor is 33 miles and takes about 45 minutes. Although much of Lake Mead must be experienced by boat, the various campgrounds, marinas, lodges, and other facilities clustered around the lake make it possible for non-boaters to enjoy it as well. If your visit is only going to last a few hours take a ride aboard Lake Mead Cruises which offer paddle wheel boat tours of the lake. Food service is available at Las Vegas Boat Harbor, Lake Mead Marina which is now a part of Las Vegas Boat Harbor, and Callville Bay. Facilities include snack bars, restaurants and some lounges. Most provide beautiful panoramas of the lake or views of the boat harbor. Take a break from Las Vegas and enjoy the beautiful desert scenery around Lake Mead, Nevada.

Springs Preserve Las Vegas

Springs Preserve in Las Vegas is one of the richest and most unique destinations in Southern Nevada. Visit the largest non gaming attraction in Las Vegas and take a break form the noise of the casinos. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978, the Preserve is located approximately three miles west of downtown Las Vegas. Springs Preserve 333 S. Valley View Blvd Las Vegas, Nevada (between US 95 and Alta Drive) Phone: (702) 822-7700
Springs Preserve Las Vegas

Bonnie Springs Ranch Old Nevada

Located 25 miles from Las Vegas this Western-themed attraction is a popular day trip locals and visitors. The western town hold shows throughout the day and range between 30 to 45 minutes long. Additional performances are held on the weekends. The shows re-enact gunfights, hangings and bank robberies. Entrance fee is a little on the expensive side for what you ( $20.00 per car load for up to six people) but when you consider how much you are saving by not being at a casino it's not too bad. Bonnie Springs is an interesting place to visit while you are in the Las Vegas region of Nevada. Bonnie Springs Ranch Directions to Bonnie Springs Ranch form Las Vegas: Follow Charleston Blvd West for 25 miles. 6 miles past the Red Rock Visitor Center Look for the big wooden archway that says, Old Nevada. Turn in and your on way to Old Nevada. Bonnie Springs Old Nevada 1 Gunfighter Lane Blue Diamond, Nevada 89004 702-875-4191 Bonnie Springs Ranch

Lost City Museum Overton, Nevada

The Lost City Museum was built by the national Park Service to exhibit artifacts that were being excavated from the Pueblo Grande de Nevada. These Anasazi Indian sites were being threatened by the waters of Lake Mead as it backed up behind the newly built Hoover Dam. Eventually, when the lake was filled to capacity about five miles of sites had been inundated or undercut by the water. Visitors can see a replica of a pit dwelling built of branches and adobe as well as replicas of pueblos. Artifacts that were excavated from the Pueblo Grande de Nevada. 721 S. Moapa Valley Boulevard, Overton, Nevada.


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Virgina City Web Cam

The Virginia City cam is showing C Street north of Taylor gives you a real time look at the famous western city. During the day you might see visitors standing in front and waving at the camera. Virginia City is one of the oldest established cities in Nevada. Over 2 million visitors per year and it is the nation's largest National Historic Landmark. Next time you head to Reno or Carson City stop by this old western town and take a walk down mainstreet or take a ride aboard the historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad. This web cam is really cool so take a look.
Virgina City Web Cam

Liberace Museum - Las Vegas

The Liberace Museum is a fascinating place to visit in Las Vegas. The beautiful antique pianos, the gorgeous stage outfits, his fabulous jewelry and cars are all on display. The museum has a "walk of fame" with highlights of Liberace's career. The museum is located in two buildings. One houses his many pianos- those that he played and those "antique" ones that he collected. There is also a collection of his cars. The other building houses his costumes, a gift shop , and small coffee shop. There is a free shuttle which leaves from select Strip hotels. The Liberace Museum is located in the Liberace Plaza at 1775 E. Tropicana Avenue Las Vegas.

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Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park is located south of Ely, Nevada. The main feature of the park is the six domed-shaped historic charcoal ovens. The ovens were built to supply high charcoal for the two silver smelters located at Ward. The six charcoal ovens were built in 1876 and were made from quartz welded tuff that was quarried from the nearby hills. To visit Ward Charcoal Ovens drive seven miles south from Ely on U.S. Highways 6-50-93, then eleven miles southwest on Cave Valley Road. You may also access the park by turning off of U.S. Highway 6-50-93 approximately 14 miles south of Ely and then 5 miles west on Taylor Road to Cave Valley Road then 1.5 miles southwest to the park entrance. Cave Valley Road and Taylor Road are graded dirt roads, accessible by passenger vehicles most of the year.
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