Beyond the Strip: For an alternative to the Las Vegas Strip casinos and nightclubs, there are jackpots to be won at some of the region's hotspots farther afield. The ghost town of Nipton, located just two miles from the Nevada border, is only an hour's drive from Las Vegas.
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Seven Magic Mountains: These rainbow-colored totems are Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone's impression of the human experience in the desert.
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Spring Mountain National Recreation Area: An hour north of downtown, Spring Mountain's peaks get enough snow to support a ski resort.
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Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area: Hiking, rock-climbing, wildlife-watching and bouldering are among popular activities at Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas, near Summerlin.
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Lake Las Vegas: About 40 minutes from Vegas, this lake community is a popular destination for day trippers who want to kayak, paddleboard or spend time on rowboats.
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Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument: A relatively new National Park Service site, Tuele Springs has fossils that date back all the way to the Ice Age -- mammoths, lions and camels, to name a few.
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Valley of Fire State Park: About an hour northeast of the Vegas Strip, Nevada's oldest state park is home to stunning red Aztec sandstone outcroppings that speak to its name.
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River Mountains Loop Trail: The 34-mile tail. The paved trail skirts the River Mountains about 45 minutes southeast of the Strip, and it connects Boulder City to Henderson and the wilderness between the two towns.
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Hoover Dam: Located at the Nevada-Arizona border, this dam turned Las Vegas from a truck stop into the city it is today. Tourists can tour the dam, which is located about 30 minutes southeast of Las Vegas.
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Lake Mead National Recreation Area: Some 112 miles long and more than 530 feet deep, Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. Home to lots of water sports, it was created out of the Colorado River by the Hoover Dam.