Most visitors who travel to Las Vegas do so to experience the glitz, glamour and the atmosphere in the city which never sleeps. However, the noise and hectic pace of life in the city isn’t for everyone, and there are plenty of things to do which don’t involve casinos or crowds.one of the best ways to see the surrounding areas is with car hire Las Vegas style.
Treat yourself to a jeep or maybe you could go all American in a convertible. Whatever you choose, Las Vegas has several world class sites within a few hours’ drive which can make fantastic days out.Grand Canyon
The main attraction in the area is the Grand Canyon, which is three hours away from the city. There are numerous options for getting out to the Canyon including organised trips, helicopter and car hire. Las Vegas has a wide range of different options for hiring a car and this is the best option for tourists who wish to see things at their own pace.
The Canyon does get busy, so the best advice is to leave as early as possible in the day to beat the crowds. If you are planning on staying overnight is to consider hiring a motorhome or RV, and this eliminates the need to organise hotel accommodation for the night.
Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam is one of the man-made wonders of the world, and is only a 45 minute drive out of town. As a consequence it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the area.
The best way of getting to the Dam area and avoiding the crowds is using car hire. Las Vegas hotels organise trips out to the Dam, so beat the crowds by going under your own steam and arriving early.
You have the choice of seeing just the visitor centre, or going on a guided tour of the dam or the power plant. It’s not for the faint hearted though, as the top of the dam is over 700m above the height of the water.
Zion National Park, Utah
If you want to have a day away from the crowds and get a real taste for American nature, a great place to visit is Zion National Park in Virgin, Utah.
It is 160 miles or two-and-a-half hours from the city centre and the best option for getting there is car hire. Las Vegas can be an assault on the senses and going out to Zion Park provides the opportunity to get away from the crowds and back to nature.
The main attraction is the unusual sandstone rock formations found throughout the park and the visitor centre where you can learn all about the natural history of the area.
Lake Mead Recreation Area
Closer to Las Vegas is Lake Mead, an artificial lake caused by the damming of the Colorado River. It is a great place to fish, swim or hire a boat and visitors to the park are also attracted by the natural hot springs. For those interested in plants and animals, there is incredibly diversity in the Lake Mead so don’t forget to take along your digital camera and binoculars to capture what you see.
Elizabeth Jane, the author of the “Cool drives around Las Vegas” writes for US holiday travel specialist.