Top 10 FREE Things to Do on the Las Vegas Strip

I never thought I would be a city girl and living in Las Vegas is still a challenge for me some times, but the weather is unbeatable and the list of things to do is nearly endless; no matter what your interests are.

My list of the Top 10 FREE Things To Do in Las Vegas is far from all inclusive, but are all spots not to miss and spots I love to frequent,  even as a resident.

10. It seems simple, but just take a walk.  The massive hotels, lights and hoards of people are always a sight to see and take in.  Put on you pedometer and start walking; from street performers to some crazy tourists you will hit 30,000 steps before you know it!

Hint: Be sure to walk by the Wynn; all the casinos are amazing to walk by but don't skip this one just because of how far of a walk it is, there is a waterfall that makes it worth it!

9. Take the trek to the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign for a photo op.  The sign is a good trek from the heart of the strip, but having that photo when you return home will make it worth it!

The sign just recently added additional parking spots and a pedestrian crossing light to make the area easier to traverse.

8. Walk the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood; from entertainment, to shopping and amazing food there is something for everyone.  The Miracle Mile has two free shows; an indoor rain storm and a fountain show.  With the painted sky and life-like rainstorm it is easy to forget you are indoors!

The Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood; all the best of the outdoors without the Vegas heat.

7. Trek to the "older" end of the strip and catch some FREE circus acts at the Circus Circus.  Shows start at 11am daily.

6. Head to Fremont Street, where the casinos still use bulb lights and there is no telling what you might see.  I will do an entire post on The Fremont Street Experience later but just know, the sights and maybe even smells are worth the trip!

5. Half way through the list, so by now you have probably realized your going to be getting in a ton of walking time, be sure to walk into as many of the most notable casinos possible, as they all have something to offer once inside.

One of the many notable places to stop; Paris!

4. Stroll the Brooklyn Bridge by the New York City skyline; with a photo op at the Statue of Liberty.
Fun Fact:  The Las Vegas Statue of Liberty looks so identical to the actual statue the postal service was using a picture of the Las Vegas statue by accident for many years!

3. Check out the Volcano show at the Mirage, only a few blocks from the Bellagio.  The show starts at 7pm nightly and runs every half our until 11pm (Except for some reason there is NOT a 7:30pm show).  If you arrive early, or want to waste sometime before the next show, walk inside, you wont be disappointed.

2. Before or after your Bellagio Fountain experience, take a stroll through the Bellagio Conservatory, its totally FREE and open 24/7.  The display changes with the season so be sure to check the website to insure the Conservatory is not in a transition between displays.  While you are there, check out the amazing Fiori Di Como glass sculpture in the lobby.

1. Catch a FREE show at the Bellagio Fountains.  Show times vary but are no less than every 1/2 hour in the afternoon.  The show is free, so arrive early to get a good view.  It may be a free attraction but the show is nothing short of breath taking.

Photos really don't do it justice, trust me and make this part of your trip!

Las Vegas is full of things to do; check back for my top picks on the strip, off the strip and on Fremont Street!

All Photos by: https://www.facebook.com/KristinaTeresePhotography?fref=ts
Check out her blog here: http://kristinateresephotography.blogspot.com/

Evening Hike: Lone Mountain, Las Vegas

Unless you are a resident of Las Vegas, there is a good chance when you think of Las Vegas all that comes to mind is bright lights, slots and the Strip.

Well, it time to change that frame of mind and get outdoors!

A good evening hike, without even leaving the city limits is Lone Mountain.  Lone Mountain is located on the west end of Lone Mountain road just inside the 215.

This hike is short but steep and will probably require taking some breaks even for a seasoned hiker.

Amazing View From the Top! A wonderful place to watch the city turn on!

Weekend Wanderer: Hiking Valley of Fire

A visit to Valley of Fire only requires about an hour drive from Las Vegas and lots of water. Especially in the warmer months, Valley of Fire, gets very warm, even early in the day.  Plus, you may be out of Las Vegas, but you are still in the desert!

On a recent weekend trip to Valley of Fire, I was able to catch an awesome Ranger Led Program and get a few short hikes in before the afternoon hit and temperatures started to reach close to 100 degrees.

For your day trip from Las Vegas, leave early, preferably before 9am in order to be headed home before the heat of the day sets in.  Valley of Fire is a State Park, so National Park Passes DO NOT gain you free entry.  Entry into the park is based on car; a car is $10/$8 for locals (Be sure to show your Nevada ID!)

Once you pass through the entrance gate, Valley of Fire is waiting to grace you with its vibrant colors and awesome views.

The first stop you come across is the Beehives.  This is a nice short stop to get out, stretch your legs and get a good look at the awesome rock formations that are Valley of Fire.

Just a tiny view of what Valley of Fire has to offer; taken from the Petrified Logs Turn-Off.

From there, head down the road a bit more to the left will be a turn off for Atlatl Rock.  There are two campgrounds down this road (addition fee) but at Atlatl Rock there are some Petroglyph's that are worth the trek up the stairs.

A glimpse of the Atlatl Rock Petroglyphs 

Check the State Park Website for events; while visiting they were hosting a session on how to throw Alatl Spears, and I got a chance to try it out!  Good thing we didn't have to rely on me for dinner, my skills need some work!

Working on my spear throwing skills!

From here, you can skip the Petrified Logs (west) and continue down the road to the Visitors Center.  Inside there is a really nice museum complete with petrified wood, live snakes, lizards and spiders, and tons of well displayed information.  Here you can refill you water bottles and take a restroom break before heading up White Domes Road.  If it is already starting to get warm, opt to stop at Rainbow Vista.  The red sand here is worth the stop alone.  There is a mile long trail here, with warning posted to avoid in hot weather, even if it is hot take a short walk out and return to the car, it is well worth it!

What animal does this rock remind you of?

From here you can head home, or continue down the main park road.  If you are lucky, you might come across some big horn sheep, I did!

Can you see them?

As always, check the state park website for additional information before you go and ALWAYS pack water!

DISCLAIMER: Prices, locations, tours, policies and attractions may have changed.  Please use websites listed for the most up to date information.

Side Trip: Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument

While we were staying in Williams, AZ we took a day-long side trip to take in Wupatki
National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

9:00am: Head to Wupatki National Monument(1hr 22min Drive)

10:30am: Arrive at Wupatki : Stop at Wupatiki National Monument(tour time 30mins – 2 hours):

4 free with the National Parks pass, others $5 per person

http://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm

12:00: Picnic Lunch at Wupatki National Monument

We visited on a rainy day; but it was still awe-inspiring!

1:00pm: Head To Sunset Crater Volcano NM (40mins drive time, tour time 1 hour):

4 of us will be free with the National Parks pass, others $5 per person

                http://www.nps.gov/sucr/planyourvisit/directions.htm

A View from the road of Sunset Crater

3:00pm: Head back to Williams for Dinner (1 Hour Drive)

Getting the Most Out of 2 Days at the Grand Canyon

Let me start by saying, this was a family trip so we did not get in much hiking and instead tried to get a glimpse of the Grand Canyon from every angle possible.  I recommend staying in Williams, AZ.  The town is adorable and has some nice attractions as well, but feel free to look for lodging in the park as well.  There are some hotels in Williams, but if you prefer a more home-like feel check out some of the VRBO options in the area!

Day 1:
Early AM: Head to Grand Canyon from Williams, AZ (<1 hour drive)

Once you arrive at Mathers Point Visitors Center, take your time to look around and take “first look” of Grand Canyon.

Walk(other options to drive or ride YELLOW shuttle) approx. 1 mile to the Yavapao Geology Museum.

From there, either walk approx. 2 miles to Verkamps Visitors Center and Hopi house or take YELLOW shuttle back to Mathers Point and catch BLUE shuttle to Verkamp and Hopi House.

Walk along Rim Trail from Verkmap to view Bright Angel Lodge, Trailhead, Lookout Studio and on to RED shuttle bus stop.

Lunch on the Rim Trail before heading down Hermits Rest Road (We packed a lunch)

Take RED bus to Trail Overlook(0.7m walk), Maricopa Point (0.7m walk), Powell Point (0.5m Walk) and Hopi Point (0.3m walk)

Continue on RED shuttle to Mohave Point (0.8m walk from Hopi), The Abys (1.1m walk), Monument Creek Vista (0.9m walk), Pima Point(1.7m walk) and ending at Hermits Rest(1.1m walk).

Refill water at Hermits Rest. Then a short hike from Hermits Rest (Also be sure to check out the Ranger Programs!)

Prepare for Sunset viewing at Hopi Point (If crowded, Pima point).               

RED shuttle only stops at Pima, Mohave and Powell Points on the return trip.

                http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/grca_sunrise-sunset.pdf.pdf

Sunset: Be sure to check the time so you arn't late and miss the show!!

Shuttle back to parking area

Day 2:

Head to Yaki Point to view Sunrise.  See Sunrise-Sunset PDF above to check the correct time! Dress warm if visiting in the off-season sun-rise can be COLD!!!

Desert View 25-mile driving tour to Desert View Watchtower

                Stops at Grandview Point, Moran Point, Tusayan Museum and Ruin, Lipan Point, Navajo point, ending at Desert View Watchtower, point and visitors center.

Tour Desert View Visitors Center and Watch Tower.  Lunch then short afternoon hike.

This was a great way for us to get in the Grand Canyon, take in the view and make plans of what we wanted to do on our next trip.  The Grand Canyon is so vast I feel like I need to return over and over again just to make sure I can take it all in.

As always, before you go, check the National Park Website for updates, closures and special events!

All Photos by: https://www.facebook.com/KristinaTeresePhotography?fref=ts
Check out her blog here: http://kristinateresephotography.blogspot.com/

Weekend Wanderer: Devils Backbone Open Space

Hi explorers! Sorry I have been gone so long, life and warmer weekends have gotten in the way of me telling you about awesome adventures and hiking trips to try out.

This weekend, Colorado is foretasted to have some amazing spring weather.  Anyone else with me that this is incredibly welcomed after the cold winter we have had??

This weekend, grab your kids, your bike, or even your dog and head out to the Devils Backbone Open Space in Loveland, CO.

This trail-head tends to get really busy and fill up fast so arrive early, or plan a hike for later in the afternoon.

The trail is pretty flat and an easy stride with a few uphill sections.
Also, you can choose a short hike or a long hike just turn around whenever you want and head back to the trail-head!

Enjoy!

Weekend Wanderer: Snowy Range

Looking to take that last minute ski or snowboarding trip before all the high country snow starts to melt?
Look no further than Snowy Range, WY.

Snowy Range is a low-key resort located just west of Laramie, WY and easily travelable from Northern Colorado for a day or weekend trip.

Things I love about snowy range:
No I-70 traffic
No lines at the lift
Afforable lift tickets, rentals and even a shuttle from NoCo
Its a fantastic place to learn, hone or skills or just escape the big resort feel

There are only a few weekends left but the snowpack is still great! So head on up to Snowy Range for the weekend!

If you choose to spend the weekend, check-in at The Mountain View Historic Hotel in Centennial, WY.  Its a great place to stay, has a lovely breakfast and is just minutes from the ski area!

Weekend Wanderer: Pineridge Natural Area

To me, Pineridge Natural Area is one of Fort Collins best kept secrets.  Which is really no secret at all, but it seems to have less traffic than the A-Hill and the atmosphere makes you feel like you've been relocated to somewhere far, far away from the city traffic and noise.

Pineridge NA is located adjacent to the Maxwell NA in Fort Collins, CO.  There are 3 loops; a small loop around the pound that is about 2 miles, a longer loop that is a little over 3 miles and a loop that extends from that.

With the recent snow, pack your snowshoes and take a trip out to Pineridge this weekend to take in some amazing views, a little snow and the great outdoors!

As always, check the Fort Collins Natural Areas website for closures before heading out!

Weekend Wanderer: A-Hill

Its supposed to be a lovely weekend in Norther Colorado so take the quick hike up the A-Hill for some amazing views!

A-Hill Trail: Fort Collins, CO:

You can start at one of two trail heads.  Either the Maxwell Parking area, just past Hughes Stadium.  Or you can start at the trail head off of Banyan and Prospect, just west of Overland Trail.

No matter your starting location, you will head out up and over a few small hills before you start to really climb.  One the climb starts, the trail does some long switchbacks across the hill, making the climb less steep.

Keep in mind, this is a multi-use trail!

Once you reach the top, take in the amazing views of Fort Collins and beyond.

Don't miss the opportunity to cross the road and take a look a Horsetooth!

Always check the natural areas website for trail conditions and closers before heading out.

Trail Rating: Moderate
 

Weekend Wanderers: Purgatory Trail

I have decided to start a "Weekend Wanderers" feature, where every Friday I will post a short hike or activity to enjoy this weekend with friends, family and loved ones.

This weekend, try out the Purgatory Trail!

This trail is located at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, NC.  As you come into the NC Zoo, look for the North American parking lot and head to the north end, where the trail begins.

The trail is broken up into sections, with the first 1/8th of a mile being a wide paved path before the trail continues on for another 1 1/8 miles.  There is also the option to split off of the main trail and follow the mile long trail, Moonshine Run.

Pack a picnic for before or after your hike, or make it a day and enjoy part of the Zoo as well!

Trail Rating: EASY

Side Trip: The Hoover Dam

Making a trip to Las Vegas? Spending a few days at the Grand Canyon? No matter your situation be sure to make a stop at the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.

Lake Mead from the top of the Hoover Dam

We recently took a family trip to the Grand Canyon.  Since we were all flying into Las Vegas we made our stop at the Hoover Dam part of our trek from Las Vegas to Williams, AZ.

Some members of our group had an early morning flight into Las Vegas, so we met them with the rental car at the airport around 9am to head to the Hoover Dam.

The dam is a easy 40 minute drive from Las Vegas, so even with a stop for coffee and a quick breakfast, we were at the dam by 10am.  One of the KEYS to this trip is arriving early, even in the off season.  This is a major tourist attraction and with its proximity to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon it stays busy!  Also, on your way to the dam you will pass through a security checkpoint, be sure to read this document so you are aware of the Hoover Dam Policies!

When you arrive the parking deck will be on your left, just before the dam.  Its $7 to park here or you can continue on for other parking options.  Just pay to park here, its easy and gives you direct access to the dam.
The dam offers a few tour options, listed on the website.  However, when we arrived taking the Power-Plant Tour ($11) was our only option. We were a little disappointed as we really wanted to take the Dam Tour ($30).  After buying your tickets, you are filtered through a line where they take the groups photo in front of a green screen then load you into a theater with everyone else on your tour.

After the movie is over, you are broken up into two groups for the tour.  Tours take an elevator down into the dam, so the second group will have to wait a bit, just a few minutes nothing intolerable.  From there, you follow your tour guide through the tour of the powerplant before they drop you off at the dam overlook.

Here you can take your time and start doing the tour at your own pace.  They will be selling photos. (remember posing in front of the green screen) we found them to be pretty affordable for a tourist attraction.

When your group is finished at the overlook, make sure to head across the street to an older building.  There is a short program on all the dams on the Colorado River.  I always think it is interesting to see the view of dams at the facility, verses the view of dams at National Parks and environmental organizations.

From here take some time and walk across the dam, snap some photos and continue on your way.
Back on the road be sure to stop at the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge access.  It gives great view of the Hoover Dam and the bridge is pretty cool itself.

NOTE: They are VERY strict about the speed limit on the dam road, so watch that lead foot!

 

The Memorial Bridge from the Hoover Dam (Sorry for the poor quality, this photo was taken on my phone)

 

From here, if heading back to Las Vegas be sure to stop by the Lake Mead Visitors Center and take the short trip down to the water.  If you are continuing onto the Grand Canyon and other attractions; check back for the rest of our trip!

Dinosaur Trek

For me, Dinosaur National Monument is only a hop skip and a jump away so I decided to make a 3-day weekend out of the trip.  So, after work on Thursday we packed up the car and headed to Utah.
When visiting Dinosaur I really recommend staying at the Jensen Inn.  It is a bed and breakfast located minutes from the parks entrance.  The folks there are lovely, the breakfast is extraordinary and the views are amazing.

There are two sides to the Monument, the Colorado side and the Utah side.  If you are looking for fossils the Utah side is for you, however if hiking and biking are more your style you will want to plan to also visit the Colorado side.

Day 1: Tour Dinosaur National Monument and the Dry Fork Petroglyphs at the McConkie Ranch

After breakfast at the Bed and Breakfast, head down the road to the Visitors Center at Dinosaur National Monument (The fees are included in the annual National Parks Pass or $10 per car).
After touring the visitors center catch the shuttle up to the Quarry Hall.  The Quarry Hall is the "big wall of fossils".  They offer a booklet for around $1 that will help you identify exactly what fossils you are looking at, we bought it and found it to be really helpful.
Once finished at the Quarry Hall, skip the shuttle ride and hike back to the Visitors Center by way of the Fossil Discovery Trail.  They offer Ranger Programs daily on this trail but we hit the trail on our own, using one of the brochures you can pick up at the Quarry Hall.  The hike is relatively easy and will put you back out at the Visitors Center where you can continue on with your day.
Back at the visitors center, we packed into the car to continue into the monument.  Following the driving Tour of the Tilted Rocks, we headed to see the Cub Creek Petroglyphs and the cabin of Josie Bassett Morris.

Can you find the petroglyph in this photo?

We loved seeing the cabin and took a few short hikes from the cabin to see the areas where Josie Bassett Morris would pin-up her cattle using the landscape.  I highly recommend visiting this area, the drive is short and the views are worth the trip.

A view from the Josie Bassett Morris Cabin

After touring the cabin we headed out of the Monument toward Vernal, UT.  Vernal is the closets city to the park and offers lots of amenities for visitors. AT this point Vernal was just a pass through for us as we headed toward McConkie Ranch to see the Dry Fork Petroglyphs.  The ranch is about 10miles North of Vernal and fairly easy to find, they have a sign marking the turn in off, but if you miss it because you are taking in the beautiful country-side it is fairly easy to find a place to turn around.  These petroglyphs are on private property and open to anyone who will respect the area.  In the parking lot there is a small building where visitors have left notes and a place for donations.  The shorter of the two trails goes out from just behind this building.  Some parts of the trail are moderately strenuous, simply because the soil is loose and you are traveling uphill.  This trail offers some amazing views and of course the awe-inspiring petroglyphs.
Since it was an extremely hot afternoon, we had to skip the longer trail, but will return to take it in.
From the ranch, we headed back to Vernal to visit the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum. Originally, we decided to go here for a break from the heat but found it to be much more than just that.  The Museum has activities for kids as well as plenty of fossils and exhibits that are on a high level too.  The Museum house are 9-5 almost daily (check the website) and the price is affordable at $6 for adults and $3 for children over 5.
After the Museum it was time for dinner, so we went across the street to check out Vernal Brewing Company.  When in Vernal, this is a must!  We loved everything about this place, from the food, to the beer, to the decor!
With our hunger satisfied, we went back to the B&B to rest up and prepare for Day 2.

Day 2: Flaming Gorge

With the Monument under our belt we wanted to explore something different so we hit the road and headed for the Flaming Gorge.  Its just under an hours drive from Vernal.  We drove to our first stop, the Flaming Gorge Dam Visitors Center.  Her you can view the Green River, the dam and even take a dam tour.  We chose to take a tour of the dam and found it to be totally worth our time.  The tour is free, but you will want to pack some quarters to feed the fish!

 The Green River from an overlook in the Ashley National Forest

After the damn tour we headed back up the Green River stopping along the way whenever we saw a spot with a good view.  We spent most of the day exploring this area before heading back for an early dinner in Vernal.
We spent our last evening at the B&B sitting on the porch, looking at the stars.  It was a lovely and relaxing way to wrap up our mini-vacation.

Day 3: The Slow Road Home

Time to head back home, but not without a short stop on the Colorado side of the Monument!
We had to drive right past the Colorado entrance to the monument to get home, so we took a short stop to quickly check things out before hitting the road for home.  Since we were short on time there was no hiking or biking for us just a short drive.

We had a really amazing time on this short trip, but there is so much to do in this area I am sure we will return.
From hiking, to whitewater rafting, to simply taking in the view, this area has it all!


DISCLAIMER: Prices, locations, tours, policies and attractions may have changed.  Please use websites listed for the most up to date information.