“One time is enough.”
That’s what I’d heard countless times about visiting Las Vegas before making the trip myself. I’d always wanted to go, if only to have that once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Turns out, one time wasn’t enough. I’ve been five times now, and I have no doubt there will be a sixth. The nightlife and gambling aren’t what keep me coming back, though.
These days, I skip the casinos and explore nature instead — and one of my favorite places is about 45 minutes outside the city: Valley of Fire State Park.
There was no turning back once I found a side of Vegas I didn’t know I was missing
In 2013, I went to Vegas to celebrate surviving grad school with a couple of friends.
Being first-timers, we wanted to see everything the Las Vegas Strip had to offer. About 28,000 steps and a midday shoe change later, we felt we’d seen all we could in a single day.
That first trip was a whirlwind of neon lights and shirtless men dancing on tabletops (they don’t call it “Sin City” for nothing). It was fun, but I wondered if there was even more to experience in the area beyond the sensory overload of the Strip.
Flying into Las Vegas from Seattle, I’d noticed the rugged, desert mountains surrounding the city. Those same mountain ranges also caught my eye from the mayhem of the Strip.
A couple of years later, when I returned to the city with my husband, I’d finally get to see them up close.
After a day on the Strip, the two of us decided to get out of the city and visit the Valley of Fire. We didn’t know much about the park, but the impressive Google images and proximity were enough to convince us to check it out.
We rented a car, then headed northeast of Las Vegas and found ourselves in a sea of sand and rocky red outcroppings within an hour.
After paying a small entry fee, the booth attendant gave us a detailed map and tips for avoiding heatstroke. Then, we spent the entire day exploring the geologic wonders of the Mojave Desert.
The 40,000-acre recreation area had awe-inspiring sandstone formations, ancient petroglyphs, and hiking trails with Instagram-worthy photo ops around every corner.
Besides roaming the richly saturated — often gravity-defying — petrified sand dunes, we also spotted lizards scurrying across the trails and hordes of adorable ground squirrels in the picnic areas.
Out here, I didn’t hear the constant dinging from slot machines, the mashup of strangers’ conversations, or the evangelists along the Strip admonishing passersby through megaphones.
I found everything I was looking for in a weekend getaway: sun, serenity, and spectacular scenery. Now I make it a point to escape to the Valley of Fire whenever I visit Las Vegas.
Vegas can be the perfect getaway, though maybe not in the way you might expect
One time in Vegas might be enough for some people, but not for me.
In addition to offering endless food and entertainment options, the city has no shortage of beautiful nearby spots for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers.
For those of us on the West Coast, Vegas is the perfect destination for a quick trip. It’s just a short flight away, and you can find great deals on resorts, especially when you travel during the less crowded summer and winter months.
If you’re looking to add more than Valley of Fire State Park to your desert itinerary, you can also easily make day trips to places like the Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon.
And as for whether I’m already planning my next trip — you can bet on it.
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