"Las Vegas Mountain Retreat" Mount Charleston by goingsolo

Mount Charleston is the quintessential Las Vegas getaway. Its cooler temperatures in the summer make it an oasis from the heat while its winter wonderland environment create the perfect place to play and ski, and all within an hour of Sin City.

The Mount Charleston area is not exactly a resort, but it contains some nice places to stay. The small friendly community that lives on the mountain isn't much into the nightlife scene, either. But this is more of a place to escape all that.

Mount Charleston

There are some scenic routes to drive along the main highway leading up the mountain as well as some side roads that make for interesting scenic drives. Numerous short trails criss cross the mountain, providing for a bit of exercise as well. And there's Charleston Peak, the big climb of them all.

Mount Charleston

I visited Mount Charleston on Thanksgiving Day, 2004. An unexpected storm a few days before produced enough snow to turn the mountain into a veritable winter wonderland.

The arrival of snow brought a festive atmosphere to the mountain and many people were taking full advantage of all snow related activities. It was a fantastic experience, and one that made it easy to forget that the glittering excesses of Las Vegas were only about 30 miles away.

• Pros:Cooler temps than Vegas in the summer and a snow lovers paradise in the winter
• Cons:Few facilities and services available on the mountain
• In a nutshell:The perfect retreat from Las Vegas burnout.