Las Vegas Off The Beaten Path Tips by joiwatani Top 5 Page for this destination

Visit the The Oasis at Mandalay Bay Off The Strip Review

Take the Tram from Excalibur Hotel and stop at the Mandalay Bay. From the front of the Mandalay Bay, follow the sgns going to the Lobby where there is a Fish Tank. To the left of the lobby is a grand stairway that leads you to the back of Mandalay. This is also the way to their pool.

There is a beautiful garden there called the Oasis. It passes through a water fountain of elephants and palm trees. You can also see the gated pool.

Drive to the Grand Canyon Grand Canyon Review

When you plan to go to Las Vegas, also plan to side trip to the Grand Canyon. You are already close to the most beautiful rock formation on earth anyway.

Make sure to spend the night over there if you don't feel like driving back to Las Vegas. And, experience the most spectacular sun rise! As if the whole canyon is on fire!

Bring a jacket no matter what because it gets really cold in the morning at the Grand Canyon.

The entrance fee is $25.00 and the pass is good for seven days. The skywalk fee is different because this is maintained by the local Indian community.

Phone: (928) 638-7888

Drive to Black Diamond and see the Red Rocks Within a 3 Hour Drive Review

I was actually amazed to see that there were actually waterfalls in the desert! How could that be?

My brother-in-law, who lives in Las Vegas (owns businesses there), took us to Black Diamond. He said there are red rocks in the town and it is a great place for hiking. We actually went hiking close to the red rocks and found mini-waterfalls!

The hike was easy because there are trails to follow, snaking through small bushes.

The red rocks are amazing.

The drive was about 45 minutes from the Strip and the hike is about 30 minutes one way.

Visit Boulder City Within a 3 Hour Drive Review

If your time allows, it is nice to go to Boulder City. You can stop by the city and walk around and check out their Indian stores. You pass by this town, anyway, when you head to the scenic route going to Lake Mead and leading to the Hoover Dam!

The Look-out at Lake Mead Other Desert Perspectives Review

When going to the Hoover Dam, make sure to take the scenic route going to Lake Mead. This route is taken in the middle of the city in Boulder. If you are driving, make sure to be alert on checking the road signs because when you missed the sign in Boulder City, you have to turn around.

The scenic route is actually a better route because the roads snake through the top of a hill overlooking Lake Mead. The lookout is close to the road and just slow down and park your car on the side. Be careful when crossing the road...

Aerial view of the Dam Hoover Dam/Lake Mead Review

When you are driving to the Hoover Dam, make sure to park your car all the way close to the Arizona emblem because you will have a better view of the dam. Then just walk down to the other sites of the dam.

Check out the time when it's Daylight Savings Time Hoover Dam/Lake Mead Review

At the Hoover Dam, you can actually walk a few steps and you are at Nevada Time and a few steps back at Arizona Time.

If you go at the Hoover Dam when it's Daylight Savings Time, you will see that there is an hour difference even if you are just a few steps away. It's because Nevada uses the Daylight Savings Time and Arizona don't.

Since we went there last March, the time is still the same between Arizona and Nevada. However, the last time we were there, there was an hour difference.

Go to the Hoover Dam Hoover Dam/Lake Mead Review

Just imagine the neon lights of Las Vegas without Hoover Dam...It would have been impossible to electrify the whole of Las Vegas' Strip, including the sprouting new towns of Green Valley, Henderson and other adjacent towns had it not been for the construction of this amazing dam that generates power. This dam supplies electricity not only for Las Vegas but also for some parts of the State of California.

Travelling to Hoover Dam by car takes 45 minutes from the Strip. There is also a helicopter tour to Hoover Dam and to Lake Mead.

For us, we took the most scenic route which led us to Boulder City, passing through a vista overlooking the Lake Mead.

If you are renting a car, make sure to schedule half-a-day to go there so you can go to I-Max and watch how the Dam was built and eat ice cream at the souvenir store...

Visit the back gardens of Mandalay Bay Off the Path / Off the Wall Review

We were just walking to the north of the Strip. We wanted to get in to the Mandalay swimming pool as the children wanted to swim (they ended up going to Circus Circus Swimming pool) as they are getting too hot from walking. We asked from the attendant if he could allow us to get in. It looked so much fun and exciting inside as there were waves on the pool and some children were having a blast. The attendant said that since we were not residents of Mandalay Bay Hotel, we were not allowed to get in.

In frustration,we walked to the back of the hotel and found a beautiful garden with animals spouting water, water fountains and some tropical plants for shade.

We took some pictures and headed back to the south of the Strip to swim at the Circus Circus Swimming Pool!

For more information about Mandalay Bay Hotel, log on to their website.

www.mandalaybay.com

3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(877) 632-7800

Phone: 877-632-7800

Website: http://%s5%crwww.madalaybay.com%c*