While in Vegas?

[genesis273]

I have to go to Vegas in two weeks for a work related conference. My wife has never been...well anywhere west of the Mississippi River, so I`m going to take her alone. After the conference, we`re wanting to stay a few more days to see a few thing like maybe Hover Dam and definitely Grand Canyon. Any suggestions on where would be a good place to stay (town or hotel) that is close to the better areas of the Grand Canyon? Are there places at the Grand Canyon that would be recommended to see or maybe stay away from because of too many tourist? Are there hiking areas in and around the GC that is recommended?

 

[birddog32]

Is Carlos Santana playing Vegas? That would be on my list.

 

[dustinf]

The Hoover dam is on the way to the Grand Canyon. They built a new bridge, so you have to divert off the highway to go down to the dam itself. You can still drive over it, but to continue on in Arizona you need to turn around, drive back across the dam and drive back up to the highway.

The Grand Canyon is pretty cool, but it's a long day trip to make it there and back to Vegas. I've only been there once and never did anything than a few pics from the rim. My wife and I were on a cross country road trip and didn't have much time to linger at one place. I'd love to hit the floor of the canyon for a few days.

Hoover Dam from the new highway access:

The canyon:

Tourist shot of me and the wifey:

 

[noharleyyet]

...the Cirque de Soleil Beatles Love performance would be a blast.

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/love/default.aspx

 

[chuckyd313]

Just stay away from the White Rhino.

 

[putm2sleep]

...the Cirque de Soleil Beatles Love performance would be a blast.

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/love/default.aspx

It is a BLAST - it is huge and insane.

 

[tarheel]

I'd recommend staying in Williams; there are several nice hotels there and a couple of good steak houses in the middle of town (small town). The main entrance is straight north of Williams and I believe that's where you can catch the train to the canyon. If you have the time you can continue East to Flagstaff and on East to Meteor Crater. Just a few miles North of Flagstaff on US 89 is the Sunset Crater Volcano Nat. Monument with lots of lava beds, and yet a few more miles up the road is the Wupatki National Monument with some really interesting ancient native dwellings. Or you can go on East to Winslow and try to find that "girl in a flatbed Ford".

 

[St52v]

Our first trip to Vegas we drove over to the Grand Canyon for the day. It way a 4 hour drive each way and wish we would have spent more time there. On our last trip we met up with a college buddy who lives in the area. He took me over to the park in Boulder City to see the big horns. That was cool!! There were 20 or so laying in the shade and feeding on the green grass of the ball fields ect.. It was a nice place to eat luch and enjoy the wildlife.

 

[fowladdict]

Just went there with the wife in June. Once gambling gets old, check out the mob museum and the Beatles or KA cirque shows.

 

[schmalts]

Valley of fire State Park. A must see and only around an hour drive. Do the short hike trail and marvel at the petroglyph's

 

[npaden]

Red Rock Canyon is just outside of town and really cool.

That's my wife at the top.

Pretty neat place. If you look hard you can see people along the bottom of the picture and a few of them climbing on the rock. We climbed up to the left hand side and it wasn't too tough, just running shoes and shorts. No problem.

On the lefthand side of the picture you can see a little block of rock at the top, that's what is behind my wife in her picture.

Lots of neat trails to hike. You could spend a week and never hike the same trail twice.

 

[ashersdad]

What Schmalts said. A definite must do.

 

[Goldtip]

If you wanna do fun night time Vegas stuff without gambling, I can highly recommend the Piano Bar at NYNY, and also Nine Fine Irishmen, same hotel. House of Blues over at Mandalay Bay might have Carlos Santana playing there, he is there pretty regular if I recall correct.

 

[JohnCushman]

Hey Dustin...where's the dog for the tourist pic?

 

[dustinf]

Hey Dustin...where's the dog for the tourist pic?

They were canoeing...

 

[noharleyyet]

They were canoeing...

....trotline bait.

 

[genesis273]

Valley of fire State Park. A must see and only around an hour drive. Do the short hike trail and marvel at the petroglyph's

I Googled this place and I believe you just made my trip an extra day! The place is absolutely beautiful! So was Red Rock from the next suggestion.

I did tell the wife to find a hotel in Williams for a place to stay after leaving Vegas so we can be close to the Grand Canyon. Of course we will have to drive back to fly out . I do appreciate all of the advice. We're both really looking forward this trip, even though some of it is work related! She's been to the Caribbean and Israel, but never to the left. I started another thread a few months ago about our upcoming 25th anniversary where we're planning a road trip where we'll go to Yellowstone and a lot of other places, and we can't wait! Thanks for all of the help guys!

 

[pointingdogsrule]

...the Cirque de Soleil Beatles Love performance would be a blast.

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/love/default.aspx

I will second this recommendation.... You will NOT be disappointed with this show. Seen it three times and love it!!!! NOTE: the cheap tickets in the balcony are actually the best tickets in that you have a great view and don't have to look up at the action.

Also I hear there is a 4 mile zip line outside of Vegas. I have not done it but heard it's really fast and lots of fun.

good luck to all
the dog