Las Vegas - away from the strip?
 

I will be spending a week in Las Vegas early in January 09 and although I plan to enjoy a few bits and pieces on the strip I would like some great ideas for things to do that are not gambling, shoping & entertainment. I enjoy cooking, gardening, hiking.

Please share any ideas - spending a week in Las Vegas off of the strip!

Thanks
loveyblue

If you can get to Red Rock Canyon it is a beautiful hiking and climbing area

January, if not rainy, is the perfect time for hiking! Red Rock is nice, but don't miss the Valley of Fire!

Also I haven't been there, but heard Ethel M chocolate factory and cactus garden are worth visiting.

And of course there is the Hoover Dam and lake Mead.

Believe it or not, the Liberace Museum, located east of the Strip, is excellent. Would also suggest seeing the antique car museum in the Imperial Palace Hotel on the Strip, which was very good.

If you enjoy others cooking For you - consider the off-strip Rosemary's Restaurant;

it gets a STAR rating under Fodor's restaurant listings.

Helicopter Canyon tours are impressive, but plan $300 for a 9 hour outing

Just this past weekend I did the Mirage Hotel's "Secret Garden" tiger and dolphin habitat - leisurely and so cute!!

we did red rock and found it awesome. theres also a resort there which looks phenom (we meant to stay ona return trip but did not)... also the hoover dam is about 40 min away... was well worth it...

Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire are two excellent choices. Zion National Park in Utah is a 3 hour drive so might be a long day trip, but if you could spend one night on the road, it would be well worth it. Check weather before you go to Zion, they can get a little snow.

Utahtea