06 Maestro
Posts: 3989
Joined: 10/12/2005 From: Nevada, USA Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Zap Maestro, anything to see of special interest in the line of nature near LV? Me and the wife will be making our annual trek to LV in December. This year were there for 2 weeks. Gonna look at homes and play. Two weeks is enough to see a good amount of nature around here. Red Rock park is just out to the west of town. The feds took it over about 20 years ago-small charge to get in now. There is a loop drive throughout. If you can catch that location at sunset or sunrise (open hours?) you will be able to get some rather spectacular views. Purple and red mountains are sort of neat. Of course, Boulder dam is something to see. They built a visitors center there about 15 years ago. Its just 30 miles south of town. To the northwest there is Mt Charleston. There are several great spots for viewing/picture taking. One spot you can easily see for sixty miles looking east back down the mountain-the topography turns from coniferous forest to semi arid (what most of you would call "desert", but it ain't). There is also an old lodge at the end of the road at Charleston-easy to find. It was an old place when I was a teenager-a little while back. Its a very nice area, but as Las Vegas has grown, I avoid that place on weekends-way too many people for my tastes. A week night would be great up there-they even have small cabins for rent if you felt like getting a little happy, and not driving back down the mountain. Some would be surprised to learn that there is skiing near Las Vegas-just about 30 miles from my house. In years past, I have gone skiing and swimming on the same day. The lodge is about 8500' and the peak is about 12,000 IIRC. Lake Mead is also nearby. Fom the main access roads, it is not really all that much to look at. It is rather huge, but bland surrounding-very little shade (semi arid ). If you rent a boat, or take a houseboat tour, you can see some really neat areas around the lake; the Narrows, Temple Rock, Sandy Beach and others-gotta have a boat though. Out to the NW, about 30 miles is the Painted Desert. Unusual colors, but not a very hospitable place-especially in the summer. BTW, if you drive out anyplace like that, be sure to bring extra water. It still happens now and then that people get into big trouble because they get stuck, or break down out in the boondocks. Rare, but it happens. It is very mountainous around here so cell phone coverage is not what some are accustomed to in the lowlands. Ah, but I see you are from a mountainous area, so you know of what I speak. Gonna look at homes and play? Thinking of moving here? PM me, we can have a brew or two. Real estate is a steal right now.
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Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies. Thomas Jefferson
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