Category: Travel

In my previous post, I introduced you to my 3 favourite casinos in Las Vegas. Whilst the sheer variety of casino-hotels, with their pools, bars, restaurants, shows and such mean that you are never in for a dull moment, today, I want to give you my suggestions for other exciting things you can do when visiting the city. If you enjoy a little adventure, then check out these 5 day trips that you can participate in when visiting Vegas, for an even more exciting and wide-ranging experience.

1. Grand Canyon

A visit to the Grand Canyon is on many people’s bucket list. The National Park is a place of breath-taking beauty and astonishing natural features. It is a fair old drive from Las Vegas, taking about 4 and a half hours each way. However, you can reduce the traveling time considerably plus, get an even more invigorating experience by visiting the canyon by helicopter. There are plenty of tour operators that do day trips by chopper. Not only do these cut down the travel time, you will get some of the most astonishing views of the Grand Canyon from the air.

2. Red Rock Canyon

Just a 30 minute drive out of the city will take you to Red Rock Canyon. The national conservation area boasts a set of large red rock formations, sandstone peaks and walls. The walls reach up to 3000 feet high, making them popular with rock climbers and hikers. There is a 13 mile one-way loop road that provides access to the many features of the site. This road is popular with cyclists as it has a moderate climb to start, then is mostly downhill or flat. You will find a visitor centre at the start of the road, with plenty of useful information about the area, its history, geology and more.

3. Hoover Dam

The world-famous Hoover Dam is located approximately 30 miles from Las Vegas, making it within easy reach for a day trip. It is on the Colorado river between the US states of Nevada and Arizona. It is a major tourist attraction, drawing almost a million visitors each year. You can take a guided tour of the damn and learn more about its interesting history. There is also a museum which is well worth a look. You can walk across the damn and take in the stunning views. Although, if you are afraid of heights, this is probably best avoided!

4. Lake Mead

Formed by the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the USA in terms of water capacity. The lake is a massive 112 miles long when full, with a shoreline of around 760 miles. Pretty much every type of water sport you can imagine is available here. The most popular is boating, with fishing, water skiing and swimming also ranking highly. It has sandy beaches and rocky cliffs within its many coves. The area also boasts a visitor centre, with a botanical garden featuring cactus and other plants which are native to the area.

5. Bonnie Springs Ranch

This is a must try for fans of wild west cowboy movies. The former mining town immerses you into the life of the Old West. The 115-acre ranch is located about 40 mins southwest of the Las Vegas Strip. You can take a miniature train ride and indulge yourself in various Old West activities, including staged cowboy gun fights, melodramas, horseback riding and more. The ranch also features a petting zoo, museum, and wild-west style saloons where you can grab a drink or a bite to eat.

Mention casinos and you probably think of Vegas right? Well there is a whole world out there with more great gambling destinations than you can shake a stick at. I’m Chrissy and I am passionate about 2 things in life; travelling and casinos. I have always been drawn to travelling, and as a teen, would dream of the day when I would be independent enough to embark on worldwide adventures.

During my gap year before uni, I landed an internship at a major casino/hotel in Las Vegas. A good friend of my dads knew that I was due to embark upon a degree in international business studies, yet desperately wanted to see a bit of the world before I started. Thanks to his business connections, he set up the 9-month long internship for me, and thanks to generous birthday gifts for my 18th, I booked my plane ticket and set off to start my gap year adventure.

It was during this time that my love for casinos developed. Whilst I had obviously researched Sin City before my trip, nothing prepared me for the glamour, glitz, entertainment and amazing thrill that you felt just being in the place. Vegas lit a spark in me that never disappeared. I knew I wanted this to be more than a one-time venture.

Anyways, long story short, after I graduated, I landed a job working for a major casino operator. Dream job does not even come close to describing my career. I have had the chance to travel around the world, visiting some of the most amazing gambling destinations and experiencing the best of what their casinos have to offer.

I decided to create this blog to share my experiences and adventures with likeminded people. If you have a passion for travel or casinos, or both, then this blog is for you. I will give top tips on where to find the best casinos. I will also cover interesting and useful linked topics, such as how to get the best out of casinos, and what else you can experience and enjoy whilst visiting the top casinos in the world.