Grand Canyon

No list starts anywhere else. The West Rim (Grand Canyon West, on Hualapai land) is the closest and home to the glass Skywalk, while the South Rim delivers those classic, endless canyon views inside the national park. Sunrise and sunset are when the colors really come alive, so plan your timing around the light. If you’d rather skip the long drive, Grand Canyon helicopter tours from Las Vegas can put you on the rim and back in a single morning. Tip: The West Rim and the national-park South Rim are run by different entities with separate tickets and hours — decide which rim you want before you leave and buy admission on the official site so you’re not caught out at the gate.

Hoover Dam

One of the great engineering feats of the 20th century, and close enough that you can be standing on it before your coffee gets cold. You can walk across for free and take in Lake Mead and the Colorado River, or book a guided tour inside the dam. The Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge nearby gives you a jaw-dropping overlook. Tip: Summer sun on that concrete is intense — go early, bring water and a hat, and check the official Bureau of Reclamation site for current tour times and tickets.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

The largest reservoir in the country by capacity sits right on our doorstep, with blue water framed by desert mountains. It’s the go-to for boating, paddleboarding, swimming, and shoreline picnics, and the scenic drives along the water are beautiful in the cooler months. Tip: There’s an entrance fee (it’s a national recreation area), so bring a card or your park pass, and check the NPS site for current lake levels and which launch ramps are open before you tow a boat down.

Valley of Fire State Park

Nevada’s oldest state park, and my pick when someone wants big scenery without a big drive. The Aztec sandstone glows fire-red, and you’ll find ancient petroglyphs, the wave-like Fire Wave formation, and Instagram-famous stops like the Pink Canyon and Elephant Rock. Tip: It gets brutally hot in summer — visit in the cooler months or early morning, carry more water than you think you need, and have a few dollars ready for the entrance fee.

Zion National Park

Towering sandstone walls, the Virgin River, and some of the best hiking in the Southwest. The Narrows and Angels Landing are bucket-list hikes, and even the drive in is stunning. For most of the year you’ll ride the park shuttle into Zion Canyon rather than drive it yourself. Tip: Angels Landing requires a permit through a lottery, and the shuttle system changes by season — check the official NPS Zion page before you go so you’re not surprised at the entrance.

Bryce Canyon National Park

It’s a longer haul, but the hoodoos — those spindly orange rock spires packed into natural amphitheaters — look like nowhere else on earth. Sunrise Point and Sunset Point are the classic overlooks, and the Navajo Loop trail takes you right down among the formations. Tip: Bryce sits at 8,000–9,000 feet, so it’s much colder than Vegas and can hold snow well into spring — pack layers even in warm months, and go easy at that altitude.

Death Valley National Park

The lowest, driest, and hottest spot in North America is also strangely beautiful — think salt flats at Badwater Basin, rolling sand dunes, and the painted hills of Artists Palette. It’s a photographer’s dream in the softer light of morning and evening. Tip: This is a fall-through-spring trip. Summer temperatures are genuinely dangerous, cell service is spotty, and gas is scarce — top off your tank, carry extra water, and download your maps before you lose signal.

Emerald Cave

A little slot cove on the Colorado River where the water glows a vivid emerald green when the light hits right. Most people reach it by kayak or paddleboard from Willow Beach, and it’s an easy, calm-water paddle that first-timers can handle. Tip: The color is most vivid around midday when the sun is overhead, so time your paddle for late morning — and if you’re new to it, book a guided kayak tour rather than going it alone.

Willow Beach

Just below Hoover Dam, this calm stretch of the Colorado is a peaceful escape for kayaking, fishing, and picnicking, with clear water and desert canyon walls all around. It doubles as the launch point for Emerald Cave and the Black Canyon water trail. Tip: The water released from the dam stays cold year-round, so dress for it — and this is your jumping-off spot if you want to combine a paddle to Emerald Cave in the same day.

Area 51 & the Extraterrestrial Highway

You won’t get inside the base, of course — and you shouldn’t try — but the drive up State Route 375, the Extraterrestrial Highway, is pure quirky Nevada fun. Stop at the Alien Research Center, grab a burger at the Little A’Le’Inn in Rachel, and soak up the wide-open high-desert weirdness. Tip: Fuel up before you leave and bring snacks and water — services out there are almost nonexistent. And take the warning signs seriously: never cross the restricted military boundary.

Seven Magic Mountains

Seven towers of brightly painted boulders, stacked up to 35 feet tall, popping against the beige desert — artist Ugo Rondinone’s installation is one of the most photographed spots near town. It’s free, quick, and endlessly Instagrammable. Tip: Go at sunrise or sunset for the best light and the smallest crowds; there’s no admission and no reservation needed, but check the official site before a long detour since it’s a temporary installation.

Antelope Canyon

One of the most beautiful slot canyons in the world — those smooth, wavelike sandstone walls and the beams of light pouring in from above. It sits on Navajo land, and it’s right next to Horseshoe Bend, so you can pair the two. Tip: You cannot enter on your own — a Navajo-guided tour is required and the popular time slots sell out, so book well ahead. Midday tours give you the best chance at those famous light beams.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

My closest escape, and still the one that makes visitors gasp. The 13-mile scenic loop winds past red-and-tan sandstone cliffs, with trailheads, rock climbing, and desert bighorn sheep along the way. It’s the easiest ‘real nature’ fix you can get from the Strip. Tip: During the busy season (roughly October through May) the scenic loop requires a timed-entry reservation booked in advance on the official site — grab yours before you drive out, and there’s an entrance fee at the gate.

Oatman Mining Village

A living Wild West gold-mining town where wild burros — descendants of the miners’ pack animals — wander right down the main street looking for a snack. Add staged gunfights, old saloons, and rock shops, and it’s a genuinely fun half-day. Tip: Bring cash for the little shops and burro feed (sold in town), and don’t hand-feed the babies with the ‘DO NOT FEED’ stickers — the locals put those on for the animals’ safety.

Grand Canyon West & Grand Canyon Ranch

This is Grand Canyon country with a Western twist. Grand Canyon West is home to the glass Skywalk out over the rim, and the nearby working Grand Canyon Ranch offers horseback rides, wagon tours, and cabin stays with real cowboy atmosphere. Tip: These are privately operated experiences with their own tickets and packages — check their official sites for what’s included, and know that some access roads out here are unpaved, so a higher-clearance vehicle helps.

Joshua Tree Forest Scenic Drive

Not the California national park — this is the dense stand of native Joshua trees along the Pierce Ferry Road on the way to Grand Canyon West. Their twisted, Dr.-Seuss silhouettes against the desert make for a peaceful, scenic drive and great photos, especially near golden hour. Tip: There are no services along this stretch, so fill up and bring water — and it pairs perfectly with a Grand Canyon West day since they’re on the same route.

Mount Charleston

When the valley bakes in summer, this is where locals escape — it’s often 20 to 30 degrees cooler up here in the pines. Hike shaded trails in summer, and in winter you get snow, sledding, and skiing at Lee Canyon. It genuinely feels like a different state. Tip: Bring a jacket year-round because it’s so much cooler than town, and in winter carry chains or check road conditions — storms can close the highway with little notice.

Historic Route 66

The ‘Mother Road’ is alive and well in northwestern Arizona. The stretch from Kingman through Oatman to Seligman is packed with vintage diners, neon signs, classic-car nostalgia, and roadside kitsch — the perfect lazy, wandering kind of day trip. Tip: Take it slow and stop often; the fun is in the little towns and photo ops. The Oatman-to-Kingman segment is winding and narrow, so allow extra time and don’t rush the curves.

Lori Ballen

REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas, leading The Ballen Group. A lifelong Las Vegan sharing the best of the valley.

Meet Lori →   702-604-7739