Margo Bartlett Pesek writes about day trips from Las Vegas and information about the surrounding areas. Her column appears Sunday in Travel/Living.
Nature creates bountiful gardens in Southern Utah’s high country during the short summer season, usually peaking in July. Springtime arrives late atop the 10,000-foot plateaus. Plants hasten to produce flowers and seed for future years in the brief weeks between the last of snow melt in May or June and the return of autumn in September.
Southern Utah lures heat-weary Las Vegans like the ice cream man draws neighborhood kids on summer afternoons. Who wouldn’t welcome cool, pine-scented breezes, cold mountain streams and lakes, chilly nights under starry glitter and bracing mornings with the scent of wood smoke strong in the air? Utah’s beautiful high-forested plateaus offer respite from scorching temperatures as well as unequalled recreational opportunities within a half-day’s drive of Las Vegas.
Nevada’s scattered small towns observe the national birthday on July 4 in ways that reflect their individual heritage, yet incorporate activities traditional across the country.
Central Arizona’s Verde Valley lures visitors with stunning scenery, varied recreational opportunities and fascinating remnants of the past. The region boasts scenic highways, ghost towns, historic railways, state parks and national monuments. Within a half-day’s drive from Las Vegas, the Verde Valley invites Southern Nevadans to visit and explore year-round.
Unique among local recreation sites, the Old Spanish Trail Park focuses upon the early history of the Las Vegas Valley when it was a major stop along the historic overland route connecting settlements in Spanish New Mexico and California. The 2,700-mile Old Spanish Trail received deserved recognition with its 2002 listing as a National Historic Trail.
Hidden away in secluded spots, several small campgrounds established by the Bureau of Land Management add to the appeal of Northwestern Arizona for year-round outdoor enjoyment. Located within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, these sites expand adventure opportunities for Southern Nevadans.
Southern Nevadans seeking scenery and adventure find plenty to lure them to Southern Utah. Closer for Las Vegas area residents than many parts of our own state, Utah’s “Dixie” lies just a couple of hours’ drive away. The Beehive State openly woos out-of-state visitors by enhancing its gorgeous landscapes with a fine system of parks and trail networks appealing to wide outdoor interests.
Visitors to the Calico Early Man Archaeological Site near Barstow, Calif., need to use their imaginations to understand what may have happened there between 135,000 and 200,000 years ago. Instead of the sun-scorched Mojave Desert of today, they must visualize a landscape with lush plains teeming with game bordering ancient Lake Manix, fish-filled and attractive to waterfowl. It would have been attractive to humans living off the bounty of the land, as well.
A chance discovery of ore rich in silver in 1900 by Central Nevada rancher Jim Butler sparked a mining boom to rival the fabulous days of the Comstock Lode decades earlier in Virginia City. When word of Butler’s find got out, a boom started that drew Nevada out of a deep depression. Soon, a camp called Butler grew near the site of Jim Butler’s original strike near Tonopah Spring.
When the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park reopens May 15 for the summer season, the first visitors may see spring wildflowers struggling up through remnant snowdrifts. Situated 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim, the North Rim’s heavy winters force the shutdown of visitor facilities annually from Oct. 15 until mid-May. Only a few intrepid snowshoe trekkers or cross country skiers with backcountry permits reach the North Rim in the dead of winter.
Perched halfway up the eastern slope of the Providence Mountains surrounded by the 1.6 million-acre Mojave National Preserve, a remote California desert park invites visitors to enjoy varied pursuits. Activities in Providence Mountains State Recreation Area include cavern touring, hiking, camping, wildlife watching and scenic viewing.
Horseback excursions into Southern Nevada’s scenic outback remain among the most popular outdoor adventures available for both visitors and residents. Guided trail rides explore remote areas away from paved highways. Riders experience the trail on treks lasting from an hour to several hours when combined with meals, such as pack-along box lunches or breakfast or dinner cooked trailside.
Clark County marks its 100th birthday with special observations and programs throughout this year with emphasis on its colorful past and a century of phenomenal changes. Clark County presents special historical exhibits at the Clark County Museum and the county government center. Nearly a dozen roundtable history panel discussions appear on the county’s television channel. The Review-Journal has featured historical photos and print material from county archives. Special events dot the county’s 2009 calendar.
Cheerful golden sun rays nod their welcome to Valley of Fire State Park. These handsome relatives of sunflowers steal the wildflower show this spring, their exuberance drawing attention away from many other varieties. When visiting the park this month, take note of some of the lesser blooms, such as white-flowered gravel ghost, orange globe mallow, pale yellow primrose, pinkish-white dune primrose, lavender Mojave aster and tiny white rock aster. Several varieties of cactus finish up the spring show as hot summer days approach.
Tucked away in a gorgeous part of Southern Utah’s Color Country, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary offers visitors excursions to several of its care centers for a resident population of never less than 1,700 domestic and wild creatures. In 2009, the largest no-kill homeless animal facility in the country celebrates its 25th year of pioneering animal rescue efforts and innovative and humane solutions to problems of pet over-population and animal abuse.
