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| Teeing off into the Western horizon |
Gambling, gambling, and more gambling. Las Vegas is a town built on dollars lost at the craps table, slot machine, and roulette wheel. Unsurprisingly, gambling remains the major tourist draw. Gambling opportunities are always in sight, and the casinos never close. Although gambling remains a major draw for the city, Las Vegas now offers diversions outside the casinos. Listed below are some suggestions.
Craig Ranch Golf Club - Public, 18 hole, par 70 course located in North Las Vegas. 628 West Craig Rd. 702-642-9700.
Desert Inn Golf Club - Course has four tee levels to accommodate any level of player. Located at the Desert Inn Hotel. 702-733-4290.
Las Vegas Golf Club - Public, 18 hole, par 72 course also has a lounge, restaurant, and club rental. Located at the corner of Green Valley Pkwy. and Wigwam. 702-897-2187.
Rhodes Ranch Golf Club - Championship course designed by Ted Robinson includes challenging water hazards and immaculate fairways. 702-270-4665
Black Canyon Raft Tours - Rafting trips down the Colorado River from the Hoover Dam to Willow Beach. Trips leave daily at 9:30 am. 702-293-7336.
Cowboy Trail Rides/ Red Rock Canyon Riding Stables - Horseback rides in the Red Rock Canyon. Special packages include sunset rides with a steak dinner and wild mustang viewing rides. 702-387-2457.
Mount Charleston - 35 miles west of Las Vegas, Mount Charleston reaches an elevation of 11,918 feet and offers outdoor recreational activities such as hiking and horseback riding.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area - is a natural preserve that includes notable features such as the Keystone Thrust Fault, a waterfall, and small canyons. Located 20 miles west of the city off Charleston Blvd. Picnicking and primitive camping permitted. 702-363-1921.
A Sky Dive Las Vegas Inc. - Sky diving trip includes 20 minute lesson, 45 second freefall, and a 5-7 minute coast to the ground. 702-293-1860.
Lake Mead Cruises - Ride on the Desert Princess, an authentic Mississippi paddle boat. Packages include breakfast and dinner/dance cruises. 702-293-6180.
Las Vegas Helicopter - Evening and night views of the Las Vegas skyline, as well as daily helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon. 702-736-0013.
Adventure Photo Tours- Photo safaris to wild and scenic areas around Nevada. 702-889-8687.
Sierra Nevada Airways - Air tours of Boulder City, the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. 702-736-6770.
Sundance Helicopters - Travel to the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Grand Canyon, including a landing 3200 feet below the rim. 702-597-5525.
Caeser's Palace Omnimax Theatre - This six story screen presents entertaining educational films in shocking reality. Located in Caeser's Palace. 702-731-7900.
Circus Circus Theme Park - Five acre theme park features a roller coaster, laser tag, an arcade, and more. Located in Circus Circus. 702-794-3939.
Flyaway Indoor Skydiving - Simulated skydiving in an indoor flight tunnel. 200 Convention Center Dr. 702-731-4768.
Luxor Attractions - The Luxor hotel offers a variety of diversions, including a state-of-the-art motion simulator and an IMAX theater. Located in the Luxor hotel. 702-262-4555.
MGM Grand Adventure - An outdoor theme park with attractions including the Grand Canyon Rapids, which travels through an exploding tunnel, and Over the Edge, a ride that drops passengers 40 feet. 702-891-7777.
Manhattan Express - The New York-New York roller coaster winds around the hotel's replication of the New York skyline. Located in the New York. 702-740-6969.
Stratosphere - Stratosphere attractions include a roller coaster 100 stories above the ground and the Big Shot, a thrill ride that launches passengers 160 feet. 702-380-7777.
Wet 'n Wild - 26 acre water park with a wave pool, water slides, and inner tube rides. Open daily 10am-11pm June 28-August 9; 10am-8pm June 8-27 and August 10-September 29; 10am-6pm May 4-June 7. 702-737-3819.
