My husband and I and another couple will be in Vegas for 10 days in July. In your humble opinions, what is a better daytrip, Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire? The guys are maybe interested in touring ghost towns nearby as well, can any of you recommend anything good that will thrill and entertain them so us girls can maybe get some shopping time in? I will also tell you that we are driving up in our own SUV, and so are not reliant on taking a bus or other means of tour. Thank you all in advance for your opinions, I can%26#39;t tell you how informative I find all of you!
Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire?
You%26#39;ll have plenty of time to see both. Red Rock is a two hour trip max unless you do some hiking, which in July is not pleasant. Valley of Fire has FAR greater scenery and is a half day trip or so. Drive up the Interstate and back along the west side of Lake Mead. You can also include Hoover Dam in this trip for a full day trip. Valley of Fire is the BEST day trip anywhere around Las Vegas. For ';ghost towns'; drive out to Death Valley to Rhyolite. Thats another good ';day trip'; thru Death Valley to Baker, CA. and back. Baker has the World%26#39;s Tallest Thermometer and you might see 120 degrees in July. Another good ghost town is in Oatman, AZ. about 2 1/2 hours southeast of Las Vegas. Go thru Laughlin or Kingman to get there.
Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire?
Red Rock is only 17 miles west of the strip while Valley of Fire is farther but still an easy afternoon drive.
If the guys are interested in Star Trek then send then off to the Hilton (after getting 1/2 price tickets at Tix4tonight) to see the Star Trek attraction there. That should take up a few hours if they take in both rides.
I think there are some places that give the history of Las Vegas connection with atomic bomb development and testing. They could also see if the Petty Driving School is available for a ride along in a race car at 200+mph (at the Vegas Race track).
Safety Warning::: take 3 or 4 jugs of water just in case. july is a dangerous month out there for heat stress.
Red Rock Canyon is a good, early morning trip to take. u get the morning sun on the sides of the mountains, no dark shadows. Valley of fire is best in the afternoon, when the sun will shine on the rocks and enhance the colors. it will be very hot and dry, drink plenty of water, NOT beer.
Valley of Fire will take longer, but there%26#39;s no shopping anywhere near. In Overton which is a little north you can check out the Lost City Museum which I%26#39;ve never been to but have heard it%26#39;s kind of neat, it%26#39;s a town that was flooded when they built the Hoover Dam. If you want shopping and an experience drive out to Primm to the outlet mall, but drop the guys off in Sandy Valley, which consists of about 15 trailers and 2 bars on a dirt road about 5 miles west of Jean (about halfway between Vegas %26amp; Primm). It%26#39;s the sort of place that%26#39;s straight out of Deliverance.
I%26#39;ve been to both, and I think the trails are marked better at Red Rock. I liked the varying scenery at Red Rock - I actually saw plants other than cacti. Valley of Fire does have some neat art on the cliffs, though. Overall, I%26#39;d vote for Red Rock.
You can do both in one day. The Valley is about 60 miles away but on a 75 MPH highway. Both are excellent! There are picnic benches in both places. Bring a drink and sandwiches with you.
Agree with the warning about heat stress and 3 or 4 jugs of water...if it were me, here in July....I%26#39;d skip Valley of Fire....Red Rock is close to the city, if you go to spring mountain ranch there are shade trees at least, and it will wipe you out enough for one day. Personally, in July, I don%26#39;t think I
%26#39;d go to either..or I%26#39;d even walk the strip...I%26#39;d stay in an air conditioned hotel or at the pool as much as possible !
';Personally, in July, I don%26#39;t think I
%26#39;d go to either..or I%26#39;d even walk the strip...I%26#39;d stay in an air conditioned hotel or at the pool as much as possible !';
I%26#39;m guessing their car has air conditioning.
The car might have A/C, but why would you want to go to either of these places and just sit in the car? Also, touring ghost towns was mentioned, and only driving through wouldn%26#39;t be much of a ';tour.';
Thank you all for your replies. Being Canadians, we are not too worried about the extreme weather temperatures... we have been to Vegas when it was 110 F., (as well as having extreme heat waves in our own province) and we have lived through -40 F for weeks on end as well. Looking forward to the heat, as I get so few weeks in the year where I can be warm as compared to so many months of the year trying to GET warm... but thank you for the concern, we are aware of the precautions we need to take!
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