Yes – Yes – Yes! It is possible to have a healthy, elegant, outdoors excursion to the capital of debauchery. Las Vegas is a wonderful, exciting metropolis, with world-class restaurants, intriguing architecture, magnificent multi-colored rock canyons, and – obviously -- numerous money-sucking temptations. The trick is to enjoy the best and resist the glitz.
From where we live in San Diego, Las Vegas is an easy one-hour flight, which allows for a great four-day weekend. We usually leave Thursday evening in time for dinner in Las Vegas (see below), spend Friday-Saturday-Sunday hiking and sight-seeing, and return Monday afternoon – somewhat exhausted, but with a wealth of pleasant memories.
Our weekend went like this: we arrived in Las Vegas around 8:00 pm, rented a car, and proceeded to Lotus of Siam, which is rated as one of the best Thai restaurants in the Western US. It’s in a strip mall off Sahara Boulevard, close to the Hilton. As with all Thai restaurants, be careful of the “heat” level that you select. I enjoy spicy food, but when I selected a mid-range fire content for their prawn specialty dish, my wife burned her tongue (so she said) and threw beer over my head. I thought the dish was great, but it clearly was not to everyone’s taste – be aware of a demonstrative spouse! We also had a wonderful pork noodle dish and an innovative poached salmon creation – a truly great experience – which confirmed our enthusiastic recommendations for Lotus of Siam.
A word about accommodations – there are numerous bargains in Las Vegas, including suites at the major hotels. An Internet search will easily turn up great deals, but they vary by the property and the date, depending on their occupancy rate for that week. In short, you don’t need to spend extravagantly (say $75 for a suite rather than $400) to have a superior room.
There are two great areas for hiking near Las Vegas: Red Rock Canyon (about 30 minutes to the West) and Valley of Fire (about one hour to the East). We have enjoyed both a number of times, but this article will concentrate on Valley of Fire – our Red Rock Canyon adventures will be in a separate article.
Valley of Fire is a State park near Lake Mead – and it features fantastic sandstone formations of brilliant red, stark white, and deep black. The layers of color are in sharp contrast and present a vivid visual spectacle. You can drive through the park and stop at the major formations for a look and a photo. However, this is not our choice. The nice thing about Valley of Fire is that you can hike anywhere – no trail is required – just head cross-country in whatever direction you like. Sand and cactus, yes, but also animal tracks, lizards, occasional snakes, and a sense of being a true explorer.
On this trip we went to the end of the road at Fire Canyon / Silica Dome, took a few spectacular pictures (the light was just right), and then commenced our hike. It was a nice clear day, with the temperature rarely exceeding 103°. We first climbed to the top of Silica Dome before heading Southeast towards a rock formation about two miles away. Yes, it was hot and there was no shade, but we had sunscreen, hats, nearly a gallon of water, and a compass. Walking across the desert sands provided stunning close-up views of stark white and brilliant red rock formations. When we reached our objective – a sandstone mound with intricate structures dozens of feet high – we went around to a shady area and had a picnic in complete solitude. Afterwards we headed back – again cross-country – with my compass navigation leading us directly to the car!
Over the years we have done a number of hikes in the Las Vegas area, including wonderful experiences both in the summer heat and in winter cold. We did it, and you can do it too! These hikes can be done by anyone in reasonable physical shape – we are far from competitive athletes, but we do maintain an active, healthy lifestyle – and I was just six months out of a hip replacement operation when we did the above hike. As Nike says, just do it!
Major cautionary note: in the desert, have adequate sun protection, take more water than you think you will need (minimum of one quart per hour per person), and know where you are and how to navigate!
Finally, since this is Las Vegas, I wanted to comment briefly on shows and restaurants. Regarding the former, our favorite show is Jubilee at Ballys. Elaborate costumes, beautiful natural dancers, lavish routines – a truly wonderful enjoyable experience. On the other hand is Chris Angel. While he is my favorite magician, very creative and a great showman, he is totally in the wrong vehicle in Las Vegas. The only possible description for Believe is “it sucks” – you have been warned – save your money. At the opposite end, surprisingly enough, is Donnie and Marie. They have a lively, engaged, involved, elaborate show, and they probably are the most personable entertainers in Las Vegas. An upbeat, enjoyable presentation.
We have two favorite restaurants in Las Vegas – Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace and the Eiffel Tower at Paris. On this last trip I had a marvelous Beef Wellington at the Eiffel Tower while sitting in a comfortable booth overlooking the fountain shows at Bellagio. Just a magical evening. Pricy, yes, but well worth it!
To Additional Adventures in Healthy Living,
Jimmy Tee
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