The Las Vegas Strip during the day from a birds-eye view, looking south.

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Spring 2012 has already seen several clubs open in March:

—MGM Grand’s Wet Republic, the ultra-cool Ultra Pool is known as a favorite of celebrities.
—The Mirage’s Bare Pool is tops optional.
—Aria’s Liquid Pool Lounge offers an upscale, more laid-back atmosphere.
—Encore Beach Club is only open on weekends until April. At night, it become Surrender Nightclub.
—Mandalay Bay’s Moorea Beach also offers European-style sunbathing.

During the day, it's Encore Beach Club--at night, it's Surrender Nightclub

Expect an entrance fee, and do remember that the casinos require cover-ups.

Yet to open in 2012:

—Tao Beach at the Venetian
—Venus Pool Club at Caesars
—Marquee Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
—Rehab at Hard Rock

Marquee Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Standard options include music and DJs, food, and drink service. You can also go all-out with a fully stocked cabana (look for extras like flat screen TVs, mini-fridges, among a host of other goodies). The idea here is to re-create the vibe of the nightclub, so it’s a 21-only crowd. If you’re looking for a place to settle in for afternoon of sun, food, and music, a Vegas pool club might be just what you’re looking for.

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Photo of Surrender and Marquee courtesy of Ed Kwon at flickr

During about mid-March to late May, a drive to Las Vegas takes you past a desert offering bursts of color. Depending on the rainfall during winter, you may see a spattering of color, or a landscape drenched in swaths of yellow or purple. Keep your eyes peeled. If you can, pull over and take a closer look. Visitors to Las Vegas will find spring a great time of year to explore the Mojave Desert. (Further south, closer to Phoenix, you’ll be in the Sonoran Desert, easily identified by its signature Saguaro Cactus. In the Mojave, look for Joshua Trees.) Temperatures are mild, inviting hikes and drives. When you take off for a day trip to Lake Mead, Red Rock Canyon, or the Valley of Fire, watch for flowers. If you’re a photographer, be prepared to fiddle with the close-up setting on your camera for a while.
You can visit sites like DesertUSA to check on wildflower reports throughout the Southwest. In some areas, flowers can last throughout the spring and summer, although the hottest summer temperatures send them into hiding. In the early fall, however, you may still catch some blossoms.

If you’d like to know the names of the flowers you’re studying, spend some time with a wildflower guide for the Mojave Desert, or check out the websites for state and national parks and protected areas. Don’t know the difference between a Desert Dandelion and a Desert Marigold? Figuring out the identity of these colorful plants is half the fun.

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Photos courtesy of time anchor and Frank Kovalchek, both at flickr.

1 OAK at the Mirage

1 Oak opened on New Year’s Eve with Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas and Kanye West on hand. The club’s name stands for “One of a Kind,” and that’s an accurate description of the atmosphere the club is hoping to create. This is the club’s second location; the first is in New York.

1 OAK Las Vegas

Hyde at Bellagio

Taking the place of Fontana, Hyde overlooks Lake Bellagio and the famous fountains. A star-studded opening night was held on New Year’s Eve. With an location at the upscale Bellagio, Hyde is aiming for an exclusive atmosphere that blends with its iconic location.

Hyde at Bellagio

RPM at the Tropicana

Taking the place of Club Nikki, RPM is turning up the volume with a dance floor, three bars, extra booths, and a dedicated gaming area, unusual for a Vegas club.

Lily at Bellagio

Lily opened in February 2012, giving the Bellagio an upscale lounge for patrons to enjoy. The lounge overlooks the casino, and a sleek, plush décor invites customers to come in and indulge in a cocktail. You’re in Vegas, after all, so indulgence is expected.

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Photos courtesy of 1 OAK Las Vegas and Hyde Bellagio

To find the Pahrump Winery, take Highway 160 into Pahrump and look for Winery Road. Follow Winery Road, and when you see a field of grape vines, you’ll know you’ve found the right place. The exterior of the winery is a picture-worthy location, dotted with ponds and rustic pieces like carriages.Tours are available three times a day at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30, although the winery recommends that you call to confirm the schedule. You’ll get to see the inside of this unique attraction, Nevada’s first winery. Wild horses initially gave the winery some trouble—it seems they like grapes, too—but the undaunted owners, Bill and Gretchen Loken, brought in grapes from surrounding states to continue making wine. The Pahrump Valley winery produces a full range of red, white, and blush wines, along with sherry.

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Photos courtesy of Terrisa Meeks and Larry & Teddy/.Larry Page at flickr

Las Vegas has grown to be synonymous with Southern Nevada, although the actual city itself makes up only a small part of the region. The Las Vegas Strip, for instance, is actually in Clark County. Those geographical technicalities matter little to most visitors, who usually refer to the entire Southern Nevada region as Las Vegas.

Here are five uniquely Las Vegas museums about the area’s history:

1.  The Mob Museum:The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. Set to open on February 14, 2012, on the 83rd anniversary of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, The Mob Museum wants to show an inclusive history. The Mob Museum’s displays go beyond the Mob’s presence in Las Vegas, although that part of the city’s history is undeniable and unavoidable.

The Mob Museum in Downtown Las Vegas

The museum’s subtitle also reveals an intention to include the stories of undercover cops like Joe Pistone (better known as Donnie Brasco), and Jack Garcia, who both infiltrated the ranks of organized crime. The building in which the museum is housed is almost an exhibit itself. It was one of 14 courthouses selected in America to house the Kefauver Committee hearings on organized crime in the 1950s.

2. The Atomic Testing Museum. Before anyone understood the risks of radiation, the mushroom clouds from the above-ground atomic tests at the Nevada Test Site were a tourist attraction. For decades, the nearby Test Site lent an air of mystery to the desert just outside Las Vegas. Today, the Atomic Testing Museum gives visitors a look into the test site and the world-changing atomic weaponry it helped develop.

3. Neon Boneyard and Museum. Few things say “Las Vegas” more than neon, and since 1996 the Neon Museum has been collecting these remnants of Vegas history. Currently visits to the Boneyard are by appointment only, but the gallery of signs on Fremont Street is always on display. At the Boneyard, a new visitor center is set to open in mid-2012, built within the rescued La Concha Motel Lobbydesigned by architect Paul Revere Williams.

The Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas

4. Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum. In the depths of the Great Depression, the construction of Hoover Dam provided much needed jobs and drew people to Southern Nevada. The working conditions at the dam were harsh. Triple-digit temperatures and steep, rocky cliffs were only part of the challenges encountered during the construction of Hoover Dam, a monumental engineering feat. The Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, located in the historic Boulder Dam Hotel, gives visitors a look into the dam’s construction and the history of the workers.

5. Clark County Museum. A collection of preserved homes along Heritage Street showcases historic Southern Nevada homes. Nearby, a train depot and train pay homage to the railroad that helped put Southern Nevada on the map. You’ll find artifacts throughout the ghost town and mining trail, as well as a re-created wickiup, a shelter the Native American Paiutes used.

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Photos courtesy of The Mob Museum and angel.ite at flickr

Ri Ra Irish Pub at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place

1. Ri Ra

Mandalay Bay departs from the tropics with Ri Ra, an Irish pub that opened in 2011. This chain of Irish pubs uses materials salvaged from pubs in Ireland, creating an authentic backdrop for the Irish food and drink.

2. McMullan’s Irish Pub

Near the Orleans Hotel Casino, just west of the Strip, McMullan’s is filled with authentic memorabilia from its owners’ impressive history. In addition to a bar with a large selection of whiskey and beer, a full restaurant menu offers both Irish and American foods.

3. Nine Fine Irishmen

Located at the New York-New York, Nine Fine Irishmen has an impressive history about the origin of the restaurant’s name. Hungry (and thirsty) patrons will probably be more interested in the traditional Irish pub fare and beverages. Visit around St. Patrick’s Day, and you’ll find one of the Strip’s best St. Paddy’s Day parties.

4. Hennessey’s Tavern

The bar scene in Downtown’s Fremont East District could not be complete without an Irish pub, thus Hennessey’s Tavern. Almost every evening has some sort of special event, so check the website to scope out what’s coming up.

5. J.C. Wooloughan

At the J.W. Marriott, off the Strip in Summerlin, J.C. Wooloughan is so thoroughly Irish that the pub was constructed in Ireland and shipped to the United States. You’ll find authentic fare, Irish whiskey and beers, and live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings.
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Photo Courtesy of Ri Ra Irish Pub

Hiking

Want to see striking sandstone rock formations, hidden springs, and desert wildlife? Take a desert hike at Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, or around Lake Mead. Winter is one of the best times to explore the desert around Las Vegas. During summer, you’ll want to get an early start to beat the heat. Maps of hiking trails are available in each of these areas at either the entrance stations or the visitor center.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, just outside Red Rock Canyon, offers visitors hiking as well as historic buildings and a picnic area set in what was once an orchard. The oldest historic buildings at Spring Mountain Ranch date back to the 1860s. Hike to the top of nearby hills and you’ll get a great view of the main ranch house, a building once owned by Howard Hughes.

Trail at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

Biking

Bootleg Canyon, just outside Boulder City, attracts mountain bike riders from all over the world to take on the challenging trails rated “Epic” by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Thirty-five miles of desert trails traverse the canyon. Bicycle rentals are available in Boulder City at places like All Mountain Cyclery, close to Bootleg Canyon, and BC Adventure Bicycles near Boulder City’s Historic District.

For a calmer ride on mostly even ground, try the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail on the other side of Boulder City, heading toward Hoover Dam. A railroad had to be built to Hoover Dam when it was under construction, and this trail follow the train tracks that were set down for the trains that took supplies to the face of the dam.

On the far west side of Las Vegas, many bicycling enthusiasts “do the loop” at Red Rock Canyon, the 13-mile one-way scenic drive through the canyon. This is a feat for the very fit—the road is a winding, hilly stretch of asphalt that skirts the base of Red Rock’s cliffs. Most people drive up West Charleston to get to Red Rock, and two bike rentals shops are just a few miles outside the Canyon: Pro Cyclery, which rents road bikes, and Las Vegas Cyclery, which rents mountain bikes.

Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City

Canoeing

Using a tour company is probably the best way to sign up for a canoeing trip on Lake Mead or below Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. Experienced guides can take you into remote and hidden areas in both places.

The vast expanses of Lake Mead offer a huge area to explore. Low waters have changed Lake Mead, exposing areas previously deep underwater and giving people a view unseen in decades.

The area just below Hoover Dam on the Colorado is spectacularly beautiful, with towering cliffs that make you feel very small. A knowledgeable tour guide can take you to the warm springs that are hidden at the bases of the cliffs. This area is often accessed by launching at Willow Springs (which is in Arizona), just on the other side of Hoover Dam.

Whatever your choice of adventures around Las Vegas, be prepared for a desert environment. Bring plenty of water, don’t forget some sunscreen, and be sure to let someone know where you’re going.

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Photo of Spring Mountain State Park courtesy of Terrisa Meeks; photo of Bootleg Canyon courtesy of Interbike; photo of canoeing on Colorado River courtesy of Andrew Fresh

1.  Oscar’s at the Plaza Hotel

The former mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman, has given his name to a new steakhouse at the freshly remodeled Plaza Hotel. This is a restaurant with a subtitle: “Beef, Booze, and Broads.” The restaurant’s glass dome overlooks Fremont Street, offering patrons a great view of Downtown Vegas—along with the steaks, drinks, and ladies of the tag line.

2. The Barrymore at the Royal Resort

The Royal is tucked away not far from Downtown, just off the Strip, and up the street from the Convention Center. It’s new restaurant, The Barrymore, is quickly gaining a reputation for good food (steaks, burgers, lobster mac & cheese) and fun vibe.

The Barrymore's Patio

 3. Addiction at Rumor Boutique

Located across the street from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Rumor’s restaurant, Addiction, offers an innovative menu and a sleek, modern design. Signature dishes are a Cuban Reuben, sea bass satay, and Kurobutakarmal pork.

 4. Hugo’s Cellar at the Four Queens

Hugo’s has been in Las Vegas for decades, and it remains a favorite with locals for the romantic ambiance and a classic hotel gourmet room menu that includes escargot, prime rib, and lobster.

Hugo's Cellar at the Four Queens

 5. Twin Creeks Steakhouse at the Silverton

The Silverton’s steakhouse, Twin Creeks, wins high marks for big, delicious steaks and reasonable prices. And after dinner, you can check out the Silverton’s aquarium.

Twin Creeks Steakhouse at the Silverton Las Vegas

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Photos courtesy of Oscar’s, The Barrymore, Four Queens, and Silverton

1. Visit the Arts District.
Downtown Las Vegas has its very own Arts District. Galleries, bistros, and funky shops have taken root in a formerly industrial area. During First Friday, the streets are closed and a big block party brings out a crowd. You can wander through the area at any time, however, to check out the growing art scene in Las Vegas.

Cornerstone Gallery in the Las Vegas Arts District During a First Friday Event

2. Learn about the Atomic Age at the Atomic Testing Museum.
Something as momentous as the atomic bomb certainly deserves its own museum, and Las Vegas is an appropriate location for it. When above-ground detonations were the norm, the mushroom clouds became tourist attractions since Las Vegas was so close to the testing range.

3. Explore the Springs Preserve.
This is the site where Las Vegas got its name, and the Springs Preserve honors the history of Las Vegas—from long before it was Las Vegas. Visit the Origen Museum or the recently relocated Nevada State Museum, walk the trails, and enjoy this oasis in the middle of Las Vegas.

The Springs Preserve

4. See a Big Horn Sheep at Hemenway Park.
Hemenway Park was once on the outskirts of town, but town has grown up around it. The Big Horns who hang out there are perfectly happen to eat the grass and watch the tourists. As accustomed as they are to people, remember that these are still wild animals, and those horns on their head are there for a reason.

Big Horn Sheep in Hemenway Park in Boulder City

5. Ride a train at the Railroad Museum.
The Southern Nevada Railroad Museum takes visitors across the tracks that were put down in 1931, in vintage railroad cars. History buffs and railroad enthusiasts alike will enjoy this trip back in time.

6. Play a game at the Pinball Hall of Fame.
Return to a time before computerized games and play the vintage pinball machines. Remember to bring lots of quarters.

7. Shoot a machine gun at the Gun Store.
If you’ve got the urge to shoot something, this is the place to go.  A variety of weapons are available, and instructors are on hand to help you.

8. Visit the ruins of St. Thomas at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
St. Thomas was once a bustling town on the edge of the Colorado River. Then Hoover Dam was constructed, and Lake Mead’s waters swallowed the town. Today, St. Thomas is back above ground for you to explore.

Ruins of St. Thomas, a town once covered by Lake Mead

9. See rescued artifacts at the Lost City Museum.
At the same St. Thomas was disappearing under Lake Mead, Indian artifacts were in danger of the same fate. Those rescued artifacts are on display at the Lost City Museum in Overton, a small farming community close to the Valley of Fire State Park.

10. Go back in time at the Clark County Museum.
Now that museum curator Mark Patton Hall has become a regular on the television show “Pawn Stars,” more people are making the drive to the Clark County Museum. History isn’t just on display behind glass here. A street of rescued historic Las Vegas homes—even a vintage trailer—line a shady street, and a train depot and train are frozen together in a snapshot of days gone by.

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Photo of Springs Preserve courtesy of Ken Lund. All other photos courtesy of Terrisa Meeks, the post’s author.