Off The Beaten Path in Las Vegas

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This elegant, non-gaming hotel is only minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and features 500 luxurious one- and two-bedroom suites. Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner in the gourmet restaurant, or just relax in the lounge area and have a drink with friends or business associates. Other amenities include a concierge to assist patrons during their stay, Club Alexis Health Spa and exercise facility, and three swimming pools and spas. Should you be planning an event or lecture, banquet and meeting space is available. Rates vary based on season and availability.

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Located on the far west side of Las Vegas, the Red Rock Resort is at least a 20-minute drive from the Strip. While it may be far away from the tourist corridor, this neighborhood hotel casino has not skimped on amenities or design. The Red Rock Resort is aiming for boutique-like, and its rooms offer terrific views of either the Strip or Red Rock Canyon. For visitors who want something different from the usual Strip scene, this hotel casino provides a departure from the Vegas norm.

Rooms and suites are available, and all include a 42" plasma television and iPod jack, as well as standard amenities. The resort has received the AAA Four Diamond Award. The $24.99 per day resort fee includes internet access, phone calls, and other incidentals.

This is a resort, so it does have a full spa. Limited childcare is available at Kids Quest. Movie theaters and a bowling alley are options away from the casino. The pool area is up to current Vegas standards-which means you can rent a cabana or enjoy the adults-only area. Ten restaurants, plus a food court and buffet, give guests plenty of dining options, and the resort has three bars. Concerts are held frequently, so anyone planning a visit should... read more

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Facilities in this USDI Fish and Wildlife National Refuge includes; wildlife viewing, bird watching, nature study, viewing historical sites, scenic viewing, camping, picnicking, walking and geology. From Las Vegas take either U.S. Highway 95 or U.S. Highway 93 north.

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Floyd Lamb Park was first known as Tule Springs, back in the days when its waters attracted early settlers. Several early buildings are still standing, although they are not open for tours. The grassy park, dotted with mature trees, is a treasure in Las Vegas. Peacocks wander the grounds, and can be very insistent about being fed; exercise caution if you've got small children. The park sometimes has horseback riding, and there is an equestrian portion of the park if you have your own horse. Fishing is permitted in the park's ponds, with a Nevada Fishing License.

Massive fossil beds around Tule Springs have prompted calls for more protection of the park's 2,040 acres. This is a place where you can pack a lunch and wander for the entire day, soaking up history and beauty.

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In the early 1990s, the Gilcrease brothers welcomed a bird rehabilitation group to their property. Over the years, the Gilcrease Sanctuary has accepted many types of animals. The Gilcrease Santuary sits in a formerly-rural area of northwestern Las Vegas, and although the city has now reached the property, the preserve retains its farm-like feel. The entry fee is $5, and kids under 12 are only $1.

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It looks like a dump, but Capriotti's is one of the great deals in town, for quality and price. They roast their own beef and turkey on the premises and stuff them (or Italian cold cuts, or whatever) into sandwiches mislabeled "small," "medium," and "large" -- the last clocks in at 20 inches, easily feeding two for under $10 total. And deliciously so. The "Bobby" (turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce, like Thanksgiving dinner in sandwich form) would be our favorite sandwich in the world had we not tried the "Slaw B Joe": roast beef, coleslaw, and Russian dressing. But other combos, such as the aforementioned Italian cold cuts, have their fans, too, and Capriotti's even has veggie varieties. There are outlets throughout the city, but this one is not only right off the Strip but also right by the freeway. We never leave town without a stop here, and you shouldn't either.

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No visitor would be blamed for never leaving the Vegas Strip -- it's the raison d'être of any Vegas tourist -- but a true foodie should make a point of finding the nearest moving vehicle that can get them to Rosemary's Restaurant. A 15-minute (or so) drive down Sahara (hardly anything) is all it takes to eat what may well be the best food in Las Vegas. (Certainly, it is consistently voted the best food in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's annual poll, by food critics and readers alike.)

The brainchild of Michael and Wendy Jordan, both veterans of the New Orleans food scene (Michael actually opened Emeril's here in Vegas), Rosemary's Restaurant (named for Michael's mother) shows more than a few NOLA touches, from the food to the service, in a room that's warmer and more inviting than most others in Vegas. Note that you can get seats at the bar overlooking the open kitchen, great fun for foodie interaction and not a bad choice for singles, or for couples looking for an unusual romantic evening.

The cuisine covers most regions of the U.S., though Southern influences dominate. Fifty local farmers help supply products. Seared foie gras with peach coulis, candied walnuts, and vanilla bean-scented...

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From 1951 until 1992, the Nevada Test Site was this country's primary location for testing nuclear weapons. Aboveground blasts in the early days were visible to the tourists and residents of Las Vegas. This well-executed museum, library, and gallery space (a Smithsonian affiliate) offers visitors a fascinating glance at the test site from ancient days through modern times, with memorabilia, displays, official documents, videos, interactive displays, motion-simulator theaters (like sitting in a bunker, watching a blast), and emotional testimony from the people who worked there. It respectfully treads that tricky line between honoring the work done at the site and understanding its terrible implications. Not to be missed, even if it's only because of the Albert Einstein action figure in the gift shop. Visitors should plan on spending at least an hour.

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Forget all that stuff we said before about the great museums of the world. You can keep your Louvres and Vaticans and Smithsonians: This is a museum. Housed in a strip mall, this is a shrine to the glory and excess that was the art project known as Liberace. You've got your costumes (bejeweled), your many cars (bejeweled), your many pianos (bejeweled), and many jewels (also bejeweled). Also, the entrance itself is a giant jewel. It just shows what can be bought with lots of money and no taste.

The thing is, Liberace was in on the joke. We think. The people who come here largely aren't. Many of these guests would not have liked him living next door to them if his name was, say, Bruce Smith, but they idolize the man, the myth. Not found here is any reference to AIDS or chauffeurs who had plastic surgery to look more like him. But you will find a Czar Nicholas uniform with 22-karat-gold braiding and a blue-velvet cape styled after the coronation robes of King George V and covered with $60,000 worth of rare chinchilla. Not to mention a 50 1/2-pound rhinestone costing $50,000, the world's largest, presented to him by the grateful (we bet they were) Austrian firm that supplied all his costume...

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The Marjorie Barrick Museum was established in 1969. Like any enduring Las Vegas museum, Marjorie Barrick has adapted and changed through the years. Originally a museum devoted to natural history, today the Marjorie Barrick Museum's displays offer visitors an in-depth look at the American Southwest and Mesoamerica, along with a variety of exhibits and programs on an array of topics. Outside the museum, the Donald H. Baepler Xeric Garden displays beautiful drought-tolerant vegetation from around the world.

The museum isn't limited to static displays. Educational programs and lectures help it to further its mission-to help people appreciate "the rich heritage and diverse cultures" of the American Southwest and Mesoamerica.

While the Marjorie Barrick Museum is largely dedicated to the people and cultures of a specific region, it doesn't limit itself. Film festivals, art exhibits, and a wide range of lecture topics offer visitors a wealth of information. Portions of the museum are dedicated to traveling exhibits, which have included such notable artists as Ansel Adams.

Visitors should check the museum's website for a calendar of current and upcoming events. While admission is free,... read more

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Expect the unexpected; you will witness a murder mystery that takes place before your eyes. Audience participation is unavoidable, since you don't know if you are sitting next to the murderer, or the victim. Mostly comedy, this is best for adults, but children over eight are permitted. Meals include Chicken in a Casket (chicken in a phyllo shell), Dead Cow Walking (New York Strip Steak) and Three Cheese Killer Pasta Primavera. Dinner and show is USD44.95 per person plus tax and gratuity.

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Ricardo's is a full service Mexican restaurant and cantina. Our menu has authentic, creative, and unique plates. We've served over 25 million Las Vegans and visitors for over 30 years. We offer traditional dining, banquets, private parties, off site catering, and cantina parties. The cantina offers video poker machines in the bar top. The full bar serves 100% blue agave tequilas in every margarita! Strolling guitarist, magician, and free WiFi offer something for everyone. Mixers, group dinners, luncheon meetings, cocktail appetizer events.....we're ready to serve you and your guests!

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As a Zagat Winner two years running, we believe that a true Pizzeria should be a gathering place for family and friends to relax, share great food and enjoy each other's company. We have visited hundreds of Pizzerias across the country, learning and gathering recipes to bring our guests a taste of home, wherever home might be.

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Dudes welcome! Real cowboy guides will take you through the beautiful terrain of the Red Rock Canyon. One-and two-hour excursions will take you to see the location of your choice. For a special treat, take the Sunset BBQ Ride. You will see the lights of the city and enjoy a deluxe western dinner back at camp. Kids aged six and older are welcome. Transportation to and from the camp is available.

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The Las Vegas Springs Preserve rests on the site of the original desert spring that the city was founded on and which dried up in 1962. The 180-acre preserve has both historical and educational significance, reminding people that the area was once abundant with water and nature. The preserve's gardens include more than 400 species of plant life, plenty of trails, art displays and educational exhibits such as the Origen Experience and the Desert Living Center.

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This unsuspecting strip-mall restaurant packs a big punch, with reasonable prices, large portions and well-executed, classic breakfast bare. The star of the show is definitely the omelets, though the eggs benedict and pumpkin bread have been known to steal a few hearts. Multiple locations through Las Vegas.

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This is an authentic Irish pub, in the truest sense; manufactured in Ireland, dismantled and reassembled here at the Marriot. Live Irish music is featured here several nights a week. Appetizers range from potato leek soup to savory pork pie. The Irish stew is delightful, and the Beef and Guinness Pie is rich and filling. Corned Beef and Cabbage is served with a creamy parsley sauce and potato pancakes. Irish coffees are available, as are four Irish-brewed beers and 14 Irish whiskeys.

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Join Chef Maria Perry for your taste of a long-time Vegas tradition. The Bootlegger is a gaming restaurant and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Try the Frittata di Maria for breakfast, one of the delicious lunch specials like Broccoli Eggplant Parmigiana or Pollo di Piccata. The dinner hour brings a little extra romance and elegance to your dining experience. Start your experience with the Calamari Fritti, lightly breaded and served with Maria's Marinara Sauce, and follow that up with a fine seafood pasta dish. Later on in the evening, there is classic Vegas style entertainment nightly.

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Executive Chef, Stephen Hopcraft, creates upscale American cuisine, featuring a tantalizing assortment of dishes. Dine in "hip" contemporary surroundings, either inside or al fresco in our unique "cylinder" patio, complete with heat lamps and cozy fire pit ambiance. Or check out our expansive cocktail bar and lounge, serving premium drinks 24/7. With full dining from 11:00am to 5:00am, anytime is a great time to visit Sedona! For intimate private parties, reserve our VIP dining room! Spacious enough to fit 14 guests with private access to our "cylinder" patio, complete with heat lamps and cozy fire pit ambience.