When people think of our favorite city, they instantly think of the big casinos that make Las Vegas famous. But our recent horseback riding adventure through Red Rock Canyon was about as far away from the Strip experience as you can get (even though we were only thirty minutes from the Strip at the time).
After arriving at Cowboy Trail Rides, our group was given a quick how-to and introduced to our horses. The wranglers knew each horse by name (we got Cody and Dunny), and it was easy to see that this family-run business really cares for its livestock. The trail ride itself took us though some amazing scenery, with several stops for picture-taking. We arrived back at base, just as the 
sun set, to a BBQ dinner and campfire. There were several international visitors in our group, and we introduced them to the fine art of marshmallow roasting (I showed them my preferred technique – letting the thing catch fire then blowing it out – but they all seemed to go with the turn-slowly-until-brown method).
sun set, to a BBQ dinner and campfire. There were several international visitors in our group, and we introduced them to the fine art of marshmallow roasting (I showed them my preferred technique – letting the thing catch fire then blowing it out – but they all seemed to go with the turn-slowly-until-brown method).This will definitely not be our last trail ride. Cowboy Trail Rides offers several different trail ride options (we are considering the more challenging five hour ride for our next one, though certain body parts are making some pretty convincing arguments for a shorter ride), and has horses for riders of all ages and experience levels. For more information, visit their website www.cowboytrailrides.com.
Just 30 minutes from the heart of Las Vegas heading West on Charleston Boulevard brings you to the incredible 
The area covers almost 197,000 acres, highlights incredible geologic features and colors and is home to a variety of wildlife. There is a small fee to enter the park, generally $5.00/vehicle or $20 for an annual pass. Don’t forget to help conserve this area you must:
Just minutes away you’ll find 
The Grand Canyon is a feat of nature found few places in the world. It’s immense, powerful nature and inspiring beauty attract millions of visitors annually. The canyon displays incredible geologic color variations, is 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep!
Ecology is also of interest. Did you know that the canyon is home to five out of seven life zones (equivalent to the terrain traveled from Canada to Mexico) and three of four desert types found in North America? It also houses over 1,500 plant species, 355 different types of birds, 89 mammal types, 47 reptile, 9 amphibian and 17 fish species. This spiritual place combines all of nature’s wonders in beautiful harmony.
Nevada’s oldest and biggest state park, Valley of Fire gets its name from the distinctive and fiery sand stone formations contained within its Mojave Desert boundaries. Just six miles from Lake Mead and a 55 mile drive from Las Vegas, Valley of Fire is a popular destination for outdoor recreation. On your tour of Valley of Fire you will sense a connection to early native American cultures. The Anasazi once use these lands for hunting and religious ceremonies. Their history dates from 300 B.C. to approximately 1150 A. D. Examples of Anasazi rock art and petroglyphs can be found throughout the area including one petroglyph that is 3,000 year old.