20 BEST PLACES TO VISIT ON A LAS VEGAS

20 BEST PLACES TO VISIT ON A LAS VEGAS

 

 

LAS VEGAS TO SALT LAKE CITY 

20 PLACES TO VISIT ON A LAS VEGAS TO SALT LAKE CITY ROAD TRIP

1- LAS VEGAS, NV

Begin your road trip in Las Vegas, a bold, brash, colourful and exciting city.

You’ll either love Las Vegas or hate it!

If you are interested in hitting the casinos, there are many casinos to spend hours in, however, there is much more to this Nevada city than cards.

Explore the canals on a relaxing gondola ride at the spectacular Venetian Hotel.

While this is a world away from a gondola ride in Venice, the journey is still pleasant, and the surroundings are tastefully designed.

Life-size models of some of the most famous sites in Venice can also be found in the hotel.

Take in the impressive views over Las Vegas from the top of the Strat Tower.

The top of the tower has views stretching over the entire city and strip and desert beyond and even has some theme park rides for those feeling brave.

2- VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK, NV

Pack your camera and explore the unique and intriguing beauty of Valley of Fire State Park.

The park spans an incredible 46,000 acres (18,600 ha) of naturally-formed red-striped sandstone which has colours that grow richer throughout the day.

For the best photographic opportunities, visit the park at sunrise or sunset.

Within the national park, there are also petroglyphs dating back more than 2000 years.

Valley of Fire provides a visitor centre with further information about these markings and the history and geography of the area.

If you decide to spend more than a day exploring the natural beauty in the Valley of Fire, campsites are available to book in advance or from the camping offices in the park.

Driving from Las Vegas to Valley of Fire State Park covers 52.1 miles (83.85 kilometres) and takes approximately 1 hour.

3- BOULDER CITY, NV

Head back into the city and spend some time in Boulder City, which is often overlooked in favour of its bigger neighbour Las Vegas.

Boulder City has a lot to offer, including nature at Hemenway Park, where the native Mojave Desert wildlife roams freely.

Expect to see bighorn sheep in summer and fall while relaxing around the park.

Window shop around downtown and enjoy the neighbourhood’s relaxed and almost Californian vibes.

Many of the stores downtown are boutique and unique, including a range of antique shops, coffee shops for a welcome break, and shops selling souvenirs linking to the state’s alien ties.

Driving from Valley of Fire State Park to Boulder City covers 66.6 miles (107.18 kilometres) and takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.

4- HOOVER DAM, NV

A short drive from Boulder City is the famous Hoover Dam, an impressive concrete construction on Lake Mede and the Colorado River.

Boulder City was created to provide workers somewhere to live and relax in while they built the dam.

This massive dam was once the highest dam in the world and took five years to complete, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt opening the arch-gravity dam in 1936.

You can join a tour inside Hoover Dam with a knowledgeable guide showing you many passageways and the power plant itself.

Driving from Boulder City to Hoover Dam covers 7.7 miles (12.39 kilometres) and takes approximately 15 minutes.

5- GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, AZ

No visit to Arizona would be complete without marvelling at the vast red rocks of the Grand Canyon.

The canyon spans 278 miles (447 km) and crosses parts of the Colorado River.

It’s easy to see why the Grand Canyon is world-famous as the sight of it is unrivalled in its depth, vastness and beauty.

The canyon is formed of vivid red rocks that have been eroded over millions of years, leaving a canyon dotted with tall rock spires, shelves jutting out and plenty of adventure opportunities.

There are many hiking trails along the park’s Rim Trails, and shuttle tour busses for those wanting to see more of the canyon.

Camping is also available, with several campgrounds for both tents and RVs around the canyon.

Driving from Hoover Dam to Grand Canyon National Park covers 239 miles (384.63 kilometres) and takes approximately 3 hours 45 minutes.

6- BRIGHAM YOUNG WINTER HOME, UT

Brigham Young Winter Home is a historical site and museum set inside the home of Brigham Young, an important Mormon pioneer and a key part of Utah’s story.

Young was the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church.

The home is typically a pioneer in architecture, with a wooden facade and wrap-around porch.

It was used by Young predominately in winter due to the warmer weather experienced in Utah and you can learn more about this important figure in Utah by touring his home.

A dedicated team from the church leads tours around his home, which is filled with furniture, decorative items, books and more from the President’s life in the house.

Driving from Grand Canyon to Brigham Young Winter Home covers 248 miles (399.12 km) and takes approximately four hours.

7- ST GEORGE, UT

After exploring Brigham Young Winter Home, take the short drive into the centre of St George.

The city is surrounded by spectacular natural landscapes, so spend a couple of days here to get the most out of the landscape and city life.

Uncover the history of St George at the Pioneer Museum, run by the Daughters of Utah.

The museum is filled with historical documents, newsprints and items from the first settlers in the city.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant art scene of St George by spending a day admiring a range of works at Kayenta Art Village, where you’ll find shops, restaurants, art galleries, studios and an arboretum showcasing the best of desert plant life.

Driving from Brigham Young Winter Home to St George covers 2 miles (3.22 kilometres) and takes approximately 5 minutes.

8- ZION NATIONAL PARK, UT

Zion National Park is one of Utah’s most beautiful national parks.

The park has giant sandstone cliffs, rugged rocks with narrow passages running through them and plenty of boulders.

Within the park, there are also beautiful waterfalls to discover and unique desert plant life to uncover.

Take your camera and capture the beauty of the park’s cream and pink sandstone cliffs and its unusual forests.

Like many national parks in the USA, there are also camping grounds should you wish to spend more time in this spectacular desert wilderness.

Driving from St George to Zion National Park covers 41.3 miles (66.47 km) and takes approximately 50 minutes.

9- CEDAR CITY, UT

Cedar City is a must-visit destination in your Las Vegas to Salt Lake City road trip if you love the outdoors.

The city has unprecedented access to a range of natural landscapes and outdoor opportunities.

Spend a day hiking through Cedar Breaks National Monument, a golden sandstone gorge filled with unique geological formations.

There are many hiking trails throughout the area ranging in difficulty.

If a hike isn’t part of your plans in Cedar City, simply park and enjoy a picnic with a spectacular view.

Wander the city streets to get a feel for the local area before grabbing a bite at Centro Woodfired Pizzeria.

This trendy pizza place takes pride in every pizza, ensuring you get the crispest and tastiest slices.

Opt for a traditional cheese pizza or try something unusual like pancetta and red grape.

Driving from Zion National Park to Cedar City covers 59.1 miles (95.11 kilometres) and takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes.

10- PAROWAN GAP, UT

Parowan Gap is a must-stop destination on your road trip, as this natural landmark is filled with human and natural history.

Within the parkland are more than 90 panels of petroglyphs and approximately 1500 figures carved into the rocks.

Following an extensive study of the petroglyphs, it was found that some depicted both solar and lunar calendars, calendars showing times to hunt certain animals and depictions of other planets.

Within Parowan Gap, there are also fossilised prints of dinosaur tracks to uncover which children will enjoy hunting for.

Driving from Cedar City to Parowan Gap covers 19.6 miles (31.54 kilometres) and takes approximately 30 minutes.

11- DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST, UT

The southern Utah forest of Dixie is the perfect place to call into for a picnic, hike or overnight stay.

Within the national forest are canyons and gorges, mountains and alpine lakes.

The forest covers around two million acres and takes up more than 170 miles (274 km) of Utah.

There are many hikes of varying challenge levels throughout the park, from short trails such as Bear Valley, covering less than a mile (less than 1.61 km), to lengthier and more advanced trails like Willow Creek and its 8-mile (12.87 km) end to end trail over varying elevations.

Whatever hiking trail you choose, or if you stop for a short walk and picnic, the beauty of Dixie National Forest is well worth pausing your journey.

Driving from Parowan Gap to Dixie National Forest covers 25.2 miles (40.56 kilometres) and takes approximately 40 minutes.

12- RED CANYON, UT

Another of Utah’s impressive and vast canyons to explore is Red Canyon, a canyon filled with rich red rocks that tower over the valley below.

Red Canyon is located inside Dixie National Forest and has several hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails through the canyon to take in its harshness and beauty.

Some trails are offered with a guide to help you learn more about the geology and natural history of the area.

 

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