To Escape From The Las Vegas Strip - Head To Red Rock Canyon

To find a nice, quiet place to escape the neon craziness of The Strip in Las Vegas, simply head west about 20 miles to Red Rock Canyon. After the "pinging" of all those slot machines, the glare of all the neon lights and walking the strip with about a million other people, (OK, so that IS a bit of an exaggeration) all while hearing about 50 different languages being spoken all at once.. you may feel like you need to stretch out a bit and get a breath of fresh air. There is no better place to find fresh air and glorious sunshine than in Red Rock Canyon, just west of Las Vegas.

Red Rock Canyon will provide the beautiful scenery you're seeking, along with the solitude that comes from escaping to such an awe-inspiring and beautiful place. Sometimes getting back to nature is just what we need to give us the relaxation we search for. You will find those qualities at Red Rock Canyon. The red rocks at this canyon get their color from iron oxide, which has built up over the centuries.

While you're there, be sure to check out the Visitor's Center at the entrance to the park, where you will find not only maps, but information and interesting history of the plants and wildlife found in the Mojave desert. You'll even find real desert animals and an assortment of reptiles that were preserved using taxidermy. Some of the rocky cliffs in Red Rock Canyon rise to about 3,000 feet and the views will amaze you!

This is a popular place for weddings especially for anyone wishing to have an outdoor, back to nature kind of ceremony. We saw some wedding photographs being taken while we were there, and I bet they turned out to be beautiful. The background scenery is breathtaking. Be sure to go on the 13 mile scenic drive, where many exciting and beautiful photo opportunities are found.

There are a lot of places for a picnic, or simply stop from time to time to take photo's. Sometimes my husband and I pack a picnic lunch or pick up a sandwich on the way out to Red Rock Canyon and we have a picnic among the beauty and grandeur of nature that is plentiful in this scenic place.

You can go at your own pace, relax, and enjoy nature. Keep a watchful eye out for any wildlife you might see, which could include coyotes, burro's, sheep, and even a mountain lion. All we saw were a few "prairie dogs" and a couple of geckos, but that was enough of a thrill, since my experience of seeing prairie dogs had previously been limited to those living at the zoo!

You'll enjoy seeing all the vegetation, which you might not otherwise have known exists out there. When you see the mountains from a distance, they simply look like rock...once you are up close you will see that they are dotted with all types of pretty desert cactus's, Joshua trees and wildflowers in abundance.

Do NOT pick anything, simply look and enjoy the beautiful scenery. It is always advisable to leave things in the desert the way they are for others to enjoy for many years to come, especially since the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area presently receives about 1.2 million visitors a year from all over the world.

If you head just a few miles south of Red Rock Canyon, on the way to a town called Bonnie Springs... you will see a road that leads to a restaurant, shops, and a small railroad station with train rides for the family. There is a parking lot outside of this area where you will see burro's walking in the parking lot, wandering and looking for an opportunity to peek their heads right into your car looking for food!

Don't feed them... as tempting as it might be to do that. But it IS fun and interesting to see the friendly burro's, and children especially will enjoy that part of the trip. And since I am simply a grown up child, I adored seeing the burro's and hope to go back to see them again soon!

Remember to always wear sunscreen, have a hat with you, sunglasses and comfortable walking shoes. Bring water along, and make sure you have a full tank of gas before you set out on your adventure to the Red Rock Canyon located in the stunningly beautiful Mojave desert. Happy sightseeing!