The other side of Vegas
The Bredas explore some of Nevada’s finest tourist sites
Bright lights, big-name shows and high stakes are what Las Vegas has been known for over the decades. The streets are crowded with people strolling from casino to casino. Buses, taxis and limos carry those who are too impatient with walking to begin or continue their hope of hitting it big. This was the sparkling scene we came upon on our first trip to Vegas.
As full-time volunteers who were serving at our first National Wildlife Refuge, Ash Meadows, Tony and I travelled to Vegas on our way to the airport for a family reunion. Our flight did not leave until the next evening and we were determined to cram as much sightseeing into twenty four hours as possible. Yes, we hit the major casinos, even won a few dollars but when we did not win big immediately, we looked around for something else to do.
Finding the hot spots
The shops were overflowing with great buys but our lifestyle does not necessitate sequins, glitz, jewelry and other finery. The hotel we were staying at had a few suggestions on what to do while taking a breather from the tables. A chocolate company named for the mother of the man who invented the Mars bar? Well, my favourite childhood treat was and still is a Milky Way. I owed it to Mr. Forrest Mars to visit the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Gardens.
The enterprise is located only ten miles from the strip in Henderson, Nevada. So, we set out following directions that were less than perfect, but I can find chocolate from miles away. We toured the place, free-sampled ourselves almost to the point of becoming sick and ordered chocolates sent to Tony’s mom—who, like most women, appreciates the finer things in life—lots of sweet, creamy, nut-filled, toffee-covered chocolate.
A botanical treat
With our sweet tooth more than sated, we withdrew to the Botanical Cactus Garden. This is a three-acre marvel with about 350 different species of cacti and other desert plants and trees. The plants are well signed so you can remember your favourite and even purchase a specimen to take home. There are benches along the way, allowing a place to pause and watch lizards and other wildlife scurry around, listen to the birds or just enjoy the sun. At the end of the gardens, an installation called the Living Machine artificial wetlands cleans the wastewater from the factory. Ethel M uses the excess of 30,000 gallons of gray effluent processed by the Living Machine on a daily basis to irrigate the gardens and to wash the fleet of delivery trucks. The program is carefully explained on a side-board and samples displayed. It’s neat by any standards.
More to be seen
We returned to the casinos for a late lunch. Our hotel visitor guide had another interesting suggestion for our entertainment. Red Rock Canyon beckoned. Located just 15 miles out of town to the west, we had passed it on our way to Las Vegas and thought at the time it deserved closer inspection. A one-way 13-mile scenic drive requires an admission fee of $5 per car per day or an annual pass for $20. This drive brings you through areas used as scenery in many films; with views of the deep, vivid, crimson-layered sandstone colour of the canyon and the possibility of seeing bighorn sheep, wild horses and burros on this land that was once inhabited by native tribes. Geology buffs and photographers alike will find lots to occupy their interest here.
It is best to time the drive at sunset if possible. Hikes led by BLM Rangers are rated as follows: easy is less than a mile; moderate is one to four miles with less than a 1,000-foot elevation; and strenuous is over six miles and more than a 1,000-foot elevation. There are various programs offered. The best way to join one is to call and check for availability: the contact number is 702-515-5367, open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST. They even have hikes geared toward dogs—that is, for dogs that can handle rock climbing.
Exhausted, we returned to our hotel. Still hopeful, we visited the slots, and then went to sleep.
