Bootleg Canyon Park's Desert Critters

When we visited Boulder City a few weeks ago, I happened to pick up a local newspaper that touted nearby Bootleg Canyon's 35 mile biking trail, as well as the opening of a short, new, paved trail. Wheelchair accessible, the new trail was described as about a .5 miles long, meandering through desert landscape and dotted with desert wildlife sculptures. We figured this was a great opportunity to take David's 98-year-old mom, Rebecca, for a nature outing to check it out.

Though the day was cool and breezy, the sky was cobalt blue and cloudless. We bundled up Rebecca in a warm fleece and blanket and headed onto the trail. A larger-than-life black-tailed jackrabbit greeted us at the trailhead. Each sculpture provided some interesting facts about the animal represented. For instance, the black-tailed jackrabbit can achieve speeds up to 40 mph when escaping a predator.

In all, we encountered seven sculptures on our mini-hike …

Though spring has not yet sprung in the desert, I enjoyed learning about the native desert plants and thinking about which ones might be desirable and thrive well in our new xeroscape yard.

We were surprised and disappointed that we did not see a jackalope sculpture in the park, but we're pretty sure this was just an oversight on the part of the park administrators. We'll check into that further. Maybe there will be one in the future.

A little trivia: The word “bootleg” stems from the trick of concealing a flask of liquor down the leg of a high boot. Bootleg Canyon got its name from the illegal stills operated by bootleggers in these hills during the Great Depression.

Las Vegas for Non-Gamblers

Since we've just returned to Las Vegas, I thought I'd dredge up a blog post from a couple of years ago that proves Las Vegas is a fun place to visit … even if you're not a gambler. There are plenty of activities in town and nearby for you and the family without losing even a penny in the slots!

A trans-con plane trip and here we are in Las Vegas. No, we’re not gamblers, but there’s something electric and exciting about being in Las Vegas anyway. Although it’s a destination spot for folks around the world, it’s home to David’s mom and sister. It’s just “the hood” to them … a place to live, shop and work. And, yes, sometimes play … they enjoy the slots once in awhile as a diversion and you can’t beat the buffets.

So what can you do in Vegas if you’re not a gambler? Here’s our best picks of 13 fun, free or relatively low cost things to do:

1. Experience The Strip

There’s lots more to Vegas than gambling. Even if you’re not a gambler, you need to spend a little time on The Strip just seeing the lights of this neon megalopolis. Take in all the thematic hotels and casinos from pyramids to the Eiffel Tower and from the Statue of Liberty to the Venetian canals. Watch a pirate ship battle, see a fountain light show. It’s amazing and it’s free.

2. Fremont Street Experience

This is a huge pedestrian mall in downtown Vegas and there’s always something going on in the evenings … free stage shows, street entertainers, bars, gambling casinos, shops. It’s a hopping place to visit.

3. Catch a show or be amused

Vegas is a mecca for hot talent. There are shows galore, world class boxing matches, amusement parks and magic shows … whatever floats your boat. If you’re saving money by not gambling or if you came out of the casino ahead, you might as well spend a few bucks on top shelf entertainment.

4. Hoover Dam

There are tours available, but it’s a quick drive (32 mi/50km) to this national landmark which straddles the Colorado River on the Arizona-Nevada border. There’s a Visitor’s Center, dam tours and great views of dam.

5. Valley of Fire State Park

Only 55 miles (88km) northeast of Vegas, Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park. It offers a Visitor’s Center, a scenic drive that showcases the park’s outstanding sandstone and limestone formations, diverse desert fauna and flora, petroglyphs, fossils and breathtaking views. The small admission fee ($10/car) is well worth it.

6. People watch

Las Vegas must have the biggest collection of odd people per capita than any other place in the world. People watching is free and amusing and you just never know what you’re going to see.

7. Mount Charleston

At nearly 11, 916′ (3,632m) Mount Charleston is the highest of the Spring Mountains in Southern Nevada and stands sentinel over the Sin City. You can drive to the top for great views and a pleasant, mountain respite from the heat and frenzy of the city below.

8. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve

We visit this tiny preserve in the middle of the Las Vegas Wash every time we’re in Vegas. The bird viewing, especially in morning and evening, is outstanding. Besides the 288 identified species you might spot, we’ve seen lizards, coyote, desert cottontails and snakes. Free entry and lots and lots of well-maintained trails.

9. Ethel M Chocolate Factory Tour & Cactus Botanical Garden

Believe it or not, the factory is right in the middle of town. This is a fun, free tour and great for adults as well as kids. The cactus gardens surrounding the factory are beautifully maintained and the self-guided tour of the chocolate factory is free … and so are the samples!

10. Clark County Heritage Museum

This is a funky little, open-air museum with a Visitor’s Center that features the history of Nevada from pre-historic to modern times. The highlight is Heritage Street with actual period buildings and bits of Americana from different decades of local history. The $2 admission fee is a bargain.

11. Lake Mead activities

The largest man-made lake/reservoir in America, formed by the damming of the Colorado River (Hoover Dam), this national recreation area offers all sorts of lake and water activities, plus picnicking, hiking, biking and sightseeing. Entrance fees apply, but NPS Senior Pass holders get free entry.

12. Conservatory at the Bellagio

If you’re on the Strip, this is a particularly lovely place to visit in the Bellagio Hotel. The floral displays and themes change with the season. Sometimes nearly overwhelming, they are knock-your-socks off imaginative and beautiful … and of course, free.

13. Take your picture next to the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign

Prove you’ve been here! There are several signs actually, but the “official” sign and most convenient for photo-taking is the one just south of the Strip on Paradise Road. There’s a small parking lot so you can get up close and personal.

Look for a whole e-book about Las Vegas for non-gamblers in the near future.

Clark County Wetlands Revisited

Whenever we're in Las Vegas, one of my favorite local spots to visit is the Clark County Wetlands Park. A little over a mile from Mary's house, we discovered it on a previous sojourn in Las Vegas a few years ago and have enjoyed it each time we return. It was a bit nippy when we headed out, but warmed up as we were walking. There's a calm, quiet, structured wilderness feel to the 2900-acres of water, trails, and trees encompassed within the park along the Las Vegas Wash. It makes us forget we're in a metro area in the middle of the Mojave Desert, just 7 or 8 miles from the insanity of the Las Vegas Strip.

A Gambel's quail met us at the entrance … scurrying around with a crazy top-knot feather bobbing over his head, impressing all girl quails no doubt. A roadrunner (Beep! Beep!) crossed our path, but was too fast for a photo.

The park is touted to be home to 300 species, but it's not all birds. They claim more than 70 species of mammals and reptiles have been spotted. We saw several, odd-looking spiny soft-shelled turtles sunning themselves, their long, serpent-like necks extended to catch some warm rays.

Desert cottontails dashed in front of us, then hid in the thick bush and bramble, confident that if they couldn't see us, we couldn't see them.

There were coots, and pied-billed grebes and gallinules (We used to call them moorhen, but now it's gallinule … the name was changed. Who knew there was an ornithologist's union with such power?)

Raptors stood sentry high in the high bare-leaved trees, scanning their surroundings for errant, incautious bunnies.

We walked along the multiple paths and trails that criss-cross the park, over bridges and streams, stopping at the edge of ponds and marshes to admire the riparian scenery. A great blue heron stood stock-still, frozen in place, waiting for a fish to swim past. A noisy, busy duck happened to come ashore just next to him and the heron let out a very loud, aggravated, “frawnk”. The duck was oblivious. The scene brought back memories of my grandpa in a little row boat intently trying to fish while his noisy granddaughter chatted and squirmed incessantly beside him.

Speaking of chatting, as the morning warmed up, we were surprised by the number of people we met on the trails. Some running, some strolling in groups, chatting and laughing (scaring the wildlife away). The secret is out. It's obviously become a popular place. With a huge, classy new nature center and lots of scheduled community activities, it's a magnet for families. Glad folks are enjoying it, but (sigh) we might have to find another place for peaceful morning walks.