When visiting Las Vegas, Nevada, everyone sees the ads for tours of the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Valley of Fire, few pedestrians walking the Las Vegas Strip can avoid the pitchmen attempting to shove a flyer into their hand.
Always on the lockout for adventure, one day in Las Vegas I stopped and looked more closely at one of the ads, this one "Valley of Fire Off-Road ATV Adventure." I had been to Valley of Fire, indeed I once attended a wedding and reception held there. An interesting experience, the groom fainted while standing before the minister. The ceremony was continued with the groom sitting in a folding chair place beside the bride, but that is another story.
Atv
The ad I was holding described how the tour took in Valley of Fire and the Logandale Trail on "easy to operate" personal ATV's (all terrain vehicles), how you would observe sandstone cliffs and red rock formations carved with ancient Anasazi Indian petroglyphs, see Hollywood movie spots and enjoy a picnic lunch, all this would take approximately five and a half hours total, sounded good to me.
The sell wasn't too difficult, so I pulled out my cell phone and called the number given and signed myself up for the "Valley of Fire Off-Road ATV Adventure."
How beautiful and awesome Valley of Fire is, midwinter is the best time to visit the mostly untouched rough terrain of this far edge of the Mojave Desert. Valley of Fire has a tremendous landscape, with scenic trails leading to many interesting sights. This region of Southern Nevada offers spectacular scenery for photographers where endless subject matter is at every turn. The jagged mountains offer natural beauty in an otherwise desolate landscape.
History seekers come to look at the patch of land where Indian tribes roamed as far back as the 10th century. It is not known what all historical petroglyphs or rock drawings depict here. Historians have never been able to pinpoint when some of them were created.
If You Visit
Long sleeves and long pants are recommended along with sturdy walking shoes or boots, no sandals, please. Any personal items such as extra water, hat, camera and field glasses should be brought along too.
There are many adventure tours available to tourist and Las Vegans alike, all of them offer a safe trip and along the way time for plenty of photographs. Prices are comparable for all the tour vendors, so why not take yourself to the edge next time you visit Las Vegas. Do something unthinkable and experience the excitement of ADV'ing Valley of fire.
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While Visiting Las Vegas Do Something Unexpected - Visit Valley of Fire
Kathy Manney is the nationally recognized author of autobiographical, lifestyle and travel articles and the travel columnist for "The Vegas Voice," a monthly regional senior lifestyle newspaper.
As the travel expert-at-large for the "Voice" Kathy has seen a lot of the world, she enjoys traveling to new and interesting places and in the process of becoming an adventure Diva, finds some of her articles. Kathy's "must see before I die" travel adventures continue, each filled with enthusiasm.
Kathy is open to freelance work in the fields of non-fiction writing and editing.
