There's more to Las Vegas than meets the eye, even though what initially meets the eye--bright lights, towering structures and crowded roadways--can be a bit overwhelming. Look a little deeper, though, and you'll find a side of Sin City that's conducive to a healthy, active vacation, with ample outdoor opportunities near the main strip and in the surrounding area. Activities such as swimming, walking, hiking, wildlife viewing and relaxing at city parks await in Las Vegas.
Swimming
Many of the big casinos in Las Vegas feature extravagant swimming pools, and most of them will allow you to enter for a small fee if you're not a hotel guest. The Mandalay Bay swimming complex has 2,700 tons of real sand surrounding its swimming pool and wave pool. The Flamingo's four lagoon pools are surrounded by tropical foliage on 15 acres of land that will make you forget you're still in the city. Vegas also has seven public swimming pools within just a few miles of Las Vegas Boulevard.
Walking
Walking is a good low-impact exercise, and Vegas offers plenty to see and do while getting around on your own two feet. Walk the main strip, Las Vegas Boulevard, just after sundown to avoid the often-intense desert sun and to take in all the lights and sights of the city and its impressive casino-hotels. During the day, you can beat the heat by strolling through miles of casino shopping malls or the nearby Las Vegas Outlet Center.
Hiking
Las Vegas and its surrounding area have dozens of hiking opportunities, but if you're traveling to Vegas during the warm spring or summer months, extreme temperatures can make hiking a less-than-inviting activity. Mount Charleston, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Vegas, offers a welcome break from the heat, with 52 miles of hiking trails at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 12,000 feet. Hiking on Mount Charleston will take you through forests of juniper and pine trees to sweeping views of the valley.
Wildlife viewing
Las Vegas offers a variety of opportunities to connect with nature without ever leaving the city. The Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park, also called the Las Vegas Zoo, has 150 plant and animal species on a 3-acre setting just northwest of downtown Vegas. In addition, many Vegas casino-hotels feature exhibits with exotic wildlife such as dolphins, sharks, lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, flamingos and a variety of marine life in large reef aquariums.
Parks
Break away from the Las Vegas Strip to discover 33 city parks in the general area with basketball courts, baseball and softball fields, soccer fields, jogging and walking paths and picnic areas. Dexter Park has 4.7 miles of open space with fields, a playground and tennis courts just 6.8 miles northwest of downtown Vegas, and Ed Fountain Park, 8.3 miles northwest of the main strip, covers nearly 47 acres with baseball, softball, soccer and football fields, a basketball court, playground and concession stand. All of the city-run parks in Las Vegas have restroom facilities, but not all have concessions, so bring along a bottle of water.
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