Forget Vegas! Go to Lake Mead in Nevada

As fun as the non-stop hustle and bustle of Las Vegas is, my family and I had a chance to slow things down a bit and visit Lake Mead on our last Las Vegas trip. Located only 30 miles from Las Vegas Strip, Lake Mead is a body of water collected from the Colorado River by Hoover Dam.

Away from the neon lights and glitz of Vegas, our family was able to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of nature and serenity unseen in Las Vegas. One place to check out in Lake Mead is the docks themselves, where fishermen and boating enthusiasts gather to discuss fishing or just to show off their watercraft.

On any given day, you’ll see hundreds of carps in the water! Mix that with all the birds that circle the area, and it’s like visiting a natural aquarium/atrium! We stopped by a market to purchase a loaf of bread to feed the fish and birds, and a great time was had by my nephew and niece (8 and 13, respectively) in chasing and playing with all the wild life around them.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area also contains areas suitable for camping, kayaking, bike riding, and even fishing. My family spent the afternoon loafing around the docks, but a family with RV or camper could easily spend a few days to try to explore everything this desert oasis has to offer.

To check out Lake Mead yourself, visit their website at http://www.nps.gov/lake/index.htm. One word of warning, it is a desert, so expect drastic temperature changes. It could range from over 100 degrees in daytime to below 30 degrees at night, so pack accordingly!