"Rest Day" activities near RR

What is this "rest day"? Rest from climbing? Why? Well, the probability my friends and I are going to be enjoying our spring break in your corner of Nevada is high. And unfortunately the weak among us cannot climb 7 days straight. So what good rest day ideas do ya'll have? And Vegas is unfortunately out, as we don't have enough money(and I have no desire) for that. Specifically, are there any "water" activities nearby? I've never been to the area so I don't really know...

Any other good ideas?

Strippers!

Phil Lauffen wrote: So what good rest day ideas do ya'll have? And Vegas is unfortunately out, as we don't have enough money(and I have no desire) for that.

Phil, there is some good free entertainment down on the strip, especially for a first-timer. I think the parking at the Belagio is free.

Belagio. The water fountain is simultaneously amazing and appalling (given that it is located in one of the driest places in the U.S.). I think this might only run at night. Also be sure to go inside and marvel at the Dale Chihuly art glass. Wash up in their bathrooms. :)

Caesar's Palace. The "Forum" inside can be fun to walk around. It is a giant mall, but they have some interesting art shops.

Circus Circus. Free circus acts.

The Mirage. Exploding volcano, tropical jungle, huge tropical aquarium, and you can see the white tiger cubs between 11 am and 4 pm.

Treasure Island. Pirate battle!

You can also go to the old part of town, Glitter Gulch, and take in all the neon.

A little farther out of town, for a full-on rest day, go check out the Hoover Dam. Be sure to use the restroom that is ON the dam. It cracks me up.

Phil, you may want to tour our new City Center . It's fun to check out, and you don't need to spend money; just walking around there is worth it.

Here's some links for stuff that may interest you, and others on rest days; all within an hour- 1 1/2 hour drive from Red Rock.

BONNIE SPRINGS
5 minutes from Red Rock; tacky, but cool in it's own way; petting zoo, horses, restaurant, motel, and bar with great views of the Spring Mt. range.

PIONEER SALOON GOODSPRINGS, NV
Less than an hours drive, and through the pretty, peaceful desert.
MOUNTAIN SPRINGS SALOON
off highway 160; 10 minute drive west of the Black Velvet Canyon turn-off.

The three bars I listed above are somewhat sleezy (Pioneer, and Mt. Springs can be considered biker bars) but off the strip, and not bad places to hang out, and grab a beer, or have some shots. The Pioneer Saloon is historical; we enjoy hanging out, and playing pool there.

CHINA RANCH DATE FARM
TECOPA HOT SPRINGS
ATOMIC TESTING MUSEUM
GILCREASE ORCHARD
VALLEY OF FIRE
HOOVER DAM
THE SPRINGS PRESERVE
LAKE MEAD
MT CHARLESTON
SOUTHERN NEVADA MOUNTAIN BIKING INFO
BOOTLEG CANYON .
Extreme mountain biking trails (free) but you have to BYOB (bike), of course.

RAILROAD TUNNEL TRAIL in Boulder City. Goes to Hoover Dam; bike, or hike it; beautiful views of Lake Mead, and Hoover Dam.

PS- You can hit up the Mt. Springs Saloon, the China Ranch Date Farm, and the Tecopa Hot Springs in one swoop.

Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and Bootleg Canyon, and the Train Tunnels (bike, or hike) in the same outing too.

John Maguire wrote:Strippers!

I don't think I'd want you to strip, even for free.

WOW!! some really great replies here! Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm definitely going to have to check out Las Vegas!

I hate to sound snobby, but the gf really wants some water activities... Am I gonna just have to tell her to suck it up?

Phil, and others that may be interested in Hot Springs in Tecopa; you may want to drive through the small town, and check out the different facilities before you choose. Here's another link:
Delights Hotsprings

If you're headed to Boulder City, and/or Hoover Dam; here are two popular Hotsprings in the area.

It's a hike to the Goldstrike Hotsprings

You can kayak, boat, or hike to the
Black Canyon Hotsprings

EDIT: Black Canyon is one of our favorite places to rent a boat, or you can rent kayaks.
INFO: Black Canyon/Willow Beach
Rental info

If it's a weekday, maybe your group can split a standard room at the Mandalay Bay, so you can hang out all day at their pool/waterpark. My friends, and I have enjoyed it when we play tourist. ; )

Mandalay Bay Lazy River

Mandalay Bay Beach

They also have a wave machine that's pretty fun too!

And how could I have forgotten to tell you about the Pinball Hall Of Fame
5 minutes from the strip.

Have fun!

I was hesitant to say anything about Goldstrike or Black Canyon but since the locals are talking it up. If you like hot springs you'll love these two. For a while Gold strike was #1 on my hotsprings list. I try and visit them everytime I go climbing at Red Rocks Some of the pools have filled in but still pretty amazing!
Both have really cool hikes.
Oh and if neither of you have never seen the strip you cant call yourself an american. Take it for what it is. A snap shot of all walks of life there to revel in the excess.

Go to the Area 51 gate.

Touring Mitchell Caverns in the Mojave National Preserve (Providence Mountain State Park)is fun. At 4 bucks a person, it is very reasonable. Towards Lake Mojave, there is also a cool tour of the Techatticup gold mine in the community of Nelson.

Reed Fee wrote:ols have filled in but still pretty amazing! Both have really cool hikes. Oh and if neither of you have never seen the strip you cant call yourself an american. Take it for what it is. A snap shot of all walks of life there to revel in the excess.

She's seen it. I just get disgusted by the all the waste here in Boulder I just can't imagine how pissed I'll get when I see fountains wasting gazillions of gallons of water out in the middle of a fooking desert.

Thanks for the info on the springs! Those look really cool! I'm sure we will hit those up at some point.(Along with a trip into town, I'm sure)

John Maguire wrote:Strippers!

Wander the city and look for strippers and cocaine.

Go to Death Valley for the day---a two hour or so drive. If spring conditions are right, the wildflowers can be absolutely unbelievable.

Take some hikes. There's ton's of cool stuff. Have a look at Afoot and Afield, Las Vegas and Southern Nevada, A Comprehensive Hiking Guide Brian Beffort, Wilderness Press, Berkeley, CA (2005)

Actually all the water features in vegas recycle their water. But still there is evaporation. Also I have heard that within five or ten years the level of lake Mead will drop below the lowest city water intake. The water managers of Vegas have their work cut out for them!

Thanks, Gigi, for the excellent bar beta. I needed some new venues.

Anytime, Smassey! Maybe us locals can plan a beer, and pool night at the Goodsprings Saloon on of these eves. We can target shoot on the way there if us locals are into that. It'll be a group decision. : )

I second the Black Canyon/Willow Beach kayaking. I used Boulder City Outfitters for a shuttle. Bring I.D. or they won't let you down to the access point. Shuttle was $40 (if you have your own boat) last time. The hot springs are way cool. I've done it twice...you should see big horn sheep...I've seen them every time. Look for Moonscape Canyon (I think it is called that)..it is about 1/2 mile upstream from AZ Hot Springs on the west bank. Sweet hot springs and many less folks than at AZ Hot Springs. Your GF will thank you.

If you plan on doing the Black Canyon paddle it's better on either a Sunday or a Monday because those days are off limits to speed boats. I did it on a busy holiday weekend Saturday and my middle finger got tired from saluting all the boats that came too close. Still a really fun trip though.

Sounds like great idea, Gigi. My pool game is lacking these days, but i'm sure i can manage to hit a few empties off the couch. been a while - I need to hang out with ya'll more often...
It is unfortunately pricey, but those "Rent a Machine-gun" places seem like a hoot. But at a buck a round or so, ya run through a $30 clip in about 4 seconds. Limited entertainment value.
Lots of great target shooting opportunities abound, if you're into that sort of thing. Reasonably inexpensive fun, especially with a .22. Just remember the usual safety protocols, don't shoot at "them shiny things on the rock", and pick up your brass.

FYI: I forgot to mention that the Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings doesn't serve food other than chips, and pickled eggs (.50 each).
You can find cheap, average quality food at the nearby Goldstrike Hotel, and Casino in Jean, Nevada.

Also, (only 5-10 minute drive from Red Rock Canyon) there's cheap "late night" bowling specials at the Red Rock Resort Casino which is really fun if you're up that late like many of us locals are. : )

• Sunday-Thursday from midnight to 2am (close time) 2.00 a game.
• Friday, and Saturday night 2.00 a game from 2am-8 am.

(they're open 24 hours/day on Fri&Sat.)

If you have girls in your group who may want to shop a bit; Town Square (LV Blvd/215; it's actually a healthy distance off the main LV strip) is the place to be. It's also a nice place to walk around, shop, eat, drink, and/or see a movie. We often frequent the Rave theater, and all the cool locals, you know.....like colorful casino workers, diverse people from all walks of life all getting along, and blending in beautifully, high-priced call girls with their dates, clowns, climbers, and/or Cirque Du Soleil artists, and crew seem to like to hang out at the Yard House Bar/restaurant in Town Square, every now, and then. There's also a Border's Books, and a Whole Foods in TS. It's a lively place, to say the least. They even have a nice Childrens' Park for those visiting with kids.

B.A.S.E. Jumping?