While enjoying a stay at Henderson home rentals, take time to explore the surrounding area. From your home-away-from-home, nestled in the middle of the Mojave Desert, you can experience the tranquility of nature at Mount Charleston, take in the sights of the infamous Las Vegas strip and marvel at the magnitude of Hoover Dam. These easy day trip destinations are all within minutes of your rental to make your visit an exciting and memorable one.
Mount Charleston Wilderness
Part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (SMNRA), referred to by locals as Mount Charleston, is just 60 minutes north of Henderson. Escape the desert heat and take to cool, noble evergreen forests for a breath of crisp mountain air. Extending along the crest of the Spring Mountain Range, rugged mountain terrain encompasses soaring crags, steep cliffs and narrow slot canyons. This wilderness area boasts the largest stand of ancient bristlecone pines, with 18,000 acres of the gnarled species. Featured highlights are Mummy and Trough Springs, Robbers Roost and Fletcher Canyon. You'll want to make a return visit to explore La Madre Mountain Wilderness and Rainbow Mountain Wilderness, both part of Spring Mountains Recreation Area.
Las Vegas Strip
A must-do day trip is a visit to the four-mile-long strip made famous by celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. Many of the trio's haunts have gone by the wayside, but the legacy lives on. Begin your tour with the 30-story pyramid-shaped Luxor Hotel, adorned on the inside by Egyptian statues, and a larger-than-life 10-story sphinx on the grounds outside. Stop by the castle-designed Excalibur, fashioned with turrets and brightly colored spires, before taking the overhead walkway to the spectacular New York New York, complete with a scaled-down version of the Statue of Liberty. If you dare, you can take a white-knuckle ride on the Manhattan Express Roller Coaster. From the 540-foot tall Eiffel Tower to the MGM Grand's 45-foot bronze lion to the volcano at the Mirage, it's as much fun as a trip to a theme park. Be sure to stay until sundown to witness the incredible display of neon as the strip comes to life for the night crowd.
Hoover Dam
Situated 18 miles south of Henderson in Black Canyon, you won't want to miss this historic landmark, touted as a top construction achievement of the 20th century. The dam extends 1,244 feet across and towers 726 feet above the Colorado River creating Lake Mead, a 247 square mile reservoir that beckons water enthusiasts with 550 miles of incredible shoreline. On-site tours of Hoover Dam Power Plant are offered, as well as extended, behind the scenes tours. Las Vegas Grand Canyon Tours offers several ways to view Hoover Dam either by bus, on foot, by boat, by helicopter or combinations of land and water transportation. Check out their website for details and visit Hoover Dam online for tour times, rates and restrictions.
Start planning your trip by visiting VacationHomes.com, where you can search by amenities, size, location and price to find the perfect Henderson vacation home.