Top 5 Staycation Ideas in Summerlin

A staycation, also called a “holistay,” is a vacation you don’t need to travel for. It’s a great way to enjoy some time off while avoiding the cost of airfare and helping the environment by reducing emissions. Even when you stay near Summerlin, you can find plenty of fun activities to enjoy. Here are some of the top staycation ideas for the area.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Sprawling picture of desert hills and mountains outside of Las Vegas, Nevada
Image via Flickr by BLM Nevada CC by 2.0

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is only about 10 minutes away from Summerlin, and it’s famous for biking, horseback riding, hiking, camping, and more. It’s part of the Mojave Desert, and it covers 195,819 acres. It has impressive, 3,000-foot red, tan, and orange sandstone rock formations. Scientists believe these unique rock formations are around 185 million years old. The highest peak is more than 8,000 feet tall. This place is ideal for climbing, taking beautiful photos, or just enjoying the stunning scenery.

Off-road driving is allowed on some trails, and you can see seasonal waterfalls and Native American petroglyphs. The southern end of the park includes several historic buildings. Dinosaur and prehistoric animal footprints have been found in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in three different spots.

At the visitors’ center, you can learn more about the animals and plants in the region. For example, you could see bobcats, wild horses, mountain lions, red-tailed hawks, coyotes, rabbits, and many other wild animals. You can also visit the Elements Gift Shop for a fun souvenir to remember your visit. They’re both open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Red Rock Canyon Loop is a famous scenic drive that’s 13 miles long. The loop starts near the visitors’ center, and it ends up passing High Point Overlook and Pine Creek Canyon Overlook. The canyon has steep cliffs, and the views are beautiful. Experts believe the area looks the same way that it did during the Ice Age. This drive is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. November through February. It closes at 7 p.m. in March and October, and it closes at 8 p.m. from April through September.

Paris Las Vegas

At the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, you can experience Paris without lengthy travel. It has a 46-story version of the Eiffel Tower with a viewing deck at the top. You can see an impressive light show every half-hour from sunset to midnight. The casino is designed to remind visitors of the streets of Paris, and you can play roulette, craps, poker, and other table games. You can also choose from more than 1,700 slot machines, and award-winning gourmet dishes are available at Gordon Ramsey Steak.

The Voie Spa & Salon covers more than 25,000 square feet, and you can enjoy a variety of French-inspired facials, massages, and other relaxing services. You can also visit the Chateau rooftop nightclub, Le Cabaret French-inspired lounge, or Le Central, a sophisticated bar with beautiful chandeliers. Napoleon’s Lounge is a classic piano bar. If you feel like spending the night, you can enjoy room service and a lavish suite.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

If you feel like a day at the beach, visit Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It’s about half an hour away from Summerlin. Lake Mead National Recreation Area was the first national recreation area in the United States, and it’s still the largest at more than 1.5 million acres. You can go swimming, boating, hiking, biking, camping, water skiing, and fishing. The lake has rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, and several coves and small islands.

Boat and personal watercraft rentals are available at Callville Bay, and you can have lunch at the Callville Bay Lounge. Lake Mead has more than 750 miles of shoreline, so there are plenty of places to explore, or you can also relax on the beach. The area includes Lake Mojave as well as Lake Mead. You can also check out the Hoover Dam and a variety of canyons, valleys, and mountains. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area visitors’ center and gift shop are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Shark Reef Aquarium

The Shark Reef Aquarium is at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, and it’s the only predator-based aquarium in North America. More than 2,000 animals, including sawfish, giant stingrays, rare golden crocodiles, jellyfish, piranhas, and endangered green sea turtles. Two underwater tunnels make you feel like you’re diving alongside the ocean predators, and you can see 15 different species of sharks. There is a sea life petting station and a VR theater where you can experience swimming with a pod of humpback whales. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

New York New York Hotel and Casino

The New York New York Hotel and Casino can bring the Big Apple to you. It has a replica of the Manhattan skyline, including scale models of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building. The Big Apple Coaster is in the middle, and it can travel at up to 67 mph. While you’re at the top, you can catch an excellent view of the Strip. It’s open from 1 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday through Sunday.

There’s also a New York-style pizzeria and several bars and shops. Hershey’s Chocolate World offers more than 800 types of Hershey’s candies and chocolates, and the Big apple Arcade has some of the latest video games. You can try classics like air hockey and Skee-Ball as well. The Nine Fine Irishmen pub was built in Ireland and shipped to Las Vegas, and Beerhaus has craft beers and great snacks. You can try the New Yorker classic facial or the City Lights masque and massage with papaya and pumpkin at the luxurious spa.

These places are ideal for a fun, relaxing staycation. You can stay in your own home or relax in a hotel. What are your favorite staycation places? Contact us and let us know if we missed any of the attractions you like visiting most.