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Budget-Friendly Ideas for a Weekend Getaway

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Sarah Vernetti

Budget-friendly ideas for a weekend getaway

Planning a weekend getaway with the family this summer? Keep costs down by choosing budget-friendly activities like these:

1. Parks: national, state, and local parks are all great budget-friendly options for families. No matter where you travel, there is likely to be a park or two nearby. Remember that members of the U.S. military are eligible to receive a free National Parks annual pass. We’ve used ours several times in the last year and are ready to renew it for another twelve months of adventures.

2. Ghost towns: not only are they fun to visit, ghost towns are also a great way to get kids interested in history. Each ghost town has a story, and learning about their rise and fall can help kids learn about about local lore. Also, ghost towns are perfect for photographers, both young and old. (Check out photos from our trip to the ghost town of Rhyolite.)

3. Small museums: large, comprehensive museums are a fantastic educational resource for families. However, smaller museums shouldn’t be overlooked and are often reasonably priced compared to their larger counterparts. Two small museums in Nevada that we enjoy are the Lost City Museum in Overton and the Clark County Museum in Henderson.

4. Scenic drives: besides paying for gas and snacks, a scenic drive can be an inexpensive way to explore. Check out this scenic byways guide from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation to find scenic drives in your neck of the woods.

5. Military and local discounts: Even if special military rates aren’t posted, it is always a good idea to ask about military discounts before buying tickets or booking a hotel room. We’ve found that military rates aren’t always advertised. Also, many attractions offer discounts for locals, especially in tourist destinations like Las Vegas.

Please have a safe weekend wherever your travels take you.

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Photo Friday: pretty yellow flowers at the Henderson Bird Preserve

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Sarah Vernetti

Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Henderson, Nevada

I’m sure that there are people out there who absolutely love the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. They probably wake up early, arriving at the park before the desert heat sets in. Armed with their field guides and binoculars, they are able to see and identify a vast array of feathered wonders.

However, we did not have such a successful trip to the preserve.

We went in the heat of the afternoon, despite the fact that the preserve opens quite early. That was our first mistake. We hadn’t walked far before our daughter started complaining about being hot and tired. And to be quite honest, we don’t know much about birds. But hey, we wanted to give it a try and explore someplace new. It might not have been our most exciting outing in Las Vegas, but I’m glad we went even for a short time.

My favorite part of the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve was the collection of beautiful trees draped in yellow flowers that met us at the entrance.

To see photos from other travelers, stop by the family travel blog Delicious Baby and check out Photo Friday.

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How to Have an Awesome Day at Springs Preserve

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Sarah Vernetti

Springs Preserve

Ask any Vegas local about family-friendly activities, and Springs Preserve is likely to be one of the first places they mention. With garden trails, a unique playground, desert animals, and history exhibits, the park goes above and beyond to teach kids about Southern Nevada.

Thinking of adding Springs Preserve to your Las Vegas itinerary? Here are a few tips to help make your visit as fun as possible.

Visit in the Afternoon

Obviously, this isn’t the best option during the summer, however spring and fall are perfect seasons for an afternoon visit. From what I’ve observed, Springs Preserve seems to be most crowded in the morning. By early afternoon, most of the families with young kids have headed home for nap time and the park seems much less busy. (We also noticed this during our last trip to Disneyland. Lines for the rides seemed significantly shorter during the afternoon as opposed to mid- to late-morning.

Try the Cafe

If you’re at the preserve around midday, consider trying the Springs Cafe for lunch. Run by the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, the food here goes beyond the standard kid-friendly fare (truffle pizza, anyone?). Take a look at their current menu before you go to see if the cafe offers options that will work for your family.

Find the Flash Flood

We normally don’t seek out flash floods, but in the case of Springs Preserve, you’ll want to find the rushing water of this dramatic exhibit. Housed in the Origen Museum, the flash flood room does an excellent job of demonstrating just how powerful and dangerous this natural phenomenon can be.

Flash flood exhibit at Springs Preserve

Don’t Forget the Discounts

When you purchase your tickets, remember that Springs Preserve offers military and Nevada resident discounts. If either or these apply to you, don’t forget to bring your military i.d., Nevada driver’s license, or other proof that you qualify. This is a great way to save money on your visit to the park.

If you have any additional Springs Preserve tips you’d like to share, feel free to leave a comment. Happy trails!

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Photo: Is this one of the most underappreciated places in Vegas?

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Sarah Vernetti
Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

Taking the Overlook Trail at SMRSP

Is this one of the most underrated spots in Las Vegas? I think it might be.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is filled with both history (Howard Hughes was once an owner of the ranch) and nature. Yet even during beautiful winter and spring weekends, this park is much less crowded than its neighbor, the Red Rock Canyon scenic loop.

Spring Mountain Ranch was one of the first parks we visited after moving to Las Vegas, and it’s still one of our favorites.

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Day trips from Las Vegas

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Sarah Vernetti

NV road trip

You don’t have to drive far to go from the flashing lights and gigantic video-boards of the Strip to the isolated roadways that cut through the Nevada desert. Located in the southern corner of a vast and mostly rural state, Las Vegas is a neighbor to northern Arizona and southern Utah, two places that seem equally remote and sprawling.

If you need a break from the happy chirping noises of the slot machines, hop in the car and head to one of these Las Vegas day-trip destinations:

Valley of Fire: A favorite in my family, Valley of Fire offers visitors rocks to climb, trails to hike, and petroglyphs to decipher in an other-worldly landscape. You can read about family-friendly places to visit within the park here.

Death Valley: Not for the faint of heart, Death Valley is like a minimalist’s dream come true. Dramatic vistas meet visitors who choose to walk up the short path to Zabriskie Point. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and the Badwater Basin salt flats are other great stopping-off points within the park. Historians will want to drive north to Scotty’s Castle, a Spanish-style home from the 1920′s.

Ghost towns: Two ghost towns that are a reasonable drive from Las Vegas are Rhyolite (to the northwest, near Beatty) and Nelson (to the southeast, near Boulder City). Both sites offer a glimpse at Nevada’s mining history. Rhyolite boasts a house made of glass bottles in addition to other old buildings, and it is located adjacent to the Goldwell Open Air Museum. Meanwhile, Nelson offers an old-fashioned general store and lots of historic cars and signs.

Boulder City: If you have children who are train fanatics (the transportation method, not that awful band), you’ll want to visit Boulder City and take a ride on the Nevada Southern Railway. This is a great stop on your way to check out famous Hoover Dam.

Zion National Park: This is one of those destinations that would work better as a weekend getaway from Las Vegas, however a visit can be accomplished in only one day. Located in southern Utah, Zion National Park is filled with beautiful cliffs and winding roads. Opportunities for hiking abound.

No matter which Las Vegas day-trip you choose, remember to be prepared with plenty of drinking water (especially if you’re traveling in summer), food, and other essentials. Oh, and don’t forget to have fun!

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Hiking at Valley of Fire with kids

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti
Valley of Fire, Nevada

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

A little less than a year ago, I wrote about how much we loved our visit to Valley of Fire. To my flyover-country eyes, it reminded me of Mars: red rocks in dramatic shapes and not a tree in sight.

We have gone back to Valley of Fire a few times since that first experience, and it is still just as amazing now as it was then.

On our most recent visit, we deviated from our usual Valley of Fire routine. Instead of hiking the Mouse’s Tank trail, we explored the Rainbow Vista area of the park, took a look at the petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock, and gazed at the “Seven Sisters” rock formations. I’m happy to report that I thought all of these spots were kid-friendly.

Our first stop was the Rainbow Vista trail head. My five-year-old daughter isn’t much of a hiker, but she loves the interesting rock formations at Valley of Fire. Rather than hiking the trail, we ran around and explored near the trail’s entrance. We had fun spotting the little caves and crevices in the rock formations.

Next, we stopped by the Seven Sisters. These dramatic, vertical rock formations are a great site for a picnic, with several covered picnic tables sitting in the shadows of the tall, statuesque “ladies.” I’ll admit, we didn’t stay here long, but I did snap a photo or two, and I could see us enjoying a picnic here on our next visit.

In addition to being a beautiful place to hike, Valley of Fire also offers visitors a look at petroglyphs dating back to about 3,000 years ago. Although there are some fascinating petroglyphs along the Mouse’s Tank trail, an even better place for viewing these ancient artworks is Atlatl Rock. The pictures are located very high-up on the side of a large rock formation. A long set of stairs take visitors up to a platform where they can get a close look at the petroglyphs. After you’ve examined the drawings, be sure to turn around and check out the pretty cool view from the platform.

View from the platform at Atlatl Rock

View from the platform at Atlatl Rock

We ended our day at Valley of Fire with an old favorite: the Beehives. This series of rock formations located near the park’s entrance is a fun place for kids to run free, although you will need to watch them closely if they climb on the rocks. Some of them are quite high. We saw several yellow wildflowers here and a lizard. It was a great way to end our day.

If you are planning a trip to Las Vegas and will be renting a car, I highly recommend a visit to Valley of Fire. It’s one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever visited.

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Summer Distraction: 10 things I did instead of blogging

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti

Huntington Beach, CA

I haven’t written nearly as many blog posts this summer as I did last year. And that’s fine by me. Here are ten things that I did instead of working on my blog:

1. Explored a ghost town: We drove up to the ghost town of Rhyolite, located near the small town of Beatty, with some friends earlier this summer. Not only did we get to stroll through an old mining town, but we also had the opportunity to explore the Goldwell Open Air Museum, which features several outdoor, large-scale sculptures.

2. Went to the beach and splashed in both the Atlantic and the Pacific: Our summer started with a Disney cruise to the Bahamas, which meant lots of beach time and splashing around in the Atlantic Ocean. We also took two day trips that involved the Pacific: one to Huntington Beach and the other to Malibu.

3. Relived our trip to San Francisco: I wrote about the perfect way to spend three days in San Francisco for the June issue of Diamond Cake magazine.

4. Visited a national park or two: This summer we visited Zion National Park in Utah. We also braved the heat and visited Red Rock Canyon twice. Remember to be careful when it comes to hiking in hot weather. Bring plenty of water, let someone know where you’re headed and try to go out in the morning before temperatures get too out-of-control.

5. Crawled through a giant colon (the body part, not the punctuation) : We visited the Las Vegas Natural History Museum for the first time last week. We loved the dinosaur exhibit and the Ancient Egypt room, but the highlight for us was the travelling exhibit called “Eww! What’s eating you?” We crawled through a giant colon, watched a video in which Carrot Top taught us all about elephantiasis, and learned a thing or two about mosquitos.

6. Examined some dinosaur tracks: We took a day trip to St. George, Utah where we checked out some dinosaur tracks and other prehistoric artifacts. The museum only took about an hour to explore, but we enjoyed our time there and our afternoon drive back to Las Vegas.

7. Toured Wrigley Field in Chicago: On our recent trip back to the Midwest, we took a guided tour of Wrigley Field. How many five-year-olds can say they’ve sat in the Cubs dugout?! It was a memorable experience.

8. Learned about railroad history in Boulder City: The Nevada Southern Railway offers visitors a chance to take a 45-minute train ride and explore other historic rail cars. This would be a great activity to combine with a trip to nearby Hoover Dam.

Southern Nevada Railway

9. Swam with a dolphin: During out Disney cruise, we stopped in Nassau, Bahamas, where we were able to swim with a dolphin. Sure, we’d visited Sea World and fed the dolphins before, but it’s a totally different experience to be in the water with a huge, squeaking mammal.

10. Westin Lake Las Vegas staycation: Stop by Wandering Off next week to read about our staycation at this lovely hotel in Henderson. I’m sure it will be a great way for our family to spend some time together before the hectic school year begins in a few weeks.

There you have it…another busy, wonderful summer. I hope yours was happy, healthy, and adventure-filled.

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Kid-Friendly Fun in St. Louis, Missouri

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti

Butterfly House, Faust Park

Having grown up in St. Louis, it’s always fun to go back and take my daughter to places that I remember from my own childhood. During our most recent trip to the Midwest, we were able to explore Faust Park, located not far from where I grew up on the west side of town.

Faust Park is perfect for families because it offers visitors many options: a playground, a beautiful indoor carousel, and the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Butterfly House, just to name a few.

We started our visit to the park with a ride on the carousel, which was built by the Dentzel Company of Philadelphia in the 1920′s. At age five, E. still loves rides like this. Tickets are $2 each. Even though the carousel is indoors, large windows circle the room, making it a pretty cool (literally!) setting.

We also explored the Butterfly House, a short walk from the carousel. We were able to walk through a beautiful wonderland of butterflies and flowers. I’m not much of a photographer, but this would be a spectacular place for a photo walk.

Butterfly House, Faust Park

Butterfly House, Faust Park

Faust Park is located at:

15193 Olive Blvd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017

Have you visited Faust Park? Share your thoughts:

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Pueblo Park: Kid-Friendly Fun in Las Vegas

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti

Kid-friendly activities abound in Las Vegas, but what is particularly surprising is the number of lovely parks and playgrounds. One of my favorites is Pueblo Park in Summerlin, which we visited for the first time last weekend. I left wondering why I hadn’t explored this suburban oasis sooner.

Pueblo Park features large areas covered in lush green grass, somewhat of an anomaly in the Las Vegas area. It has a playground, complete with swings. (Remember when all parks had swings? Those were the days.) Visitors will also find a nice walking/biking trail that is perfect for observing the surrounding desert landscape, getting a little exercise, or just taking an after-dinner stroll.

Pueblo Park is a linear park, which runs west from Lake Mead Blvd., past Park Vista Dr., to Rampart. If you’re using a GPS, you can plug in the address 7663 Lake Mead Blvd.

For other kid-friendly Las Vegas activities, check out:

Animal Adventures on the Strip
Kid-Friendly Las Vegas Activities

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Escaping the Heat at Mount Charleston

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Sarah Vernetti

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Mount Charleston, NV

I like to think of it as reverse-hibernation. While my Midwestern friends are updating their facebook pages with joyful pictures of their families outside in the nice spring weather, my Las Vegas friends and I are sighing. Pretty soon we’ll be the ones hiding indoors. A pleasant spring is drawing to a close, and it’s time to prepare ourselves for the hot temperatures that await us. We’re beginning to think about indoor activities, playdates at the park in the early hours of the morning, and how great it will be when fall rolls around and we can put away the sunscreen.

However, the hot Las Vegas temperatures can be mitigated by a trip to Mount Charleston, Nevada. Located about 30 minutes away from downtown Las Vegas, Mount Charleston is home to Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, which offers visitors picnic areas, hiking trails, and other outdoor fun in a slightly cooler environment. The recreation area is part of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which covers 6.3 million acres.

Temperatures at Mount Charleston are often significantly lower than those found in the Valley. We noticed a distinct difference on our recent visit when we hiked part of the Fletcher Canyon trail on Earth Day.

For more information on activities and hiking trails within Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, check out this list of things to do from the Forest Service. You’ll also find some helpful tips to keep you safe during your outing.

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