Las Vegas at a Glance
SCENIC SITES
Although the desert heat can be inconvenient at times, the landscape, colorful sunsets and natural formations that accompany the temperature is well worth it. Approximately 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas is Mount Charleston, the highest of the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada and the state’s eighth highest mountain peak. Hiking trails, picnic areas and nearly 200 campsites make Mount Charleston a well-liked destination for more than 1 million visitors each year. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is also a true scenic beauty, encompassing 197,000 acres of the Mojave Desert. Red Rock is an area of worldwide geologic interest for its rock formations that provide rock climbing and mountain biking. Just minutes from Red Rock Canyon you’ll find Spring Mountain Ranch, which is a combination of a working ranch and luxurious retreat. The Hoover Dam Bypass and the Colorado River Bridge opened on October 19, 2010, spans the Black Canyon (about 1,500 feet south of the Hoover Dam) and connects the Arizona and Nevada Approach highways nearly 900 feet above the Colorado River. Tours are available through the Hoover Dam and power plant. Discovering all the scenic sites Las Vegas offers is one way to get acquainted with your new city.

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
As can be expected from a city that thrives on live entertainment, Las Vegas offers outstanding performance venues throughout the city. Newcomers to Las Vegas who are passionate about ballet will be pleased to know that the city is home to the Nevada Ballet Theatre. The theater houses a world-renowned ballet company that commits to unmatched artistic standards. Theatrical can’t-miss performances also are hosted at the outdoor Super Summer Theatre at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. Here attendees can appreciate performing arts in a lush and serene setting.

Another cultural institution and mainstay that has been redefining the quality of life for residents is the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Serenading Las Vegans with an impressive variety of concerts throughout the year including a pop series, a Christmas celebration and new arrangements, this symphony is for all ages. Both the Philharmonic and Ballet Theatre are located at The Smith Center. The Smith Center is a world-class performing arts center that develops and presents the best and brightest in a broad range of first-rate programming to unite the residents of Las Vegas.

MUSEUMS
More than two dozens museums supply ample information and exciting exhibitions that run the genre gamut. From the National Atomic Testing Museum, one of the first museums to take part in the Smithsonian Institution affiliates program, to the Neon Museum displaying the classic Las Vegas art form of neon signs, a truly eclectic bunch of organizations collect, preserve and study artifacts and artwork for educational and cultural enrichment. With a broader range of focus, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum and Lied Discovery Children’s Museum are popular destinations for the whole family. Many Las Vegas megaresorts also have shifted gears and are focusing on providing their clientele with a holistic experience that often includes museum displays and impressive exhibitions.

   
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