An occasional trip out of the city to explore neighboring sights is recommended. There are dozens of day trips to take and plenty of sights to see. The Date Farm at China Ranch is just one. Their famous date shakes alone are worth the drive. The scenery, hiking trails and other nearby attractions are an added bonus. Continue reading »

Wade through fields of desert gold! Discover verbena-covered dunes! Take stunning photos, even with a crappy point-and-shoot camera! Just remember -- this is a limited-time offer, good only while supplies last. Continue reading »

Valentine’s Day is a big deal in Las Vegas. Not only is “Sin City” the wedding capital of the Western world, it’s—well—Sin City. So you’ve got love comin’ atcha from every point of view. You’ve got every kind of venue to celebrate in, too, from the premier table in the Eiffel Tower Restaurant or a two-for-one buffet deal (come on! That’s romantic!) at Jerry’s Nugget to a picnic in the great outdoors. And then there’s home sweet home, which just might be the best venue of all. Continue reading »

The road between Death Valley Junction and Furnace Creek is open again! This may not sound like headline news, but if you are (a) someone who lives in Death Valley or (b) someone (like me) who loves Death Valley, this is far more important than the opening of a new casino. Continue reading »

Although Death Valley has a reputation for being one of the most arid spots on the planet, this year it doesn't even come close. So far this season, the valley has had over six inches of rain. That may not sound like a huge amount to someone from Seattle, but that much water in the desert goes a very long way. Serious flooding washed out Highway 190 between Pahrump and the valley last year, and it's still closed. Many of the scenic drives inside the park remain impassable. Continue reading »

Death Valley wins my vote for the best weekend getaway from Las Vegas, especially in the winter. Even though Highway 190, which provides the most direct route into the valley from Pahrump, was washed out last August and is still closed, Death Valley is easily accessible from Las Vegas. From Pahrump, a road leads into the south end of the valley through the town of Shoshone, or you can take Highway 95 north from Las Vegas to Beatty and enter the park from the north. Continue reading »