A week in Las Vegas with nothing to do...

Curt · 04-02-2006, 12:35 PM

If I rent a car and planned on short day trips, what locations are the most interesting? Subject matter doesn't matter that much, just interesting. I know about the OOver dam, any others within reason? My wife is in a medical conference and I don't drink or gamble these days but will be going to shows and such in the evenings. Not sure of the equipment I'll take yet it depends on what I'll be photographing. I heard some where that there was a Botanical garden in one of the hotels. I like plant photography. Any thoughts welcome.

Curt

David A. Goldfarb · 04-02-2006, 12:59 PM

The hotel with the elaborate formal garden is the Bellagio, but it's usually too crowded to do much other than snapshots there--no room for a tripod.

There is a cactus garden that I photographed at once, which is an interesting place. It's connected to a candy manufacturer. Maybe Dave Wooten can recall what it is called.

There are lots of interesting places to visit by car. You're close to Red Rock Canyon (NV), and I like the drive north on 95 toward Death Valley and Tonopah, which has all sorts of interesting places to explore. The Grand Canyon isn't too far, if you've got more time.

Nikki · 04-02-2006, 01:34 PM

Its the Ethel M candy factory and cactus garden. I haven't been since elementary school so I cant vouch for its current shape.

Try this link: http://www.igougo.com/planning/journ...y+factory+tour

Les McLean · 04-02-2006, 02:34 PM

Curt if you are going to hire a car you might enjoy The Valley of Fire, it's about a 60 minute drive from Vegas. I'm sorry that I can't remember how I got there but it is shown on most maps of the area. It's a valley of red rock and some vegitation and as the name suggests it can look as though it's on fire especially as the sun sets.

Loose Gravel · 04-02-2006, 02:41 PM

Depends what you like, of course. Death Valley is about 2 hours away. The neon sign museum is in town.

http://www.neonmuseum.org/

If you like abstract architecture, just walk the streets, 24 hours a day.

See www.huntingtonwitherill.com

then go to >Galleries>Virtual Reality. This is all Las Vegas.

David Brown · 04-02-2006, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les McLean

Curt if you are going to hire a car you might enjoy The Valley of Fire, it's about a 60 minute drive from Vegas. ...

Ditto on Valley of Fire!

Also, Mt. Charleston is just northwest of the city, and you'll experience a 20+ degree drop in temps as you go up the mountain, not to mention the change in scenery.

Also, just west of town is the Red Rock Canyon (state park, I think).

And, don't leave Vegas without seeing the Liberace Museum.

Cheers,

David

david b · 04-02-2006, 03:38 PM

Get a big tattoo.

David A. Goldfarb · 04-02-2006, 03:49 PM

If it's a hot summer day, the Mt. Charleston area is particularly nice (presuming there are no brushfires).

Dave Wooten · 04-02-2006, 05:40 PM

ditto what Nikki and Prof Dave G. have mentioned....

also some wonderfully untasteful architecture on the short list to be imploded....the Broadway and the Stardust, and probably the Trop....

BW Kate was just here and did a project on the Surreality of signage, she shot it in Infared....

street and people photography is enjoyable, I have projects on that one, early morning hours....people from Peoria and Decatur Illinois, Hoboken, NJ and Des Moines appear and are transformed, yea even redeemed, this is the place, you are on holy ground....

***One of my favorite things to do is to take a canoe from the bottom of the Dam, down the Colorado river through the Black Canyon, about 16 mile trip to Willow Beach....takes better part of the day....no rapids....the water temp in about 52 to 56 year round....don t stay in the water swimmiing in mid river too long...hypothermia becomes a factor..the water comes off the bottom of the Dam and as the lake is in the vicinity of 1000 ft deep and more, it is nice cool water...you can catch Rainbow Trout in this area....there are also MONSTER catfish (they can pull your canoe upstream-hey I m not making this up) but I am not going to tell you where.....there are warm geo thermal pool springs up the little canyons within 100 yrds of the river, nice in the winter months, and often one will see a naked human or two, bathing, basking and at times cavorting.....

you will be going down a very historic canyon, not well mentioned, early Spanish history and sacred Indian locations..read up on it.....bring your wide lens and your long lens, and your binocs, and water...Great Herons, Big Horn Sheep....most tourists float right by these animals, even when looking for them and unless the animal moves they are never seen...there is lots of ancient art and writing on the canyon walls, unless you are experienced at observing these, they usually go unnoticed..........but the real joy of Nevada is the "Outback", and that is why is is so hard for me to escape.....30 years in this desert and it is still such a wonderous adventure!

Curt · 04-02-2006, 05:52 PM

Wow, now I'm pumped up, It all sounds so good and with some planning I think I can do most of it. Of course I want to take all my equipment, isn't that the case? I go through it every time. I'll be going to the SW with my new trailer some time in the future so maybe I should leave the 5x7 and 8x10 home and bring a medium format with wide, normal, long lens and a tripod too. flying is so fun isn't it? One carry on and a "camera bag". My camera bag is usually a Lowepro backpack packed to the gills!

Thanks all
Curt