After Las Vegas The Natural World after the Trade Shows

2+ hours outside of LV, on the way to Death Valley, is the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Springs fueled by the underground Amargosa River create oases and provide habitat for endangered species of desert pupfish. The lush vegetation and tropical-colored fish are a striking contrast to the surrounding alkaline uplands of the Mojave desert.

Point of Rocks Spring

Hoover Dam is worth a look if you're in that part of Lake Mead NRA. But be warned: the tourist traffic is heavy, the post-911 tour is minimal, and the declining lake doesn't produce the dynamic flow shown on the official site.

The River (Not So) Wild

Rhyolite is an almost-ghost of a mining town, featuring an unusual mix of historical buildings and contemporary outdoor sculpture. It's off NV HWY 374, one of the routes in and out of Death Valley.

Sculpture at Rhyolite Townsite

The Nevada Test Site on Nellis Air Force base is a bizarre landscape of craters, ruins, and other artifacts from over 900 atomic bomb tests. Free day-long tours of the Nevada Test Site are given about eight times a year, departing from LV. Book early! No cameras allowed.