Whether you’re a Las Vegas native, frequent visitor or first-time guest, you owe it to yourself to take a little time away from all the glitz and glamour and experience the natural side of things. Yes, there really is a natural side!

Long before Vegas became known for the strip, celebrity poker, amazing nightlife and quickie weddings, the natural beauty of the area was luring explorers, adventurers and settlers. The name “Las Vegas” is Spanish for “The Meadows” and came into use in 1829 when Spanish explorers led by Antonio Armijo discovered a lush desert oasis surrounding artesian springs at the site of present-day Las Vegas. It is estimated that humans had been utilizing the springs for 15,000 years by then.

Today, Las Vegas is surrounded by an abundance of natural wonders for modern explorers. Even if you’re just “exploring” during a day-trip or family vacation, the choices are as vast as the wide-open sky

With Las Vegas as your home base, you can easily enjoy:

• Red Rock Canyon, Mojave Desert – Just 15 miles west of the city, a fascinating area of towering red cliffs, vast array of wildlife and cascading waterfalls.
• Valley of Fire State Park – Nevada’s oldest and largest state park features petrified wood, Native American petroglyphs and an extensive visitor center…just 45 minutes from the strip.
• Mount Charleston – Cool mountain breezes, waterfalls, forests and wildflowers await along hiking trails (including kid-friendly ones!) in the summer; fabulous skiing in the winter. Located 35 miles from Las Vegas.
• Hoover Dam – Not exactly “nature,” but a trip to Hoover Dam is less than an hour away through the beautiful desert and is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression…nearly a million people tour the Dam each year.
• And much more!

And what better way to enjoy such natural attractions, than from the comfort of a chauffeured Las Vegas Nature Excursion from AWG Ambassador. You select where and when you want to go and we’ll do the rest — in style. Our affordable excursions can be arranged for friends, family or corporate groups of 1-300 people. So take a break from the glitz and make a reservation with nature today!