Las Vegas might be your main destination. But if you and your main squeeze want to see a little bit more of what this part of the Great American southwest has to offer, then take a look at the charming small towns, and grandiose natural wonders that await you at the end of a short drive.
The sun is shining and the road is calling. Let’s go!
Mt. Charleston
The tallest peak in Nevada stands at 11,916 feet and its hiking trailhead is only about an hour’s drive from the Strip. A lovely woodland drive through the Spring Mountains is a great way to spend an afternoon.
Climbing all the way to the peak is a tall order. The South Loop Trail, a tough 8.5-mile climb, spends half of the hike done above 10,000 feet but rewards experienced hikers with an alpine wonderland filled with scenery that rivals any national park.
The good news is you don’t have to go all the way to the top to enjoy the mountain. Check into a cabin and snuggle up for a stay at the lodge at 7,717 feet. The restaurant burned down in 2021, but the cabins remain intact and are a nice place to stay and enjoy the cooler temps high above the Las Vegas valley.
The Lee Canyon Ski Resort offers downhill fun all year round. Ride the chair lift to the top and fly down on skis and snowboards in the winter, or a mountain bike in the summer. In 2024 Lee Canyon was the second ski resort to open for the season in the western US! Advanced snowmaking capabilities make this unexpected ski resort a real gem for couples who love board sports.
While day tripping on Mt. C, check out the stunning scenery that could soon be the backdrop for your wedding ceremony. I offer intimate elopements and weddings among these slopes and my team and I would love to give you a site tour.
Mesquite, NV
This lazy outpost on the Nevada-Arizona border feels a lot like the way Vegas used to be. Its small casinos are staffed by friendly hard working people catering to tourists looking to relax by shimmering pools and be entertained in glitzy showrooms.
The town also worked hard to turn itself into a regional golf destination with fantastic holes meandering through sandstone cliffs and ravines at courses like Wolf Creek, Falcon Ridge and Conestoga.
A hot-air balloon festival and a car show are just a couple of the events that attract visitors throughout the year and the short drive north on Interstate 15 can feel like a trip back in time if you’re looking for many of the same offerings in Las Vegas, only on a smaller scale.
Boulder City, NV
This small town just 30 minutes from the Las Vegas resort corridor is nicknamed The Town That Built Hoover Damn. To this day Boulder City is filled with history.
Engaged day trippers from Las Vegas can toast their engagement and upcoming wedding at several cute bars and restaurants in the historic district. Animal lovers can see Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep munching on grass in Hemenway Valley Park. Golfers will enjoy one of Southern Nevada’s finest layouts at Boulder Creek. And railroad enthusiasts will love spending a morning at the Nevada State Railroad Museum. This small town has lots to see and do!
If you’re looking for a cozy spot to say “I do”, the Forge Social House offers ceremony and reception packages for stress free micro weddings. Exchange vows in the nearby Wilbur Square and Bicentennial parks and then party the night away in a space that once was the town’s first post office.
Laughlin, NV & Bullhead City, AZ
95 miles south of Las Vegas on the Colorado River, you’ll find Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona. The sister cities sit on opposite banks of the river just south of Lake Mojave.
On the Nevada side you’ll find a string of casino resorts that can be visited on foot via the riverside walking trail. And in both states you’ll find gobs of businesses catering to the outdoor adventure seeking crowd. Boaters, ATVers, golfers, paddlers, swimmers and sun seekers of all stripes will enjoy year round sunshine and magnificent desert views punctuated by the waters that provide the lifeblood of this part of the country. When the sun goes down, hit the casinos for nightlife, bars, live music and gaming.
On your return drive to Las Vegas you may want to take a slight detour to Nelson Ghost Town in Eldorado Canyon. Scope out one of the wildest places in the west, and consider choosing this historic frontier town’s rustic wooden chapel as your future wedding venue!
St. George, UT
Drive north of Las Vegas, and after about two hours on I-15, you’ll arrive in one of the fastest growing metros in the country. Once you lay eyes on the brightly colored landscape at sunset, you’ll understand why. St. George is a stone’s throw from Zion National Park and just about everywhere you look there’s a beautiful photograph waiting to be taken.
All the new people have brought with them new art galleries, breweries, playhouses, museums and more. The population influx has made St. George a lovely oasis and a comfy jumping off point for visiting Utah’s Big 5 National Parks. I already gave you Zion NP. Can you name the other four?
Death Valley
Speaking of National Parks — engaged couples on a pre-wedding trip to Las Vegas may also want to visit Death Valley National Park before they vow to love each other ‘til death do them part. This is all tongue in cheek, but the dangers of Death Valley are real.
The newly refurbished Oasis at Death Valley resort is a splendid respite from the heat. If you want to see morning sunrise at Zabriskie Point, or do nighttime stargazing in one of the darkest parts of the country, and don’t want to drive to or from the park in the dark all the way from Las Vegas, then this is a brilliant place to stay the night.
Other attractions include Badwater Basin (the lowest point in the US), Artists Pallete, Dantes View and Ubehebe Crater.
Grand Canyon
Sure it’s just a big hole in the ground, but it’s the biggest hole in the ground you’ve ever seen!
Las Vegas is near enough to this world famous national park that many Las Vegas visitors put it on their must-do list, but it’s not as accessible as you might think. A four and a half hour drive brings you to the “real” Grand Canyon, aka the South Rim. Without any other stops on a round trip journey that means you’ll be spending nine hours or more in the car only to get out at a couple of overlooks and say to yourself, “Yup, that’s a pretty big hole,” if you’re going to do it in just one day.
Want to avoid the crowds? With fewer visitor services the North Rim is the least visited and more serene section, but it will take you at least the same amount of time if not longer depending on the route you choose to drive. Oh, and it’s closed during the winter months unless you plan on getting a back country permit, snow-shoeing in and camping in a tent overnight. But then it wouldn’t really be a daytrip anymore.
The most relaxing, convenient and luxurious way for engaged couples to start off their new adventure together by seeing the Grand Canyon is to take a helicopter to the West Rim. Operators such as Maverick in Las Vegas offer several options.
The West Rim is owned, protected and operated by the Hualapai Indian Tribe and they’ve done a good job of helping day trippers come for a visit. A can’t miss attraction is the Skywalk which is one of the largest horseshoe-shaped glass cantilever bridges in the world and takes you out over the edge of the canyon. The tribe has added several tourist attractions including a zipline, a gift shop, restaurants, cafes and overnight cabins. Driving to this part of the Grand Canyon will only take about two hours and 15 minutes one way.
If you’re about to take the plunge and are looking to enjoy a life list adventure with your fiancé, check out the West Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Las Vegas is the Adventurous Place for Engaged Couples
Congratulations on your recent engagement. I hope this guide has helped you plan a fun road trip for the two of you outside of the wedding capital of the world.
Coordinating special days is what my team and I do best! Get in touch if you’d like to book one of our all inclusive weddings or luxury elopements at any of our more than 25 stunning venues in and around Las Vegas.
