Vegas - Our Way (Part 2)

We are always looking for fun things to do in Vegas off the strip. In February I had a baby shower with some friends in Vegas and my best friend, M, flew in from Atlanta. Jeff and I decided this was the perfect opportunity to knock a few things of the Vegas to do list.

Pinball Hall of Fame.

This place is a bit on the sketchy side, but boy is it fun. They have every kind of pinball game you can imagine - including a two person challenge game. All you will need are some quarters and an hour or so and you can play any of the games. (Games vary in cost and they do have change machines there if you don't have enough quarters on you.) It is perfectly suitable for any kid of pinball age - although you will want to keep an eye on them since the place attracts an eccentric crowd.

The Neon Museum.

Right now the "museum' is an empty lot filled with the most impressive collection of old Vegas neon. The museum is scheduled to be open later this year - until then you need to call and schedule your tour ahead of time, but you won't

be disappointed by the collection they have.

When you are ready for dinner head to Battista's Hole in the Wall. It's right on the strip and parking can be a problem. (Walk or cab it if possible - otherwise just park in the deck at Harrah's) This little Italian joint has a fixed price menu but it is worth it - it includes all the house wine you can drink. Your table will be visited by an accordion playing 90-something who will make your night. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The end of dinner drink is divine - they call it a cappuccino, but it tastes more like hot chocolate - or they have ice cream for the little ones.

It's Snowing in Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe is far from Edwards. It's really far. But if you've got a long weekend and want to escape Edwards in every sense of the notion, go! The 380 mile trek up Rt 395 should take you 6-7 hours and you'll probably consider stopping short when you pass the exit for Mammoth Lakes. But for those who make the drive, the scenery and outdoor activity opportunities are boundless.

On our recent trip, we stayed at the eco-friendly 968 Park Hotel in South Lake Tahoe (check website for deals). This was a perfect launching point because the Heavenly ski resort is across the street from 968 Park and all of the town's amenities are nearby.

We spent our first day with a driving tour from South Lake Tahoe NW to Tahoe City. En route, we stopped at Vikingsholm State Park (at Emerald Bay). There, we strapped on our snowshoes for a 2-mile roundtrip romp to a Scandinavian themed summer home. Edwards Outdoor Recreation rents good snowshoes ($4/day). Then we caught an excellent lunch at the Bridgetender in Tahoe City. Share the garlic fries appetizer.

We were lucky enough to be in South Lake Tahoe for the town's Christmas Tree lighting. It was a charming event, but their 150' tall tree was lit by only a handful of lights and looked pretty sparse. Then we crossed from CA to NV to see a mediocre improv comedy show at Harvey's casino. Look for coupons before going.

On day 2, we headed straight to Hansen's Resort, where for $10/hour you can tube down their hill. I was a skeptic, but after an hour I was both exhausted and satisfied with the cost. Just down the street, we found lunch at a Wolfgang Puck Express. After Mass, we found a solid local restaurant at the Red Hut Cafe.

We also went ice skating at the local ice rink. Ideally, we were going to skate under the night sky at the Heavenly resort, but $20 was no way to attract business. Plus, the town's ice rink was 3-4x larger. But, they did turn off the lights and turn on the disco ball halfway thru the skating session. And for anyone not comfortable on the ice, moving lights don't help.

There are a handful of ski resorts around Lake Tahoe - some offer free or reduced lift tickets to active duty folks. And if we get another chance to make our way to Tahoe, we'll definitely stop at the Donner Memorial State Park.

En route home along Rt 395, we stopped to see the Upside Down House in Lee Vining. Special Note: the Whoa Nellie Deli in Lee Vining is closed in the winter!

Vegas - Our Way

3.5 hours (205 miles) away, Las Vegas makes a great weekend trip from Edwards. You can drive over on a Friday evening and return on Sunday - though we advise leaving earlier rather than later on Sunday. A rush of traffic always seems to develop along I-15 late on Sundays. If you happen to get hit in this traffic jam, exit at Harvard Road and take the service road a few miles parallel to I-15.

Weekend stays in Vegas can sometimes be pricey - and if that's a burden - try the VOQ at Nellis AFB. Else, there are plenty of good buys along The Strip. To keep other costs down, take bagels and fruit for breakfast and try to get off The Strip for other meals. But don't skimp too much because Vegas restaurants are tops.

Since we've made a half dozen visits to Las Vegas, this weekend's trip hit a few lesser known highlights. Let's start with breakfast. The Maple Tree restaurant served up a good breakfast skillet (also lunch) at 6000 Spring Mountain Road. We tried the Egg and I as well (large portions - great muffins): 4533 West Sahara Avenue. Both are 10 minutes from the Strip.

Instead of neon and gambling, try some hiking. Red Rock Canyon (17 miles from downtown Las Vegas) has a 13 mile scenic drive and miles of great hiking (chilly, 4700' elevation). Make a stop at the visitor's center to pick up a trail map because the trails are not well marked. You can also get your National Parks Passport stamped. For the geology minded, you can view the Keystone Thrust Fault. Seasonal waterfalls, a sandstone quarry and plenty of 'red' rocks await you.

En route home to Edwards, we stopped to visit the Calico Early Man Site (2 mile diversion from I-15 along a dirt road). Check the link for tour hours (by donation). Our host, Chris Christensen, possessed a wealth of knowledge and shared his excitement with us. It was hard to believe that this part of California was once quite fertile and hosted early man (and his stone tools). There's not much to see and you may only stay a half hour, but it's worth the stop.

After lunch at the brand new Chipotle in Barstow (2590 High Point Parkway), we stopped at the Western America Railroad Museum. Admission is free and they have a half dozen or so locomotives and cabooses you can actually climb on & peek inside. Great for kids! Take your Chipotle to the museum and enjoy a picnic outside among the locomotives. Next door and also free, you can visit the Route 66 Mother Road Museum. They've got 3 rooms of Rt 66 memorabilia and a decent gift shop.

Remember, a trip to Las Vegas can be a great adventure even if you're not a casino type.