Off the strip: Sin City's under the radar westside

June 20, 1:41 PMNorthern California Getaways ExaminerMichele Bigley

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Northern California Getaways Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Everyone smirks when they hear you are going to Las Vegas. You know the expression: an upper lip curl that insinuates that you are about to drink yourself into a money spending stupor, indulge yourself with gluttinous cuisine, then shop until you need to purchase a new suitcase.

Now that my best friend moved to the Westside of town (and I have a toddler), my trips to Vegas have changed. We are constantly on the prowl for under the radar things to do that don't involve the aforementioned sins Vegas is known for. On our last trip, we entered through the back door of Mandalay Bay to visit their wonderful Shark Reef Aquarium. If it weren't for our post shark-viewing margaritias at Border Grill, we could have been in any city.

But Vegas's allure stretches way past the daunting (and expanding) Strip. Just ten miles west, hidden in strip malls and track homes, you'll find excellent cuisine, dramatic hikes and even a funky hotel, without the faux glitz.

Check into the Red Rock Casino (make sure to book a room with a view of the mountains). Spend an afternoon lazing by the pool, listening to live music, while you unwind from your flight. For dinner, you can't miss a trip to Sen of Japan on Desert Inn Rd. Tucked in a strip mall, you may drive past wondering why any right-minded sushi lover would take their chances, but the owner (who also owns the uber-popular Nobu) has created a jackpot of a sushi spot. Order from the specials and you are sure to feel the good food dance tickling your toes.

After dark, head back to the hotel for a lounge-y hang by the pool, but don't stay up too late, because in the morning, you have a flight to catch--early. Just before dawn, you'll head over to Adventure Balloons for a hot air balloon ride over the strip and Red Rock. You'll get to view the sun rising over the valley and reflecting off those rosy rock formations.

Since you are up early, head over to Hash House A Go Go. The San Diego institution has opened an outlet here in Vegas and serves its massive portions of sage fried chicken benedicts to the hung over locals. Go early and hungry. And be prepared to wait for a table.

Afterwards, head back to the pool to nap until the weather cools down a bit. Then trek up to Red Rocks to explore the rock formations and hiking trails that snake over them.  Bring plenty of water and prepare to be back before dark.  If you are spent for the day, stick around the hotel and enjoy the drum circle by the pool before heading to bed.

Spend the next morning getting a spa treatment before heading back home. Make sure to get to the airport early as the weekend departure area is a mad house. And most of all, when you get back to San Francisco, you'll be the one with the smirk, feeling like you lived it up in Vegas without sinning it up, well, too much.