Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area welcomes visitors year-round

Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon is a sight to behold in Southern Nevada and gives visitors a firsthand look at the natural beauty found in the Mojave Desert.

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a quick 35-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip and shows off its own colors that can't be found on Las Vegas Boulevard.

The star of the canyon is the red sandstone peaks where visitors can get several up close and personal views of the canyon along a 13-mile scenic drive.

And there is no shortage of hiking trails at Red Rock Canyon where 22 different trails can be found just on the scenic drive alone.

Officials at the canyon say the Calico Tanks Trail tends to be one of the more popular spots inside the canyon -- it shows off the Calico Hills while being one of the first stops on the drive.

But not to be overlooked is a high point overlook found at the mid-point of the drive, where visitors are able to see the entire canyon while looking back to the city.

And you certainly will not miss the massive White Rock Hills along the drive located just past the overlook stop.

The conservation area is home to several species of desert wildlife, plants, Native American petroglyphs and a visitors center.

Visitors can beat the heat by viewing the canyon from inside and while also finding out more about the history of the famous red rocks.

The canyon is open year-round to guests with the most popular visiting times in spring and fall where temperatures drop below triple digits.

Officials say it's best to arrive early and pack smart when enjoying the canyon trails, from wearing proper clothing to of course having plenty of water.

The Strip has the lights at night but the red rocks are the ones shining bright during the day.a

Booze District in Henderson continues its community vibe over cocktails, brews

Henderson, Nev.

Many of us head to the east side of town in Henderson to maybe look for a new car at the Valley Auto Mall, but there's a hidden gem that shouldn't be overlooked and that's the nearby Booze District.

The Booze District in Henderson is about a 20-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip and located on Eastgate Road between Autoshow Drive and Warm Springs Road.

Local business owners have brought their own flare and community vibe to the industrial area, where you'll find unique breweries, a distillery and a winery.

"Crafthaus is located in Henderson and we love Henderson. So, we wanted to make delicious craft beer for our community," said Wyndee Forrest, co-owner and founder of CraftHaus.

Forrest says the Las Vegas Distillery was the first to start making booze in the district.

"George started everything with the Las Vegas Distillery. He has passed but his wife continues their work. He had a dream where local alcohol makers could be located in one central location," Forrest said.

Forrest lobbied the city of Henderson to change its laws, that pricey taverns had to have gaming and wanted a different feel for the district.

"We planted down roots here, and it took a little while for us to get licensing and changing the zoning, but we worked with the city for about 18 months and wrote licensing that was more craft-beer friendly and the Booze District came along," Forrest said.

Crafthaus has been open for nearly seven years and offers a variety of brews and also a community connection that can be felt even before the first pour.

"We build comradery with our visitors and we quickly become friends and we do all of that around quality-driven beer," Forrest said

And those beer options range from a seasonal Czech pilsner to their year-round favorites, such as Resinate IPA and the Silver State blonde ale.

"The Silver State is always one of best sellers with the Sunrise Mountain on the can and if you are a first-time guest, I would recommend trying a taster flight. So, you can taste the full portfolio of beers and then order a pint of your favorite," Forrest said.

And just across the way, you'll find Bad Beat Brewing with its new head brewer Amanda Koeller.

"I've had the great opportunity to take over their operation here and it has been a dream of mine to help run a brewery and we are making great beer here," Koeller said.

Bad Beat was the first brewery to call the Booze District home and has continued to serve as a local favorite for brews such as The Ringer, a German pilsner, to Hoppy Times, a West Coast IPA.

"One of my favorites is the Ringer, it's a German-style pilsner, and one of my other favorites is Hoppy Times. It has my favorite hop in it, and it has some pine characteristics. I love it," Koeller said.

And the newest brewery to call the district home is Astronomy Aleworks -- all in walking distance from one another.

"We are the third brewery to open up in the Booze District. We have just expanded our fermentation, so now we can ferment 80 barrels of beer at a time," said Matt Brady, brewer and founder of Astronomy Aleworks.

Brady says he is always up for cooking up something different, but beer fans can enjoy a solid variety of brews from a golden ale, to a Hawking pale ale, to the return of the Citra Amber pale ale.

"Our two biggest sellers right now are the golden ale and the return of the Citra rye IPA. Very strong, very good," Brady said.

Guests can enjoy all of Brady's beers while taking a trip to outer space in the alehouse tasting room.

The Booze District in Henderson is less than a decade old, but its influence is felt throughout the valley, with several new breweries opening up - including Crafthaus expanding to the Arts District.

Henderson's Booze District may be a little hard to find, but once you do, you'll definitely return for a second round.

Boulder City remains charming, adventurous with its history proudly on display

Boulder City, Nev.

Boulder City is less than 30 miles from Las Vegas, but the charming town feels like a world away.

The small town, big adventure city, is home to a lot of Nevada history, several unique shops, experiences and eateries.

"People get to see the authentic history embodied into one destination," said Roger Shoaff, of the Boulder City Museum and Historical Association.

Shoaff says that the city that built Hoover Dam has simply been true to its roots.

"It's one of the few places that is linked to a singular event. And even after the construction of the dam was finished, the workers and their families stayed and created businesses, churches and schools," Shoaff said.

Boulder City was established in 1931 to house builders of the Hoover Dam, with several of those vintage structures currently standing, including the Colonial-styled Boulder Dam Hotel located in the heart of downtown.

The historic building works as a hotel with a restaurant and is home to the Boulder City, Hoover Dam Museum.

"At the museum, you'll find the history of the men and women who helped build Hoover Dam. Boulder City did not exist before the dam, and we share the story of those workers," Shoaff said.

The museum features interactive exhibits and authentic artifacts that illustrate the building of the then Boulder Dam.

"We have oral history of people who lived here while working on the dam, guests can feel the desert heat, operate a crane that pours concrete and get city stamps - something the city required in the past," Shoaff said.

And just before the museum, you'll see the Boulder City Art Guild Gallery.

The gallery shares only local works of art from Nevadans, where visitors can find a little bit of everything.

"People displaying art are members of the Boulder City Art Guild. Guests can view and purchase anything from postcards to glassware. You name it; we have it. We have every kind of art on display."

Regina Marvin leads the Boulder City Art Guild and says she has called the city home for about a decade and loves the community feel.

"We toured the city when visiting Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam. It is about the same size as the previous town we lived in. It is very low-key, and you almost don't even have to lock your doors," Marvin said.

Outside the Boulder Dam hotel, you'll spot more antique stores along Nevada Way -- the main drive through the historic old town -- along with an array of cute cafes, restaurants and even a brewery.

Perhaps one of the more recognizable eateries in the area is the Coffee Cup Cafe.

The walls are lined with surfboards and photos inside the restaurant that features breakfast and lunch items.

Guy Fieri even included the cafe in his earlier days on his famous Diner's, Drive-ins and Dives TV show on the Food Network.

Just about a block away, you'll find the Boulder Dam Brewing Co. It's a brewpub with an American cafe menu, an outdoor space and, of course, a list of hometown brews.

The outskirts of town continue its historical roots with the Veterans Memorial Park and the Nevada State Railroad Museum.

Guests can ride historic trains along old-school rail routes.

And a trip to Boulder City wouldn't be complete without a drive to the Lake Mead National Recreation Center and Hoover Dam.

The two are just about a 15-minute drive on U.S. 93 and while on the way, make sure to stop at Hemenway Park to enjoy a view of Nevada's desert bighorn sheep.

Boulder City has something for everyone and is a visit all Nevadans should make.

Several new businesses are calling Henderson's Water Street District home

Henderson, Nev.

Downtown Henderson is home to some new vibes and venues in the Water Street District. The area has seen a transformation and a push to a more vibrant community hub.

Biscuits and Bourbon is one of the new restaurants calling Water Street home.

"Being in downtown Henderson is great. I am born and raised in Henderson, which has brought me here to be a part of the growth on Water Street to help bring new life and new businesses here," said Matt Coleman, culinary director at Biscuits and Bourbon.

The Henderson native runs the social kitchen and says the secret is in the flour for their biscuits.

"Our biscuits are homemade. We make a couple hundred daily, and we go through them like candy. The secret is White Lily flour that we get from Georgia, and you can't really find it on this side of the country. It makes all the difference in the biscuits," Coleman said.

The restaurant has a wide range of dishes, from smoked meats cooked in-house to a dedicated beverage list of bourbons.

"We bring bourbons from all over the country. We have a great list that hits all over the bourbon trail. We have started to bring in more from the West, so we are really hitting the whole country on the bourbon," Coleman said.

And just a few blocks south on water street, you'll find another homegrown business called Sticks Tavern.

"We've been watching Water Street for a long time, and it's finally happening. We wanted to be a part of it, as it has such a great small-town feel. It kind of feels like downtown Las Vegas felt ten years ago," said Robin Camacho, general manager of Sticks Tavern.

Sticks is a family-friendly sports bar and named Best of Vegas, thanks to menu items like their smashed Sticks burger and hockey-themed drinks such as Chance's colada.

"Hockey-themed cocktails people are loving. We have a flair bartender Tom Alley and he makes it a lot of fun. All of our food is really good, but our hamburger is really killing it," Camacho said.

The Water Street District is alive, with more additions coming, but the small-town feel remains just a little more upgraded.

"If you haven't been to Water Street, come check it out. Even locals are surprised by how much is going on here. There's a lot of new restaurants, and everyone here is having a great time," Camacho said.

Impressive winner Justify joining Derby Trail

Arcadia, Calif. 

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert appears to have another three-year-old star in the making.

Justify, a highly-touted colt by Scat Daddy, ran to his favoritism in debut by cruising to a 9 1/2 length victory on Feb. 18 at Santa Anita Park.

Justify approaching finish at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 18, 2018. (Courtesy: Benoit) 

His brilliant performance brought automatic Kentucky Derby talk after returning a 104 Beyer speed figure. 

According to reports, Baffert is looking at officially entering Justify on the Derby Trail with a few runs at Santa Anita.

Potential Kentucky Derby prep races on the Great Race Place agenda include the Santa Anita Derby on April 7.

Justify returned to the track on Monday and turned in what clockers called an effortless 5F work in 1:01 under regular rider Drayden Van Dyke. 

The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues.