Gilcrease Orchard remains fall destination for Las Vegas families

Las Vegas

Fall has arrived, and that means not only a change in weather but also a change in seasons at the Gilcrease Orchard.

The 60-acre orchard is an easy 30-minute drive from the center of town to northwest Las Vegas where you'll find it on Tenaya Way and Grand Teton Drive.

"The orchard is about 100 years old. The Gilcreases turned it into an orchard back in the 1970s. We have 30 different vegetables, and it's a great way to learn where your food comes from," said Gilcrease Orchard Director Mark Ruben.

The drive not only takes visitors away from the Las Vegas Strip, but the orchard takes you out of the typical desert landscape.

"We are very unique here and blessed with good soil. The area used to be a wash, and we are blessed to have this still be an orchard," Ruben said

Visitors can pick fresh produce themselves throughout the year, along with several more options during the fall.

"We have pumpkins, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts and apple pickings starting Saturday," Ruben said.

For the first time, the orchard is opening a corn maze this year. Management says the team was able to change out a previous straw maze just in time for autumn.

"We have a new acre corn maze. It should take about six minutes to get through for the average person, and we used to just have a straw maze," Ruden said.

And what's fall without a good pumpkin? The orchard is opening a community favorite on Sept. 25, and that's its pumpkin patch!

"You can pick your own pumpkins. From the regulars to white pumpkins to even pink and gray pumpkins that are great for baking," Ruben said.

Plus, fall fruit such as white pomegranates have been pre-pricked by crews and are available for purchase with more varieties on the way.

"We have white pomegranates available now with the red available in mid-October, and starting Saturday, guests can pick pumpkins, cucumbers, sunflowers, along with more at the checkout stand," Ruben said.

And even though the temperatures may drop, the sun is still shining, and sunflowers are in full bloom.

"We have a lot of sunflowers, thousands of sunflowers. They are $2 each, and it's good to bring your own bring own cutting device. They are very beautiful," Ruben said.

The orchard also makes its own apple cider from apples grown on-site. The cider is 100% juice and is available for purchase.

"Our apple cider is made from 100% Gala apples. So, it's on the sweeter side. And we normally run out of the cider towards the end of October," Ruben said.

And are you looking for something sweet to eat? Management says its famous apple cider doughnuts are back for the season.

"Our doughnuts are very popular. We make full-sized doughnuts now. They just taste better and start at $6 for a standard six-count of the cinnamon sugar," Ruben said.

The orchard starts its fall season hours at the end of September, which means 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

There are no entrance fees, and earlier the better is still recommended when it comes to visiting.

"If you want the best fall experience, come in the morning. If you want the summer experience, come in the afternoon. And if you arrive very early or very late, you'll do a bit better," Ruben said.

Keep the orchard in mind during your next grocery run, and even better, add it to the family schedule of places to visit in Las Vegas.

Wetlands Park remains 'hidden gem' for hikers, bird watchers in Clark County

Las Vegas,

The Clark County Wetlands Park is nearly 3,000 acres in size and the largest park in the county.

But even with its size, it remains a hidden gem off of East Tropicana Avenue and Wetlands Park Lane.

"We are still a little bit of a secret in the Las Vegas valley. We are the largest park as part of Clark County Parks and Recreation. We have a 210-acre nature preserve with lots of trails to experience and maybe see some wildlife as well," said Ben Jurand, an environmental specialist with the Clark County Wetlands Park.

The park started back in 1991 and has become a major recreational and educational resource in the valley.

The park serves as a popular destination for hikers, bird watchers and is an important part of our water system in Southern Nevada.

"The Wetlands Park is created by all of the water that is used in the Las Vegas valley. The Las Vegas Wash is the main part of the Wetlands Park. That is our urban river. And we collect all of the water from the Las Vegas valley," Jurand said.

Wetlands Park features more than 20 miles of trails, including six miles within the Nature Preserve which is the heart of the park at 210 acres.

"In the nature preserve section, we have six miles of trails. We don't allow dogs or bikes on the nature trail, so we can help protect the animals along with guests to see wildlife," Jurand said.

Some of the popular sights in the nature preserve include the Cottonwood Grove, Boardwalk Pond and Vern's Pond & Island.

"We have several distinct types of habitats and some that you don't normally see in the Mojave desert. We also have very tall trees in the nature preserve area where all of the running water is, and we have recreated all of the natural habitat," Jurand said.

The area has three distinct habitats and miles of paved and unpaved trails, where visitors can escape the city and the desert.

"For those visiting the park, I would recommend visiting the nature preserve as there is a lot to see in just a small area. Each of the different habitats has their own plants and animals to see. There are several areas to explore," Jurand said.

The park is home to more than 300 species of birds and numerous mammals and reptiles have been spotted in the park.

"We have all kinds of wildlife in the park from coyotes to roadrunners to even a few non-venomous snakes and beavers who enjoy making their home with the water," Jurand said.

There is also a 14-mile Wetlands Loop Trail that runs along the park's perimeter, where work is ongoing to complete its full connection.

And several of the park's trails are accessible throughout the eastern part of town - including the Duck Creek Trailhead with shrubs, grass and trees.

"There is a lot to see at Wetlands Park. We have so much water that helps all of the trees and habitats within the park. Visitors say they forget that they are in the desert with being able to experience nature," Jurand said.

Wetlands Park is open year-round to guests and should be included in your outdoor activities in Las Vegas.

Vegas sportsbooks offer million-dollar payouts to bettors during football season

Las Vegas, Nev.

Sports betting is no longer something just done in Las Vegas, but the Vegas line is still the standard.

Wagering on sports has come a long way from your neighborhood bookie and Las Vegas sportsbooks continue to raise the ante.

"When we opened Circa, we opened the world's largest sportsbook and thought we need to bring the world's largest football contest with it," said Circa Resort CEO Derek Stevens.

Stevens has gone all-in on sports betting by opening the Circa sportsbook and welcoming thousands into his football contests.

"The TVs in the sportsbook make you feel like you are at the game. We are excited about football, excited about our football contests, and it's just another great reason to visit Las Vegas," Stevens said.

And Stevens is guaranteeing a prize pool of at least $4 million in his Circa Sports Million football betting contest.

"Contestants pick five teams a week against the point spread and we are guaranteeing a $4 million prize in the Circa Millions with a $1,000 entry fee. We want people to come to sportsbook," Stevens said.

Every year sportsbooks offer football fans the chance to become potential millionaires with their selections against the book.

And Circa Sports is offering two chances at such a payday.

"Our second contest is the Circa Survivor with a $6 million prize. You just have to pick one game a week against the spread, but you cannot select that same team again. So, it can get tricky through the season," Stevens said.

The longest-running football handicapping contest is the SuperContest at the Westgate Las Vegas.

This year marks the 33rd year of the contest, and SuperBook executive vice president Jay Kornegay says there are even more ways to win this year.

"We have gone from four in-season contests to nine. So, even after a rough week, contestants are still in the game throughout the season with payouts up to $100,000," Kornegay said.

The SuperContest has paid a top prize of $1.5 million in the past, with this year's contestants continuing to enter.

"We have an entry fee of $1,000 now with 100% payback. We are looking at around 2,000 contests in the field with a grand prize payout of around $500,000," Kornegay said.

And not to be outdone, Station Casinos is bringing back its Last Man Standing contest where another $1 million is up for grabs.

"Football season is here and so is our signature Last Man Standing contests. It's a $25 entry fee for both college and pro with $150,000 for pro and $100,000 college top prizes," said Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito.

Station's Last Man Standing offers sports fans the chance to pick college and pro games throughout the season.

"If the lucky person takes both contests and signs up by Sept. 6, they can get a bonus of $750,000 – making it a cool $1 million total," Esposito said.

No matter your betting style Las Vegas has you covered, and with a few selections and, of course, some betting luck, you could be the next millionaire in town.

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.