Shark Reef Aquarium takes visitors on underwater adventure in Las Vegas

Las Vegas

An aquarium in the desert seems a bit far-fetched, that is, until you visit the Shark Reef Aquarium at the Mandalay Bay resort.

"The Shark Reef Aquarium is a predator-based aquarium where we exhibit those animals who are considered predators in their natural environment. We also like to inform visitors why these animals are important and why they need to be protected," said Adrienne Rowland, director of Shark Reef Aquarium operations.

In a town known for its card sharks, it makes sense the only predator-based aquarium in North America calls Las Vegas home.

"We opened in June 2000 to not only bring that predator story but to bring marine environmental conservation to the desert," Rowland said.

And don't let the name fool you, as the exhibit is home to more than just sharks. About 2,000 aquatic animals call the exhibit home.

"You start in our rain forest jungle. You are going to see crocodiles, Kamodo dragons and reptiles," Rowland said.

The beginning of the experience features a thriving jungle where visitors can see those crocodiles, Komodo dragons and piranhas up close and personal.

"We have live plants under a giant skylight. Some of the palms are literally 30-feet high. Therefore, the reptiles in here get a natural light-type environment," Rowland said.

The walking exhibit then leads visitors to the marine area, where you'll see catfish, sea turtles and stingrays.

"We call the marine area the temple where several animals have taken over, which provides a great transition story that leads guests to the bottom of the ocean in the shipwreck exhibit," Rowland said.

And the stars of the show are, of course, the sharks and the aquarium takes you to the depths of the deep blue sea.

"The tour ends with a 1.3 million gallon shipwreck exhibit which features larger sharks such as sand tigers, sandbars, sawfish and sea turtles with a really immersive environment, and you feel like you are in the middle of the ocean," Rowland said.

The aquarium not only brings the world's predators to us, but it also helps educate us through its in-person exhibits.

"We have educated over 300,000 local school kids on the importance of marine conservation. And our touch pool is a fan favorite. You get to interact with animals who are normally really far removed from our environment, and you get to see how they behave with an up-close personal connection," Rowland said.

And even the water creatures are getting into the Halloween spirit -- as the aquarium transforms itself into a haunted tropical reef called the "Hallow Reef" for Halloween.

"We decorate for the kids, and it's spooky fun, not scary fun. They get to trick or treat and enjoy the decorations," Rowland said.

Rattling chains, creaking doors, and spooky music will replace the usual sounds of the ocean and the jungle.

"We have this spooky man-eating plant in our jungle area, along with witches and divers in the skeleton form around the aquarium," Rowland said.

But not all things will be creepy.

Shark Reef staff will be on hand with treats for children while they travel the spooky hallways in their Halloween costumes.

"Hallow Reef is meant for our local residents as a thank you to our community where we can offer discount admission of $5 for kids," Rowland said.

The Shark Reef is still going strong after 20 years in the desert and remains a must-see underwater adventure in Southern Nevada.

"We want people to appreciate all of this that exists beneath the surface," Rowland said.

Las Vegas-area haunted houses offer top-notch scares for all ages

Las Vegas

Southern Nevada makes headlines for its desert beauty, but the Silver State is also considered one of the more active areas for paranormal activity.

And when it's Halloween season, a few local creators take the haunting to heart.

"This is the only way we know how to celebrate Halloween. If you like Halloween and horror, this is the place to be," said Freakling Bros managing partner J.T. Mollner.

And Mollner says his family knows how to put on a good scare.

"We hire live actors and performers with theater backgrounds, and we want to create the experience of a horror show which is why we call this the Freakling Bros. horror show," Mollner said.

And their Trilogy of Terror experiences is currently available in the southwest part of town.

"We have three haunted houses; all ranked No. 1 in Las Vegas. You walk into one of these haunted houses, and it's not your typical haunted house. Each room is an immersive experience where you can interact directly with all of gowls, goblins and other characters," Mollner said.

Castle Vampyre represents all things classic Freakling and still brings the scare but also some fun.

"Castle Vampyre is fun and classic. It is the only attraction we have for tough kids. We have a group of vampires who become sick and start to feed on each other, and they are hungry and looking for you," Moller said.

The Coven of 13 takes guests through an immersive experience -- a horror show that pushes the boundaries.

"The Coven of 13 is very intense. It's a group of witches, bad witches, who need 13 in their group to be complete. So, when you go in, they are inviting you to be a part of their group and transform you into a witch, so it's up to you if they choose you," Mollner said.

And last but not least, those who dare can experience Nevada's only R-rated haunted house - the Gates of Hell.

"The Gates of Hell is very high intense, immersive and adult. Guests will experience what they would in an R-rated horror film. It's the only attraction that goes hardcore with the adult content. It's like nothing you've ever experienced before," Mollner said.

And Henderson, your haunted house experience is available at the Galleria Mall.

Bonnie Screams is sadly no more, but one of its creators is now bringing those screams closer to town.

"We have two haunted houses here. We have Mayhem that is based on clowns and chaos, and then we have the Crimson Manor, which is a good haunted mansion scare," said Kelley Bryant, president of 31 Freak Street.

Bryant is frightening new audiences but with some familiar faces.

"The theory here is the clown school burnt down, and now the clowns have returned to amp it back up. All kinds of clowns are inside Mayhem, from scary ones to ones crawling on the floor to even one with a chainsaw," Bryant said.

Next door, the Crimson Manor is certainly not empty these days, as you'll be greeted as soon as you enter.

"The first character you'll see is sitting down in a chair, and she has a pretty interesting entry. Once you are in there, you'll see her right off the bat, but she does have a tendency just to disappear," Bryant said.

And watch out for an actual haunting as a lost girl seems to be making her presence felt on a nightly basis.

"There was a little girl who was lost in the museum, and there have been sightings of her throughout the halls. "I've actually seen her myself late at night running through the halls of the haunt," Bryant said.

Las Vegas is the city of entertainment, and your scare level can be met this Halloween season throughout the city.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park offering visitors escape from city

Las Vegas

Just beyond the bright lights of the Las Vegas valley, you'll find the natural beauty of the Spring Mountains.

And that's where you'll see the historic Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

"Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is a 520-plus acre state park and we focus on preserving one of the original ranch sites in Las Vegas. We have a 3-acre pond where wildlife, birds and the community can really enjoy," Nevada State Parks Interpreter Ranger Joshua Yelle.

The ranch gives visitors a break from the city life while bringing them up close and personal with the Spring Mountain range.

"We have a total of 4.5 miles of walking trails in the park; we have the Ash Grove Loop, the overlook trail that takes you through a unique part of the park along with a canyon trail that does include Lake Harriet," Yelle said.

The park is an easy 40-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip, with plenty of natural beauty on display, being next door to the famous Red Rock National Conversation Area.

"We are located in the beautiful Red Rock Canyon. Surrounded with the Spring Mountains and Mount Wilson with several areas of greenery," Yelle said.

With year-round recreational activities, the state park serves as a popular getaway.

"This is a great place just to escape the heat from Las Vegas, and it is just a great location to explore some of the natural beauty the desert provides," Yelle said.

Visitors can enjoy the views have picnics, hikes and tours, along with exploring some of Southern Nevada's history.

"We afford visitors a look into the past, and that is something we don't have a lot left in Southern Nevada, and luckily the third oldest ranch in the state is preserved in essentially pristine condition," Yelle said.

The park is home to some of the oldest buildings in the state, with roots dating back to the 1860s that include a blacksmith shop and a founding main house that serves as the headquarters for the park and visitors center.

"Our visitors center is a sandstone building, and it was built in a style of a New England farm home with radio and movie star Chester Lauck using it as a vacation home where every family can now escape too."

Guests can walk through the historic sandstone cabin and re-visit what the home once looked like with some original furnishing and touches from the different eras and owners.

"The house is split into three different owners. You'll see the 1948-1955 era, the Vera Krupp era with a master bedroom and swimmers room through the 1955 to 1967 time range to the Howard Hughes ownership period from 1967 with a room dedicated to that time," Yelle said.

The historic ranch attracted some big names through its history, from James Wilson and George Anderson at the beginning to German movie star Vera Krupp in the 1950s to Howard Hughes purchasing the ranch in 1967 before becoming a state park in 1974.

"Owners such Vera Krupp created additions to the home such a sunroom and a secret passage to another room in the house. And guests can explore the different times of ownership of the home during a tour," Yelle said.

When it comes to outdoor activities, the park has several hiking trails - all offering their own experience from wetlands, overlooks, to even a lake.

"We have five different ecological areas, some of the older ash trees - something you won't find anywhere else in the Red Rock Canyon. And on any given day, walking through will give visitors something not offered at other locations in the canyon," Yelle said.

The Spring Mountain Ranch Park serves as the perfect family getaway, especially as we enjoy the cooler fall temperatures with planned events and volunteer opportunities returning.

"We have a great volunteer program. We are always looking for volunteers and you can participate in the Pioneer Day that is coming back and families don't want to miss out on that along with other programs throughout the year," Yelle said.

When you or the family need a quick getaway to a more relaxing time with Southern Nevada's beauty and history, make sure to include the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

Southern Nevada history on display firsthand at Clark County Museum

Henderson, Nev.

The Clark County Museum is home to various artifacts, preserved buildings, and an area where visitors can explore Southern Nevada's history firsthand.

"You can go through our history from prehistorical times to our current events in Southern Nevada," said acting Clark County Museum administrator Amber Colbert.

The museum is on 30-acres of land and located in Henderson, just off of Boulder Highway.

It's about a 30-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip and a perfect stop on the way to Boulder City.

The Clark County Museum is the oldest historical museum in the valley and is still going strong after getting its start here several decades ago.

"We started in 1968, and the city of Henderson gave this land to the museum, and it started with the Boulder City Depot building," Colbert said.

Visitors are first welcomed to the Anna Roberts Parks exhibit. She was an avid collector, and her exhibit hall takes visitors through a timeline of Southern Nevada history.

"The Anna Parks Exhibit Hall shows the different artifacts over the years, and it is a timeline of Southern Nevada events. Starting in prehistoric times, to Native American, ranches, railroads to our current events like gaming, hotels and the 1 Oct. display where our community showed strength in coming together after that incident," Colbert said.

One of the most interesting parts of the museum is its Heritage Street, a tree-lined avenue with eight historic structures from Southern Nevada that were all relocated to the museum.

"We have Heritage Street, where we moved buildings from all over Nevada to persevere them, and visitors can now experience how living was in Nevada was through the different decades. We even have an old chapel from Las Vegas Boulevard where guests can experience what it was before," Colbert said.

Among the buildings is the 1912 Beckley House, a Las Vegas structure relocated from the downtown area.

Walking down the street, guests can also see a print shop and a wedding chapel that were all moved over the years and are now open for self-guided tours.

"Walking through is kinda like stepping back in time -- making that connection to the community of where we live now. One of those homes was the Beckley house, built back in 1912, and the home still has furnishings from that era where guests can step back into that time," Colbert said.

Another real-life display at the museum is the 1932 Boulder City Depot. The collection of railroad cars include a real 1918 Union Pacific steam engine, along with a few other items from the 1930s.

"The railroad yard has been restored to its original Boulder City look where guests can be taken back to that 1930s train depot feel," Colbert said.

The museum costs visitors $2 for adults and $1 for children. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with fall being one of the best times to visit.

"Spring and the fall are the best times to visit. We are getting to that perfect time of year temperature-wise, and mornings are also the best, with wildlife easy to spot," Colbert said.

Looking ahead, the museum will be adding to its displays with a new exhibit coming online soon that will house more of the 1 October items from that time.

"We will have all of 1 October museum articles on display with shelves helping to display the crosses along with all of the items that were on Las Vegas Boulevard. So, the items can be preserved for the future," Colbert said.

Where changes are constant nowadays, the Clark County Museum is a place to explore the rich and colorful history of where we call home in Southern Nevada.

Pinball Hall of Fame helping add nostalgia to Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas

All it takes is one look around when inside the Pinball Hall of Fame and you know the place is one-of-a-kind in Las Vegas.

In a city of entertainment, the Pinball Hall of Fame stands alone when it comes to bringing you back to a simpler time of entertainment.

Owner Tim Arnold is the man behind the concept who helps brings all of the machines to life.

"We are the real last arcade in America. We literally have everything with games going back to the 30s. So, no matter what you grew up on it's here," Arnold said.

The Pinball Hall of Fame is not a stop on the Big Bus Tours of the world but it has been a local favorite now for nearly 15 years.

And like several things in town, the hall of fame has upgraded itself but the main attraction remains and that's the games of skill.

"My definition of a game is something you can approve at. Something you can use strategy and skill to obtain a goal. We strictly have games of skill going back to the 1930s," Arnold said.

The Pinball Hall of Fame has recently moved to its new $10 million digs across from the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign on Las Vegas Boulevard.

"It's three times the size of our old place on Tropicana. It's more spacious and really a nice place. You're going to see a lot more games as we have a lot more going on than before.," Arnold said.

Arnold has come a long way from buying his first machine in high school where everything just kind of took off.

"I started in gumball machines in 1969 and got my first pinball machine in high school and it all grew from there. So, here I am with more pinball machines. We currently have 350 machines and eventually hope to get up to 700," Arnold said.

Currently, the hall of fame has just about everything from your arcade days ranging from a 1933 jigsaw puzzle to a new machine based on one of the newest members of the new Star Wars galaxy.

"The most popular machines are always the newest ones and right now that's the 'Mandalorian' pinball machine but we have classic games from every era with some of the best and some of the worst," Arnold said.

All pinball machines remain a quarter and gamers can even find more options on the floor.

"We have the original Pac-Man game, the original Galaxia. We've got old shooting games and odd arcade games, including games from the Jersey Shore," Arnold said.

And the work to keep all the bells and lights going? Arnold says it's him and a staff of volunteers to thank.

"It's constant work to keep the machines going. We create workarounds as there are no parts. And these machines were only meant to last five years or so and we have saved about a thousand of them and we are working on getting them going," Arnold. said.

Also, the Arnolds like to give back to the community by trying to help people in need in Southern Nevada.

"We are a not-for-profit and we are all volunteers. Once we are out of debt a bit from the move we are going to be giving back yet again to our local charities," Arnold said.

The Pinball Hall of Fame will bring you back to your own arcade days while helping share those times with new generations.

And it is an easy find in the center of town on Las Vegas Boulevard and Russell Road.