Las Vegas' history, birthplace is on display at Springs Preserve

Las Vegas, Nev.

As the Las Vegas Valley continues to evolve and expand over the years, there is a place where everything started, and that's the Springs Preserve.

"We like to think of the Springs Preserve as the birthplace of Las Vegas. We talk about the Meadows being the birthplace of Las Vegas, and these are the Meadows," said Nathan Harper, Springs Preserve archaeologist.

The preserve is just a 10-minute drive from downtown Las Vegas and is located on Valley View Boulevard near Alta Drive.

The 180-acres is dedicated to nature walks, displays, education and exploration.

"We have a lot of history here, a lot of natural beauty and wildlife," Harper said. "I always like to describe this place as a day and a half. There is enough here to see that will take about a day and a half to explore."

The preserve is home to exhibits, desert landscapes, hiking trails and is an excellent place for families to learn and enjoy our history without even having to leave town.

"There is so much to check out here; it's a great place to explore. And if you are looking at a place to go hiking and see some natural desert beauty, you don't have to drive outside of town—we are just three miles from the heart of the city," Harper said.

Visitors will also notice the greenery on display in the botanical garden. Even us locals can take in and enjoy while learning how to protect our environment.

"We have about 8 acres of botanical gardens. It features the largest cactus and succulent garden collection in North America," Harper said. "You need to learn how to plant your yard or your garden sustainably; this is the best place to learn how to do that. You can make it beautiful and sustainable at the same time."

The Springs Preserve has something for everyone to explore whether you're interested in green living, desert life, or the Las Vegas valley's history inside and out.

"There is tons of stuff to see. Not only on our campus but also on our nature trails," Harper said. "We are lucky to have such a long history here with this place being special. It's special to people and animals. So, when you go walk on our trails, you get to walk underneath cottonwoods that are over 100 years old along with walking along the Las Vegas creek. You can also visit our picnic area where we have ponds with threatened and endangered fish and frogs living there who we help protect."

And the preserve is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Valley Water District, where sustainability and water conservation have always been an important topic, with us calling the Mohave Desert home.

"Conservation is at the heart of everything we do here at the Springs Preserve. One of the main reasons we are here is to teach people how to live sustainability in the Mohave Desert. And also how to conserve water in the desert," Harper said. "We talk about water in all of its aspects: Water coming from the ground, falling out of the sky or water rushing down a canyon. We talk about all of the natural history and environment in Las Vegas."

A Boomtown 1905 exhibit is also available to visitors, including a changing Origen Museum and a Nevada State Museum.

"One of our other historical offers here is the Boomtown 1905 exhibit. It's a reconstructed streetscape of what Las Vegas would look like during that time," Harper said. "Seasonally, we have our butterfly house. It's not open in the winter with them sleeping but will return in the spring. "We also have the Southern Branch of the Nevada State Museum, where you can learn about the entire history of the state of Nevada."

The Springs Preserve is currently open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Monday, with ticket prices starting at around $5 for children. And it's a must-visit for all of us who are calling Southern Nevada home.

"For the longest time, we've been told that we have imploded all of history, but really in the past decade, historical preservation has really become a major part of Las Vegas' identity. And an important part of Las Vegas culture," Harper said.

Las Vegas resorts celebrating Year of Tiger with Lunar New Year displays

Las Vegas, Nev.

There is always something to celebrate in Las Vegas and as we turn the calendar into 2022 we are also moving into the Lunar New Year.

Chinese New Year ranges from Jan. 21 to Feb. 20 and this year it falls on the first day of February.

Typical celebrations can last up to 16 days but we are in Las Vegas where those experiences are upgraded with celebrations lasting into March.

Several resorts are turning their attention to the holiday and adding their own displays in celebration of the Year of the Tiger.

The tiger is the third animal in the Chinese Zodiac and symbolizes strength, passion, bravery and ambition.

The jewel of the Las Vegas Strip when it comes to showing its colors for the different seasons is the Bellagio Botanical Garden.

And this year, Bellagio's talented horticulture and engineering teams have transformed the 14,000-square-foot space into the "Eye of the Tiger."

"The Lunar New Year exhibit incorporates traditional elements with contemporary pieces that add excitement and a fresh perspective to long-standing Asian traditions,” said Ed Libby, conservatory designer at the Bellagio.

The garden has been designed to bring prosperity and luck to all who visit which features more than 5,700 plants.

It takes visitors through a journey complete with lotus flowers, gold coins, silk-lantern chandeliers, and of course a tiger as the centerpiece.

"There is something glamorous when it comes to the details in this exhibit. And it is something that we thrive to do is upping the glamour factor," Libby said.

The colossal bronze tiger is 8,000 pounds, according to the Bellagio, and is positioned in the center of the garden drinking from a pond.

Giant replicas of cherry blossoms, tangerines created with roses can also be seen surrounding the tiger -- with a symbolic money tree made of 370 coins in the West Bed.

Golden lotus flowers that double as fountains, signifying rebirth and recovery can also be found in the garden. A tea house, representing tradition and hospitality overlooks a pond with Koi fish in the North Bed.

A giant pomegranate tree can be spotted in the garden's South Bed surrounding a temple with live bamboo, citrus and bonsai trees.

"One thing I wanted to do since I started is to add depth to the Bellagio Conservatory displays. Our in-house artist created a morning art piece in the display that will be upgraded over time as well," Libby said.

Down the boulevard, MGM Resorts also has portions of its Aria Resort already in a full display featuring Year of the Tiger decorations. The front lobby has a 196-foot dragon hanging from the ceiling.

And below the dragon visitors will see a money tree made up of 88 golden coins symbolizing wealth and good fortune.

Cherry blossom clouds and lanterns can also be found throughout the lobby display.

Floral arrangements can also be found throughout the resort along with tiger sculptures and even a special Buddha garden in the north valet area.

Bellagio's Botanical Garden and the Aria Resort are both open 24-hours with Year of the Tiger displays available until March 5.

Las Vegas Natural History Museum connecting visitors with past and present

Las Vegas, Nev.

In a town that's always changing, it's nice we can all take a step back and appreciate the natural world of where we live.

The Las Vegas Natural History Museum is celebrating 30 years on Las Vegas Boulevard and continues to allow visitors to learn while taking a step back in time.

"We started as a really small museum by several volunteers back in 1991. We are an accredited museum where only 6% of museums nationally are. We have 40,000 square feet of exhibit space from dinosaurs to Africa," said Kate Porter, co-executive director at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum.

You'll feel like a world traveler during your visit discovering dinosaurs, marine life and ancient Egypt.

"We really enjoy taking people on a trip through the wonders of the world. We also have prehistoric mammals and dinosaurs, ancient Egypt along with a working paleontology lab," Porter said

And of course, Nevada is proudly on display at the museum -- as visitors of all ages can get to know and experience our desert landscape including some items that have been buried for some time.

"Our wild Nevada exhibit features items that can be seen within 100 miles of the museum. One of the important parts of the museum is our paleontology lab. We are a state and federal repository for the state of Nevada. And we have been able to bring home Nevada's fossils that had been previously in storage," Porter said.

The natural history museum has been a part of the Las Vegas community for three decades thanks to volunteers and its strong connection with the community.

"Everything you see on display has been created by the community through fundraising and donations. We have been very fortunate to have the different community foundations to make the exhibits possible through grant donations and individual donors who just love this museum<" Porter said.

And not only can visitors view the different artifacts and exhibits but the museum prides itself in being able to teach those who visit.

"We focus on lifelong learning here. We have learning projects and rooms that focus on families. We have A/C for the summer and a heated space in the winter. And we have hands-on activities where everyone can participate in to really love and inspire with the natural world and ourselves," Porter said.

A team of 20 helps bring the museum and its exhibits to life along with several volunteers who have been behind the museum since its start.

"It's a variety of folks who have donated to the museum over the years. Our original founder just retired this past July after we marked our 30th anniversary. And she was one of the original volunteers who started the museum," Porter said. "We are small but mighty and very volunteer-based. We have about 20 staff members to make all of this happen and looking forward to doing all of this for another 30 years and beyond."

Las Vegas Boulevard is full of entertainment and lights but its history is not forgotten on the boulevard.

"We are very proud to be down here in the Cultural Corridor. We have really strong relationships with the Neon Museum and the Historic Mormon Fort next door. We are literally the history of Las Vegas right here," Porter said.

Las Vegas sportsbooks expecting betting excitement for Chargers-Raiders finale

Las Vegas, Nev.

The NFL season is entering its regular-season finale this week but it doesn't end until the Chargers come to town to face the Raiders.

The Chargers-Raiders game has been flexed to Sunday Night Football as the two teams battle for a playoff berth.

All eyes will be returning to Las Vegas and Allegiant stadium from the casual fan to those who are wanting a little more action.

"The playoffs start Sunday night. The winner moves on and the loser goes home. Raiders-Chargers, what could be more exciting with the game happening in our own backyard," said Chuck Esposito, Red Rock Resort sportsbook director.

Esposito says there is already excitement in the air about Sunday's matchup, especially with a betting line that has opened so close between the teams.

"The Raiders are at home but they are the underdog at home Sunday night. The game opened up with the Raiders at +2.5 but the public has surprisingly bet the Chargers so far. That line has moved to three but I think our fan base with back their team with their love and their pocketbook," Esposito said.

The Raiders enter Sunday's game at 9-7 with a shot at the playoffs in what has been a turbulent year for the team after losing players due to off-the-field conduct and even their head coach Jon Gruden.

But they enter Sunday one of the league's hottest teams.

"The Raiders are still a little bit of a long shot to win the big game. But they have won three in a row and this season has been a bit different and anything can happen in the playoffs. Love the way they have been playing," Esposito said." They have literally been playing playoff football already and have three straight wins. They are one of the hottest teams in the league and you want to play Week 18 at home and that's what the Raiders have at Allegiant Stadium."

And the Chargers are no pushovers themselves as they also enter Sunday's game with a 9-7 record with even Las Vegas sportsbooks giving them the initial edge.

"This has been an easy one to make. What else are you going to do then make the Chargers a three-point favorite? And it will come down to a lot of the matchups. The Raiders game is going to be a huge matchup no matter what with so much on the line," said oddsmaker Jimmy Vaccaro at the South Point hotel-casino.

If we are wondering about the betting options, you are not alone as football is king in Las Vegas.

"People have fallen in love with football and we can do a lot more now with gaming. It's a great tribute to those who just love to come and even now for a little bit of an escape," Vaccaro said.

The betting experts both say to stay within your means if you are starting off in the betting world but to also pay attention to the information that is out there.

"If you are just getting started, we are in an information era and I would say to stay within your means but also look at all of the information out there. We are in such uncertain times with players' availability in question," Esposito said. "So, just pay attention and stay within your means and have fun."

Whatever the outcome, football has brought an extra element of action and excitement to Las Vegas.

"Football is football and it carries everything throughout the year," Vaccaro said.

Enchant continues winter wonderland at Las Vegas Ballpark

Las Vegas, Nev.

The Las Vegas Ballpark has transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland for the holiday season.

The festive display is called Enchant, and it's something that can't be missed in Downtown Summerlin with an 80-foot Christmas tree at the center of the display as the holiday celebration continues.

"Enchant is a holiday adventure for all ages. The holiday spirit has not subsided. It just extends the holiday season, so Christmas doesn't end in just one day," said Gene Lubas, experience and talent director at Enchant.

Enchant is making its Las Vegas debut and is one of the largest Christmas displays in town, with a maze, ice skating, and even a reindeer scavenger hunt.

"We have a light-up maze that is something similar to that of a corn maze. But Enchant's maze gives those a chance to wander through a ballpark to help locate Santa's lost reindeer. An elf has left the gates open, and all the reindeer have scattered," Lubas said.

Upon entering the maze called The Great Search, visitors walk through a mystical forest of millions of lights with several large art installations as they journey to save Christmas.

"The theme of Enchant this year is The Great Search -- the search for the missing reindeer. So, it's the job of our guests to find all of the reindeer and present their scorecard at the end to get a present," Lubas said.

The Enchant adventure also includes an ice skating trail, a Christmas Village for gourmet holiday treats, a Santa visit -- all among a dazzling Christmas light maze.

"The maze is the star of the show. There are sculptures made in Ukraine with lights from China. It's something unique and something you really don't see a lot," Lubas said. "There's an ice path where guests can skate through the magical lights of the display. Also, next to the maze, there's a dance floor where the lights change as the kids step."

Enchant will remain open until Jan. 2, 2022, and features several local businesses as a part of the holiday event.

"On the concourse level, we have a Village -- a European Christmas market -- where guests can get clothing, crafts and food from several featured local restaurants," Lubas said. "We have brought in a lot of local entertainers that include local choirs and universities. So, along with the local small businesses here, we wanted to create a local representation."

Enchant will be back next year with an entirely new display, but there's still time to enjoy it in its final week at the ballpark, along with a few specials.

"We wanted to bring Enchant to Las Vegas for the locals of Las Vegas and for the tourists. And if you do, come this week. We have a family four-pack where families can get 20% off. So, bring your family," Lubas said.