Las Vegas - Alternative Vegas Vacation

I'm thinking of taking my girlfriend to Vegas in early august. I've been once (stayed at Luxor right after it opened), she's never been. She's, how should I put this, not really the "Vegas type", (no all you can eat buffets for her) instead, she's into outdoors-related stuff (hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking, etc.). I was wondering about the viability of a vacation where we could spend days hiking/biking and nights on something a bit more cultured. Also, I'd rather not camp. ;-) We'd eat decently well, though we little interest in clubbing or gaming. . .

Anyway, a few questions.

1) Is Vegas too hot in August to spent a significant amount of time outside?
2) Are there any decent places to explore nature in the Vegas area? What's Red Rock like? Lake Mead? Others?
3) Are there decent places to stay around there? Looked at Red Rock Resort, which even has packages, but they seem pricey (biking package, which included 2 nights, bikes, and massages was almost $500). Happy to spend the money, but that, well, seemed expensive for what it gave. Better to stay on the strip and head out? Happy to spend 100-200/night on a room if it buys something worthwhile. . .could FHR help me as well?

Anyway, this is still amorphous to me (still in the planning stages)--any suggestions?

Thanks.

I recommend you look at staying at the Red Rock Resort or the JW Marriott unless you HAVE to be on the trip for the typical Vegas stuff. The Red Rock Resort has nice rooms. The JW Marriott does too; indeed some of the best "standard" rooms in town. Both well worth $100-$200.


Note the JW often comes up on priceline. check out betterbidding.com

Forget it. August is not the time to be doing outdoor things here!

Not sure how long you're going for, but if you have the time, would highly recommend renting a car and driving to St. George and / or Zion for a few days. St. George is about 2 hours away and Zion is about 3 hours. Great hiking in St. George and Zion is beautiful.

Bring plenty of water, plan to start hiking at daybreak and be off the trails by 8:30 / 9'ish and you should be ok.

Also, don't forget Mt. Charleston for biking and hiking - much cooler there at altitude and it's about an hour from Las Vegas.

http://www.hikinglasvegas.com/MtCharleston.html

I prefer hiking in Valley of Fire to Red Rock, but both will be too hot in August. I just did a trip report on hiking in Southern Utah, but that's much too far for getting back to Vegas for nighttime shows. And August is when there is a greater chance of flash floods in the canyons. Can you delay your trip and go in the fall? The aspens changing color make it quite nice then. An option would be to spend a few nights in Bryce and Escalante and then a night or two in Vegas on each end. (I finished my hiking off with a much-needed day at the spa at Trump.)

If you decide to go to Escalante, Kiva Kottage is surely the nicest lodging in the area.

There are some photos here from my trip:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/963132-vegas-depths-utahs-hidden-slot-canyons-bryce-escalante-w-pics.html

I'm thinking of taking my girlfriend to Vegas in early august. I've been once (stayed at Luxor right after it opened), she's never been. She's, how should I put this, not really the "Vegas type", (no all you can eat buffets for her) instead, she's into outdoors-related stuff (hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking, etc.). I was wondering about the viability of a vacation where we could spend days hiking/biking and nights on something a bit more cultured. Also, I'd rather not camp. ;-) We'd eat decently well, though we little interest in clubbing or gaming. . .

Anyway, a few questions.

1) Is Vegas too hot in August to spent a significant amount of time outside?
2) Are there any decent places to explore nature in the Vegas area? What's Red Rock like? Lake Mead? Others?
3) Are there decent places to stay around there? Looked at Red Rock Resort, which even has packages, but they seem pricey (biking package, which included 2 nights, bikes, and massages was almost $500). Happy to spend the money, but that, well, seemed expensive for what it gave. Better to stay on the strip and head out? Happy to spend 100-200/night on a room if it buys something worthwhile. . .could FHR help me as well?

Anyway, this is still amorphous to me (still in the planning stages)--any suggestions?

Thanks.

Yes-It is called Arizona :D

Seems like the right answer here is to postpone for another time or find another spot. Thanks to everyone for setting me straight!

Yes-It is called Arizona :D

Is Arizona that much cooler in the summer?

Also, don't forget Mt. Charleston for biking and hiking - much cooler there at altitude and it's about an hour from Las Vegas.

http://www.hikinglasvegas.com/MtCharleston.html

Yeah, Mt. Charleston would be nice then. Otherwise, though, stay indoors if possible.

Everyone is off base here. Force your friend to a buffet, eat up a storm and everything you do after that will be a hike. Trust me, I know ;).

Take the trip in October. Stay in Vegas, head west to Death Valley, and north to Zion National Park. Great opportunities to see spectacular stuff, no more than 2 hour drive. You can use Vegas as a base, can overnight in St George UT if you really like the red rocks.

Take the trip in October. Stay in Vegas, head west to Death Valley, and north to Zion National Park. Great opportunities to see spectacular stuff, no more than 2 hour drive. You can use Vegas as a base, can overnight in St George UT if you really like the red rocks.

Yeah, October sounds much better for outdoor stuff.

I'll second the overnight stay if you're going to Zion--it's 3 hours by road each way. Beware of speed traps once you're off the interstate.

Zion and Bryce are both good options. The north rim is well worth the effort too.

Hiking at Red Rock is not that bad in the summer if you start at daybreak. Besides...it is a dry heat

Is Arizona that much cooler in the summer?

there are parts of both AZ. and NM that are much cooler than LAS even in the summer.But I think considering them will have far more beneficial results(happy GF=happy you)than considering Las Vegas

Regardless-you have to realize that as soon as you get back to city limits you will be in Las Vegas=and all that it embraces.So If the GF is not cool with "Las Vegas-the Concept"then,depending on her temperment,the whole trip will either be"eh?"or "yuch!" and will bring your vacation down also.
Take this from one who has tried traveling with Vegas haters in the past ;)

I was there last May, it was hot, and like a big dummy went back in August for more HOT! However, my tan was great.

If hindsight was 20/20, I wish...I'd come back in the late fall, then hiking is more reasonable. You don't want heat stroke.

Yes there is zilch humidity, everything dries out including your skin.

My daughter who loves the heat even complained.

I'll be back in late October, G-d willing.