Go West, young nature lover.
It’s easy to forget on the Strip that Las Vegas is surrounded by a striking expanse of undeveloped nature, where desert beauty abounds.
When you’re not indoors enjoying the delights of our gaming, our shows or our restaurants here at the Riviera Hotel & Casino, we say: go outside. See why this area earned the name Las Vegas, which is Spanish for “the meadows.”
And we have the perfect place for you to do some exploring: the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. Hankering for some exercise? Want to see desert plants in full bloom? Interested in checking out local produce? The Preserve has it all.
Bike Rentals and Walking Trails
One of our favorite things to do here is to rent a bike at the Preserve’s Exploration Loop Trailhead, across from the amphitheater, and go for a two-mile whirl along the trails.
You can rent bikes on weekends for $8 an hour between 10:00 a.m. and dusk. Get there early, as only 20 bikes are allowed out on the trails at a time.
Missed out on saddling up? No worries: there are 3.65 miles of trails and 110 acres of native habitats and even archaeological sites that you can explore by foot. Bird watching abounds, and you can discover the Las Vegas Springs, which used to provide the valley with water.
Fun fact: the Springs gave Las Vegas its name, as “the meadows” were abundant when this area was moist and green.
The Gardens
The Springs Preserve hosts a number of different gardens, each worth a gander. Our favorites are the cactus gardens, the rose garden and the palm oasis. There’s also an herb garden, plus vegetable gardens and fruit gardens. Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the gardens show off the abundance of the desert. You’d be surprised just how bountiful the desert can be! This place will prove it. You can even purchase a desert rose or cactus to take back home with you — something that doesn’t have to “stay in Vegas”!
Desert Living Center
Called the “Green Jewel” here at the Springs Preserve, the Desert Living Center is a LEED-certified collection of five buildings that host interactive exhibits and galleries that promote sustainable living. You can learn about low-water gardening, green building materials, composting and saving money. There are also lots of activities for kids here, including the Garbage Truck Theater.
Farmers’ Market
Need a healthy snack? The preserve also hosts a weekly farmers’ market. Every Thursday between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the Desert Living Center, you can shop for sustainably produced vegetables, herbs, nuts, dairy products, coffee and more. All products are grown locally or regionally.
To reach the Springs Preserve from the Riviera:
Springs Preserve
333 S. Valley View Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89107
(702) 822-7700
http://www.springspreserve.org
