What to do in Las Vegas

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS

Set your sights on five wild adventures during the 2022 Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes in Las Vegas, Nevada.

By Larri Jo Starkey

VERYONE KNOWS THAT “WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS STAYS IN VEGAS.” However, with the

Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes coming up, we’re spilling the beans on five fun things to do when you’re not in the saddle. While there are enough activities in Las Vegas, Nevada, to keep you busy from sunrise to well past sundown every day, we chose activities we think will especially appeal to reined cow horse enthusiasts in the city that never closes. Step into the wild side with these adventures.

1. ICE IN THE DESERT

Since you’ve traveled to the desert, how about some time in the land of ice? The Vegas Golden Knights became a National Hockey League franchise in 2017.

The games are as big a spectacle as any of the shows on the Las Vegas Strip, with lights, showgirls and plenty of dramatic action. The team made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in its first year of existence and has been consistent since then. Hockey games are loud, exciting and fun for the whole family.

During the Teton Ridge Stallion Stakes, the Golden Knights take the ice March 24 against the Nashville Predators and go up against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 26.

The concierge at the South Point Hotel & Casino should be able to help you find tickets, or you can go to nhl.com/goldenknights. The team is quite popular, so if you have your heart set on hockey and can’t get into a Golden Knights game, consider visiting the team’s American Hockey League affiliate: the Henderson Silver Knights. That team plays at a venue about a 15-minute drive down the road.

The Silver Knights play at home March 25-26 against the Tucson Roadrunners, then April 4-5 against the Rockford Ice Hogs. Again, the hotel concierge should be able to help with tickets or visit hendersonsilverknights.com.

2. ADRENALINE JUNKIES UNITE

Fearless riders are going to love this option: driving a luxury car on a racetrack.

Have you ever dreamed of speeding around in a Porsche? How about a Ferrari? A Corvette? A Lamborghini? Exotics Racing at Las Vegas Racetrack will hook you up with the car of your dreams and teach you how to drive it. A driving specialist will be in the car with you, coaching you to get faster and faster on each lap.

But there’s more: The same company also offers outdoor go-kart racing and off-road four-wheel drive racing adventures.

These excursions are made for daredevils who want to test their limits—safely! The racetrack is about 15 minutes south of the Las Vegas Strip, and the experience is open seven days a week. Go to exoticsracing. com to choose your own adventure with a different kind of horsepower.

3. CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE

Really, once we say “chocolate,” is there anything else that needs to be said? Ethel M Chocolates flagship store in Henderson, Nevada, offers daily tastings. Chocolate-only tastings will entice the children, while chocolate and wine tastings will delight the adults.

The experience includes education about chocolate and how to identify the flavors. Ethel M is owned by MARS, Incorporated, the parent entity of NRCHA Corporate sponsor, MARS EQUESTRIAN™, so you’re not just savoring chocolate, you’re also supporting one of our sponsors while you become an amateur chocolatier.

Ethel M invites guests to stroll freely through the Botanical Cactus Garden, 3 acres festooned with more than 300 species of drought-resistant plants.

Visit ethelm.com to purchase one of the daily tastings, which last 30 to 45 minutes, but also leave time in your schedule for the free, self-guided tours of the factory. Chocolates, cactus and the desert—be sure you visit this attraction before you leave town.

4. GET AWAY FROM ThE LIGhTS

Las Vegas is fun—no doubt. But if you’d like to get away from the bright lights and the clatter of casinos, an amazing option is just a few miles away: the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Take your own vehicle and drive at your own pace through the Aztec Sandstone canyons on a 13-mile scenic loop through the Mojave Desert. Feast your eyes on rock formations of amazing colors, created with iron oxide through thousands of years.

Surround yourself with the peace of nature in an area with limited cell service—meaning you won’t be interrupted while you get away from it all. At the visitor center, you might even catch a glimpse of the Nevada state reptile: the desert tortoise, an endangered species. This experience is perfect for younger children.

If you’re a biker, the trails are yours at Red Rock Canyon, and there are plenty of paths for hikers as well.

A one-day pass costs $15 per vehicle, and reservations are required until May 31. Visit redrockcanyonlv.org to plan your trip with the family.

5. ThE MOB MUSEUM

The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement, shares stories of organized crime with visitors. An interactive crime lab, especially for ages 11 and up, the museum lets guests figure out how a crime was committed and secure the evidence. Visitors ages 13 and older can try their hands at a firearms training simulator, where they make split-second decisions like law authorities do daily.

Guests of legal drinking age can enjoy a distillery tour and tasting while learning about Prohibition. The museum is open daily, and guests are advised to reserve and purchase tickets in advance at themobmuseum.org.

General admission tickets include access to The Speakeasy in the basement, which is accessible only with the daily password. The replica of a 1920s speakeasy invites guests to enjoy Prohibition-era cocktails and snacks.