The second-largest city in Nevada, Henderson, is technically a gateway to Las Vegas. However, the town, long-surviving in an identity crisis, has much to offer.
Vegas! Strip clubs, casinos, guilt trip- it has everything! But, if you have moved on from the Downtown’s loudness, Henderson is an ideal alternate base.
With its wetlands, water park, lake, Mead National Recreation Area and Valley of Fire State Park, and Hoover Dam in its proximity, Henderson is a go-to spot for coming down, cooling off, and getting some ‘me’ time with nature.
Mix this change of speed with a choice of good-value hotels, a relaxing setting, and accessible, low-cost dining, and you can see why the locals are that much more tender than their Vegas next-door-neighbor.
How to reach Henderson?
By Flight
Henderson Executive Airport is the city’s main airport, with flights from nearly all major U.S. cities.
By Car
If you are driving from Arizona or Boulder City, you can either take Route 166 or US 93. Route 166 is Lakeshore Drive and will change into State Route 564 once; you do not overlap with Route 147 anymore. In US 93, it will change into a freeway after the Railroad Pass Hotel.
Top Attractions in Henderson
Seven Magic Mountains
Seven Magic Mountains are the most beautiful neo-colored, stacked-up marshmallows in a desert. It is the loveliest spot for art fanatics who carry their GoPros to this untouched swath of desert.
Henderson Booze District
For collectors of distilled spirits and brews, a walk in the Henderson Booze District is a must. Here beer lovers will see Bad Beat Brewing and CraftHaus Brewery, two of the best Las Vegas Valley beer producers. Nearby, you can try some vodkas, quality whisky, bourbons, and Las Vegas Distillery bottles. The distillery offers beautiful tours, and the breweries hold many events from street parties complete with food trucks to indoor trivia competitions and live bands.
Lake Las Vegas
Fitting for its desert vicinity, Lake Las Vegas looks something like a real mirage. On its western shore is a nearly-authentic Italian seaside village with restaurants and some stores. The area was hit hard in the Great Recession but is inching its way back as new residents move in, and tourists return.
It has recently developed as a water-sports destination. Sit-down paddle boats are popular, with Stand-up paddling (SUP), canoe, and inflatable kayak undoubtedly ready to attract you. Cruise boats can be rented as well. There’s also a water hoverboard/jetpack concession for thrill-seekers.
If you are visiting in summer, please don’t forget to watch movies on the beach. Yes, they play outdoor movies that draw enormous crowds.
El Dorado Canyon
A real ghost town experience in a desert? Sure, El Dorado is here to fascinate you. If you have a knack for ghost-town experience filled with derelict automobiles, weather-beaten buildings, and vintage signs, El Dorado Canyon is a picturesque mother lode. The canyon’s bonanza is the Techatticup Mine district set in a vista of mounting rocks with the Arizona and Colorado River’s horizon. A small store offers kayak rentals and tours’; it’s funky and filled with old-timey taxidermy and knickknacks, too.
Clark County Wetlands Park
Featuring a large visitor center with interactive science displays and walking trails, the Clark County wetlands are a wonderland of leafy cottonwood trees and swaying reeds.
It’s home to myriad insects, birds, bats, and other fauna. In the distance, you can observe the tallest structures on the Strip backed by nearby greenery.
