I just got back from a week long conference in Las Vegas. Although the majority of my trip I was stuck inside casinos on the strip listening to presentations, I was able to get out to Red Rock Canyon on the weekend. The weather was incredible for this time of year (highs of 75 F and sunny every day), especially when you are visiting from a place like Oregon. Here are some highlights from the week.
Red Rock habitat
This made me particularly happy
Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)
Snake food
Red Rock furred fauna
This guy thought he had an awesome hiding spot.
Red Rock flora
I was impressed with all the herp decorations at the visitor center.
Family photo time
Back in the city I visited the house where my cousin's tortoises live to see if I could find them but they were hiding in their burrows. Since I had mentioned these tortoises in an earlier post and how they have been living under my family's care for three generations I wanted to include some photographs of their habitat. They have the joined, enclosed yards of two mansions to roam with bridges for during floods. My cousin doesn't know their ages because they were adults when they joined the family but they are at least 50-60 years old.
Back at my cousin's house, separate from the tortoise houses, I found some ducks swimming in her pool.
I did not find the environment on the strip as enjoyable. There was way too much smoke, drunk people, confusing building layouts forcing you to walk through endless rows of slot machines and craps tables.
Strip habitat
There were some animals though.
Strip fauna
The view of Las Vegas strip from the Paris Eiffel tower was slightly better because you couldn't make out all the people and at 541 feet we were above the smoke that encapsulates the casinos.
All in all I had a great time in Las Vegas but wish I had more time to explore the natural areas. I had hoped to make it to Valley of Fire State Park and Death Valley National Park, especially since all the wildflowers were in bloom but wasn't able to make it happen this time around.
Cheers, Heather
Las Vegas February 2016
Moderator: Scott Waters
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Re: Las Vegas February 2016
Great post! Sounds like you had a good sunny reprieve from the northwest.
I hate Vegas also for all the reasons you mentioned.
I hate Vegas also for all the reasons you mentioned.