Off the Beaten Path

By Francesca Maria ALL ABOARD!  Located inside the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, you can have excursions on Lake Mead to Hoover Dam, all aboard the “three-decker Mississippi-style paddle-wheeler.” The Desert Princess vessel was built mainly to cruise the clean, blue waters of picturesque Lake Mead. Visitors and locals alike can enjoy a fun combination of spectacular scenery and good food on regularly scheduled cruises and private charters. Escape the Vegas grind and have some “Off the Beaten Path” entertainment for an outrageously great time on the water. Lake Mead was formed by the creation of Hoover Dam and is the 16th largest man-made lake in the world occupying 1.5 million acres with 820 miles of shoreline. Approximately 30 minutes away from Las Vegas. Lake Mead is home to a vast array of animal species such as the desert tortoise, bighorn sheep, coyotes and much more. Also, various indigenous plants and trees are a regular feature in the area. One of the most p...

Hello, for you Southern California dwellers or for your travelers coming through the Southwestern parts of California, I am sharing with you a place close to my heart. I grew up in the high desert of California, and Joshua Tree National Park was my closest neighbor.  I have hiked every trail, and climbed every rock. I swam in the small lakes of water after big rain storms, and had hundreds of picnics with family and friends. I taught my kids how to camp and climb rocks in this park. I drank the water that comes up out of the springs at the oasis found in the middle of the desert, that you can hike to on a hiking trail. And I played hide and seek in the over sized palms next to the oasis pretending to be Billy the Kid. (Who also once came through the area and hid in the long hanging leaves of the palm trees when he was being chased by the Marshal and his posse. The memories I store from the years I lived out there are the most pleasant of all. I urge anyone who loves nature...

Bootleg Canyon  by Francesca Maria This month, is the time for outdoor adventure! For all you nature enthusiasts and athletic creatures if you have not explored Bootleg Canyon yet, then this is one place you must make time for your next outdoor excursion.  Bootleg Canyon is known for its outstanding hiking trails where you will have beautiful views of Lake Mead, and if you love to go mountain biking, then this is the place to be! You will enjoy some of the best mountain biking in the country in Bootleg Canyon. A world-famous mountain bike park, with over 36 miles of trails, the lower trails are for beginners or people who want less strenuous trails.While upper trails will challenge your biking skills. For those seeking beauty combined with adventure, hike or grab a shuttle to the top of the mountain and enjoy the views of both the Las Vegas Valley and Lake Mead as you navigate the steep maze of technical downhill trails. Bootleg Canyon is in the River Mountain R...