Beyond the strip: 5 epic day trips from las vegas

Las Vegas is a vibrant and glamourous destination, ranked as one of the top U.S. vacation destinations for Americans over 50, according to AARP’s Travel Trends survey. But beyond the glitz

and allure of the Strip, it’s a perfect jumping-off point for day trips that showcase stunning landscapes and unique attractions in the American Southwest, including the legendary Route 66.

“Vegas is so uniquely positioned. … We’re in the middle of nowhere, but we’re within a day tour drive time of so many fabulous places,” says Will Tryon, co-owner of Adventure Photo Tours,

which offers guided sightseeing excursions from Las Vegas. “The stops along the way to get to these locations, that in itself is a sightseeing tour.” As temperatures cool, now is the perfect

time for adventures that go beyond the neon glow and blinging casinos of Las Vegas Boulevard. Whether you prefer desert vistas, historic highways, quirky roadside attractions, or even a

hint of the extraterrestrial, here are five unforgettable day trip destinations to explore – all within a few hours of Las Vegas. Rachel, Nevada, is known as the UFO Capital of the World.

For food living up to the area’s hype, stop at Little A’Le’Inn. Getty Images 1. RACHEL, NEVADA If you’re fascinated by the unknown, take a drive along the Extraterrestrial Highway. Pick up

this iconic 98-mile stretch of State Route 375 about 90 minutes north of Las Vegas, then go west toward Rachel, known as the UFO Capital of the World. “This is a pilgrimage to Mecca for the

[alien] enthusiast,” admits Tryon. “There [are] a huge amount of people that look up at the sky and [wonder] … ‘Is there other life out there?’ ” Make E.T. Fresh Jerky in Hiko your first

stop for nearly two dozen jerky flavors, such as chili limon and teriyaki. Snap a photo of the mural of cowboy aliens outside before heading up the road to the Alien Research Center – a

kitschy gift shop with a gigantic alien statue out front. From here, it’s 38 miles to Rachel, a town of fewer than 50 residents. Fuel up at Alien Cowpoke, then stop at the famous Little

A’Le’Inn for an Alien Burger topped with a super-secret alien sauce. Tryon says, “to go there, … touch it, and be there and have lunch at the famous Little A’Le’Inn,” is pretty special for a

lot of guests on his tours.  You’re a stone’s throw from Area 51, but given its top-secret nature, it’s strictly off-limits to the public. Continue on to the end of the scenic byway, where

Warm Springs, an abandoned ghost town, marks the turn-around point. Mojave National Preserve spans a vast 1.6 million acres of desert in southeastern California. Getty Images 2. MOJAVE

NATIONAL PRESERVE, CALIFORNIA Slightly more than one hour south of Las Vegas, the Mojave National Preserve spans a vast 1.6 million acres of desert in southeastern California. Start your

visit at the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center, which is open Friday through Monday. You’ll find brochures, passport stamps, postcards, and a half-mile nature trail. The main visitor

center, Kelso Depot, is currently closed for repairs.