Desert National Wildlife Refuge

"If you’d prefer a bit of nature-gawking to a major hike, Ash Meadows—with its 23,000 acres of blue-green streams and pools—is a strange and beautiful desert oasis." Full review

"An easy 25-mile drive northwest of downtown, the refuge is home to big horn sheep, mountain lions, eagles, foxes, lizards and more. " Full review

"Five miles southeast of Las Vegas via Hwys 104 and 281, this nearly 14-sq-mile refuge has marshes, woodlands and grasslands to which upwards of 250 bird species have found their way." Full review