Come to Las Vegas to enjoy the strip but don't miss the real Vegas.   Surrounding the glamor city are National and State Parks that bedazzle.  Furthermore, all of this is from a few minutes from the strip to a half day's drive.  Some of the parks display the brilliant colors of the desert. Others like Hoover Dam are spectacular in their own right. There are even a variety of water activities that you don't find anywhere else. Surprising to some, there is are a several ski area for winter play.