What Is a Green Las Vegas Vacation?
A Green Las Vegas Vacation means staying true to your healthy & ecologically responsible lifestyle. While having fun in the world's #1 vacation destination.
It's the best of both worlds.
-- Las Vegas' signature activities: world-class gaming, designer shopping & over-the-top shows. PLUS...
-- A full range of Greener options: everything from LEED*-certified lodging & gourmet organic meals to Green-oriented activities & cleaner transportation choices to get there and back.
Here's how I'd create a Green Las Vegas Vacation.
* LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, an official rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council. And a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
Photo courtesy Las Vegas New Bureau
Green Las Vegas Vacation at a Glance
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - Resorts & Hotels
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - Cleaner Rides
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - Organic Food
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - Action Map
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - 'Must See' Attractions
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - Valley Destinations
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - Outdoor Sports
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - Momentoes
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - Outlet Shopping
- Las Vegas Green Vacation - Creative Apparel
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - Creative Furnishings
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - Pre-Owned Media
- Green Las Vegas Vacation - Regional Destinations
- GUEST BOOK: Your turn...
- A Few Closing Words...
Green Las Vegas Vacation - Resorts & Hotels
Step 1 -- Book a Room at a LEED-Certified Property.
Again...LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, an official rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council. And a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
In the last few years, a number of properties were designed to be LEED certified. Unfortunately, the recession hit. Some projects just disappeared. While others stopped construction, with no word about when they might start again.
The three most visible projects are Palazzo, City Center and Echelon. Here's a brief summary of where they stand as we go into the summer of 2009.
Photo: Palazzo Resort, courtesy Wikipedia.org
Green Resorts
Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino
As of April 2008, the luxurious Palazzo became the largest LEED-certified building in the world. And currently the primary Green hotel in town. There is nothing anyone can say to prepare you for this place. Just expect to be blown away when you walk in the front door.
City Center
MGM Mirage's $7 billion, 76-acre city-within-a-city on The Las Vegas Strip. It's fate has been in doubt more than once. But latest word is that all the funding is in place to complete the project. Partial opening (first phase) scheduled for September 2009.
Echelon
Boyd Gaming's $4.4 billion, 87-acre mixed-use space on The Las Vegas Strip. Boyd suspended construction temporarily due to the recession. No word yet on when construction may continue.
Green Guide Listings
Environmentally Friendly Hotels
Green Hotels Association
- Forever Resorts, where you can rent a houseboat on Lake Mead.
Lists a few properties with low to moderate Green Scores.
IStayGreen.org
Lists a few properties with low Green Scores.
AllStays Green Hotels
Lists only Green Valley Ranch Resort (Henderson, NV), which has a low Green Rating of 1 out of possible 6.
For your reference, Global Stewards put together a list of Sustainable Solutions for Green Hotels: a great yardstick for evaluating hotels and their impact on, or regard for, the environment.
Updated: Jul 28, 2009
Green Las Vegas Vacation - Cleaner Rides
Step 2 -- Consider Greener Transporation Options.
Once you have a place to stay, it's good to know how you can get around.
Even if you drove your car to Las Vegas, you might be better off leaving it parked in the hotel garage. Parking is usually FREE. Driving around The Strip & downtown can be a bumper-to-bumper nightmare.
Photo: Las Vegas Monorail, courtesy Las Vegas News Bureau
Greener Transportation
Las Vegas Monorail
Website offers a detailed Interactive Route Map along Las Vegas Blvd (The Strip) and Paradise Rd.; Station Locations; FAQ (hours of service, prices, etc.); News and more. (Simple route map)
Smaller Monorails
They provide a fast, inexpensive and clean way to move between resort properties. Website includes a description of running times and a diagram showing the routes running between...
- Mirage <=> Treasure Island
- Mandalay Bay <=> Luxor <=> Excalibur
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) runs Double Decker Buses (The Deuce) up and down Las Vegas Blvd. Ride upstairs; cool way to see The Strip. Download a Deuce schedule (PDF format)
Regional Transportation Commission (RTC)
Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) operates all the buses throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
- The RTC Transit Guide provides all you need to get around. Web page includes a How-to video for using the guide.
- Schedules for specific routes (PDF format).
The only cab company in town with hybrid vehicles. Toyota Prius Hybrids make up about 25% of the fleet.
Hybrid Vehicles and Segway Rentals
All the hybrid rental vehicles seem to have disappeared from Las Vegas. And Segway of Las Vegas just liquidated their inventory in early 2009.
Mobility Scooters
If you have trouble walking, here's an excellent option for getting around large resort properties. I've heard of people renting them to actually travel between properties, which seems pretty insane to me, given the traffic & construction. Ask your concierge for suggestions.
Bicycles
Green Las Vegas Sports provides links to more information about cycling in Las Vegas. Or go directly to BikingLasVegas.com, which hosts a resource section with a list of shops that rent bicycles.
Green Las Vegas Vacation - Organic Food
Step 3 -- Locate your Neighborhood Options for Organic Food.
So many choices I had to create a separate page.
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Las Vegas Organic Food
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Las Vegas organic food options include 10 major health-food grocery stores. A number of cafes, fine-dining restaurants, neighborhood markets, farmers markets and a home-delivery service also feature Las Vegas organic food. Download my Las Vegas Org...
Green Las Vegas Vacation - Action Map
Not included: locations without a specific address.
Green Las Vegas Vacation - 'Must See' Attractions
Step 4 - Schedule Time for Green Attractions.
Las Vegas is known for starting with a simple idea and then doing everything possible to make it bigger than life & the best in the world.
So it should be no surprise that Las Vegas followed its time-tested formula, when it comes to the concept of Green.
Where another city might build a Green Demonstration Home, Las Vegas built a 180-acre campus in the middle of town dedicated to Green education.
Where another city's museum might create a few Green exhibits, Las Vegas' Lied Museum erected a complete Green village specifically for kids.
All I can say: "This is Las Vegas."
Photo: Springs Preserve, courtesy Las Vegas New Bureau
Must See Green Attractions
Las Vegas Springs Preserve
Also known as The Birthplace of Las Vegas. If you see nothing else off The Strip, visit Springs Preserve. It's a non-gaming cultural and historical attraction designed to commemorate the dynamic history of Las Vegas. While providing a vision for sustainable living & a sustainable future in the desert southwest.
The 180-acre campus hosts...
- Desert Living Center, which incorporates innovative green ideas into every phase to achieve Platinum LEED Certification (the toughest standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council).
- Nevada State Museum - scheduled to open 2009.
- Springs Preserve Cafe, Wolfgang Puck's 6,800 square-foot dining area that showcases organic ingredients from regional artisan producers and growers.
- garden trails.
- meeting facilities.
- concerts & performances. (Again...this is Las Vegas.)
- classes.
- and more.
The new Green Village Exhibition (opened Feb 2009) is a kid-sized environmentally friendly city that includes a State Capitol, NV Energy office, airport terminal, car-care center, plumbing exhibit, Bank of America and Smith's grocery store. Hands-on, interactive displays offer young people a fun way to learn about different kinds of jobs, green living tips and sustainability.
Green Las Vegas Vacation - Valley Destinations
Less than One Hour Away from The Las Vegas Strip
Step 5 -- Experience Nevada's Spectacular Scenery.
Initially, some people might think a desert landscape is just a bunch of hot, dry nothingness. That's what I thought when I first drove through the southwest U.S.
But once you spend some time here, you realize what an incredibly diverse ecosystem surrounds Las Vegas. Wetlands, waterways and a range of mountain habitats complement the desert to provide a wide variety of climates, plants, animals, and related outdoor activities.
Get outside and away from The Strip. It will give you a whole new appreciation for Las Vegas & Nevada.
Photo: Red Rock Canyon, courtesy Las Vegas New Bureau
Scenic Destinations
Clark County Wetlands Park Nature Preserve
Beautiful, peaceful area that features ponds, trail markers, a bird viewing blind, two miles of concrete walking trails, and views of Rainbow Gardens. East Las Vegas, about 10 miles east of The Strip.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
2900 Acres. The Clark County Wetlands flows into this man-made lake formed by the construction of Hoover Dam back in the 1930s. A multi-year drought has left the lake at an historically low level. But it's still worth a visit for year-round access to kayaking, rafting, fishing, swimming, sunbathing, hiking, sightseeing and wildlife photography. About 25 miles east of The Strip.
Hoover (Boulder) Dam
The dam stands at the south end of Lake Mead on the Colorado River at I-93. And contains enough concrete to pave a standard highway 16 feet wide, from San Francisco to New York City. While the dam itself might not sound particularly Green, it's a very important tool for managing water use in the region. Visitors Center & tours. About 30 miles southeast of The Strip.
Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
48,438 acres. Hard to believe this exists just a short drive from Las Vegas Blvd. The Bureau of Land Management calls Sloan Canyon Petroglyph Site "one of the most significant cultural resources in Southern Nevada. ...more than 300 rock art panels with 1,700 individual design elements were created by native cultures from the Archaic to historic era." The road in can be pretty tough on vehicles. About 5 miles from Las Vegas Blvd. at exit 25 on I-15, south of The Strip.
Red Rock Canyon
197,000 acres within the Mojave Desert. The Visitors Center provides excellent educational resources in the form of exhibits, programs and regular activities, plus a small shopping area with books, outdoor clothing & more. The 13-mile scenic drive takes you way back into the canyon, with opportunities to spot wild horses & burros, to cycle, climb rock faces, hike, picnic & camp. About 15 miles west of The Strip.
Mt. Charleston Wilderness
57,442 acres of forested Nevada wilderness in the Spring Mountains. During the summer months, people head to Mt. Charleston to seek relief from the heat. In the winter, there's some pretty decent skiing and snowboarding. Also: hiking, cycling, camping, picnic-ing, photography, stargazing, and more. About 40 miles northwest of The Strip.
MAPS
...3D Maps...
Click button Surrounding Area on left side of screen. A full-screen 3D map pops up with these destinations and links to their websites....from Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
...Standard Flat Map...
You can print out the map. Or download a high-resolution version JPG to your computer. ...from Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Green Las Vegas Vacation - Outdoor Sports
Step 6 -- Connect with Local Green Advocates.
For a complete list of local Green sports resources, check out my Green Las Vegas Sports page. Cycling. Running. Skiing. Boarding. Mountaineering. And lots more.
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Green Las Vegas Sports
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Green Las Vegas Sports means fun outdoor Adventures that can challenge your skills & endurance. Yet leave little or no long-term impact on the environment -- i.e.: Green. Whether you're just starting out. Or been doing it for years. Las Vegas Valley...
Green Las Vegas Vacation - Momentoes
Step 7 -- Take Home Some Green Vacation Reminders.
Anyone can spend a lot of money in Las Vegas.
Just stroll through resorts like Wynn, Caesars Palace, Palazzo or Fashion Show Mall. Shoppe after shoppe features the finest luxury & premium goods from the best designers in the world.
Happily, Las Vegas reserves an array of lessor-known treasures perfectly suited for the truly creative Green adventurer looking for value.
Coming up... Outlet Shopping -- Consignments Shops -- Pre-Owned Media
Green Las Vegas Vacation - Outlet Shopping
Step 7.1 - Let Nothing Go to Waste.
Returns. Repairs. Irregulars. Overstocks. Don't let these items end up in landfills.
Acres and acres of $AVING$ on the brands you love: Anne Taylor, Armani Exchange, Banana Republic, Dolce & Gabbana, Elie Tahari, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren, St. John, Tommy Hilfiger, William-Sonoma, and many more. Some retailers at more than one outlet center. Check each website for a complete list of stores.
Save Money & Mother Nature
Las Vegas Premium Outlets
120 outlet stores @ 875 South Grand Central Parkway. (702) 474-7500. Slightly southwest of Fremont St. and downtown Las Vegas (toward north end of The Strip).
Las Vegas Outlet Center
130 outlet stores @ 7400 Las Vegas Boulevard South. (702) 896-5599. Far south end of The Strip - about 2 miles south of Mandalay Bay on the east side of the street. (Might appear as Belz Factory Outlet World on older maps.)
Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas
100 outlet stores @ Exit 1 off I-15 in Primm, NV. (702) 874-1400. Or toll-free in the US: (888) 424-6898. Primm is about 40 miles southwest of Las Vegas at the Nevada-California border.
NOTE: If you don't want to drive Las-Vegas-Primm-Las Vegas, catch the Shopper's Shuttle for $15. Check out the schedules for departure & arrivals at Fashion Show Mall, MGM Grand Hotel & Planet Hollywood.
The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrobe Piece by Piece
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 11/08/2009) 
List Price: $30.00
Used Price: $3.00
The Pocket Stylist: Behind-the-Scenes Expertise from a Fashion Pro on Creating Your Own Look
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $13.00 (as of 11/08/2009)
List Price: $20.00
Used Price: $3.51
Las Vegas Green Vacation - Creative Apparel
Step 7.2 -- Reanimate Designer Clothing.
Like most cities, Las Vegas has its share of thrift stores and resellers of used apparel.
But Las Vegas also has some consignment shops with good-quality designer clothing. So Recycle. Repurpose. Reuse. And look great doing it. Here's two options located near The Strip.
Keep in mind: a consignment inventory can vary dramatically from day to day.
Classy Clothing Looking for a Muse
It's Paradise Boutique
No website. Usually has a pretty impressive selection of upscale designer clothing at reasonable prices. A friend of mine was so excited with what she found here, I thought her head was going to explode. 2029 Paradise Rd (first major street east of Las Vegas Blvd.) 702.369.3300
Buffalo Exchange
A resale fashion store where you can buy, sell, and trade new and recycled clothing. This is one of over 30 such stores they operate across the country. In Las Vegas, usually a decent selection of designer labels. 702.791.3960
Reconstructing Clothes For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 11/08/2009)
List Price: $19.99
Used Price: $7.99
Subversive Seamster: Transform Thrift Store Threads Into Street Couture
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 11/08/2009)
List Price: $14.95
Used Price: $6.99
Green Las Vegas Vacation - Creative Furnishings
Step 7.3 -- Resurrect Forlorn Furniture.
Business must be good. Colleen's Classic Consignment just opened a second store in Green Valley/Henderson (southeast Valley). And they have a huge inventory of great-looking stuff that the original owners no longer need or want.
Considering this is Las Vegas, their selection on any given day probably provides a lot of opportunity to discover stuff you wouldn't see in other cities.
Feeling lucky? A solid find here could make your day. Or make your whole vacation.
Lonely Furniture Looking for a Loving Family
Colleen's Classic Consignment
Most things are too big for a suitcase. But if you drive to Las Vegas, you might find just the right piece you can haul back home. And tell your friends you had to fight off dragons and space aliens to get it. Oh wait...what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Forget the story. 2 locations
Shopping for Furniture: A Consumer's Guide
Great book for learning how to tell the difference between quality and not-quite quality.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $17.95 (as of 11/08/2009)
List Price: $17.95
Restoration Recipes: Techniques for Repairing and Refinishing Fine Furniture
A guide to purchasing and refurbishing fine & antique furniture: how to develop an eye for finding quality, select tools, and bring tired furniture back to life.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 11/08/2009)
List Price: $19.95
Green Las Vegas Vacation - Pre-Owned Media
Step 7.4 -- Augment your Media Collection for a Song.
Probably seems like an unusual recommendation. But worth mentioning, even for visitors. Books, CDs & DVDs fit easily in a suitcase. Michael's is a favorite of locals and visitors, because they usually have an abundance of hidden treasures looking for a 2nd home. 702.434.1699. Check out the video tour of the store.
Michael's Used Books, CDs, DVDs
(MySpace page)Video Tour of Michael's Used Books in Las Vegas - Part One
Michael's Used Books has been proudly serving Las Vegas since 1995. As one of the few remaining independent bookstores in Las Vegas, we want to introduce YOU to what we have to offer. Our employee Josh went through the store with his digital camera and recorded a tour of the bookstore. Starting from the entrance, Josh makes his way shelf-by-shelf through all of the store's inventory to give you a glimpse of what the store has to offer. A few tongue-in-cheek jokes thrown in as well. CORRECTION: Josh says we are located on Trop and Eastern in the beginning of the video. This is false, we are on Trop and Pecos. Our exact location is: Michael's Used Books 3430 E. Tropicana Ave. Suite 9 Las Vegas, NV 89121 in the Big Lots Shopping Center
curated content from YouTube
Show People Where Your Heart Is
Think Green, the earth will thank you Sweatshirt
Price: 35.99
Green is Sexy Women's Light T-Shirt
Price: 20.99
Little Tree Hugger Baby/Toddler bodysuits
Price: 14.99
Stop Messing Up My Planet (ba Kids Hoodie
Price: 23.99
Green Las Vegas Vacation - Regional Destinations
More than One Hour Drive from The Las Vegas Strip
Step 8 -- Keep the Green Vacation Going.
Having fun? Solidly in your Vacation Zone?
How about a reason or two to extend the Green Vacation just a bit?
There's plenty more to see & do within a day's drive. Perfect for keeping the Green festivities alive.
Photo: Zion National Park, courtesy National Parks Service
Mother Nature's Waiting...
Valley of Fire
Nevada's oldest and largest state park. Features: ancient forests and 3,000-year-old Indian petroglyphs. I remember staring at them for a long time: incomprehensible. Then I stood back a little and started to sense the flow of ideas written across the rocks. Mind-boggling. Stop by the Visitors Center with extensive interpretive displays. Also: camping, hiking, picnic-ing and photography. About 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
Zion National Park
Incredible scenery with hiking, photography, backcountry hiking & camping, birdwatching, bicycling, horseback riding and a variety of ranger-led activities. I've hiked to the top following the switchback trails inside the canyons, and the views are spectacular - especially at sunset. About 140 miles northeast of Las Vegas
Death Valley National Park
Hottest. Driest. Lowest. Can you take it? The heat easily reaches beyond the limits of unbearably hot. You will not believe this place until you experience it first hand. It's like walking around on the top of an electric pancake griddle. About 90 miles west of Las Vegas.
- If you're REALLY crazy, try this: Kiehl's Badwater Ultramarathon -- the "most demanding and extreme running race on the planet" -- 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA in temperatures up to 130F (55C).
Grand Canyon National Park -- no words to describe the beauty, the majesty of this incredible landmark. Nothing signifies America more than the Grand Canyon. Some friends & I hiked down for 2 nights at Bright Angel Campground near Phantom Ranch. Walking thru the smaller canyons at the bottom you can easily picture yourself walking on the moon or another planet. The scale is immense and makes you feel very insignificant. The walk can be tough on the knees. But an elixir for the Soul. Spend a couple days backpacking. Or a couple weeks rafting the Colorado. Beyond Awesome !! Get reservations way ahead. About 1/2-day drive or more east of Las Vegas, depending on the entrance.
- Check out the Grand Canyon National Parks Sights Guide, a commercial web site developed by John William Uhler.
Bordered by a 98-mile stretch of hwy 375. Subject of many UFO theories. And stories of encounters with ExtraTerrestrials (ETs). Drop by the Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel, NV About 1/2-day drive north of Las Vegas.
Not particularly Green in any way. But lots of potential for great stories you can take back home and entertain your friends.
While civilians have been known to snoop around the general vicinity of the base, Area 51 is a secure military facility. And off-limits to the public. As an alternative to getting shot dead, I'd like to suggest augmenting your trip by checking out some of these links.
- UFO News Stories (KLAS-TV local CBS Channel 8)
- The Truth Is in Rachel (Las Vegas Weekly, May 29-Jun 4, 2008)
- Extraterrestrial Highway 375 Photo Tour (UFO-Hyway.com)
- VIDEO: The U.F.O. Disclosure Project (National Press Club, Washington, D.C., May 9, 2001)
- VIDEOS: UFO Hunters (The History Channel)
GUEST BOOK: Your turn...
Let us know you were here.
Got any ideas or tips about taking a Green Las Vegas Vacation? Share a relevant comment, suggestion or correction. Thanks.
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- Anonymous comments not accepted.
A Few Closing Words...
I provide the information on these pages for educational purposes only. Read more.
Green-Las-Vegas.com and related Squidoo pages are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License.
by vacationjunkie
But the desert landscape forces you to always focus on using resources responsibly. So Gre... (more)
