Hoover Dam, near Las Vegas Hello, When is a good time to visit the desert area around Las Vegas? As teens, we braved the hot summers to get to water ski on the Colorado River, located south of Las Vegas. But due to the water being a little cold, it was a perfect place to camp out and get dipped in the cool blue water just south of Parker Dam portion. But outside? We did not wander around visiting sites due to the hot weather. But, many years later, when we got the chance, my wife and I were able to spend a day driving around the Las Vegas area being visitors during the months of late November. No rain storms in So Cal, so the desert areas are ripe for exploration, even during the day. Not as hot as the summer, but just normal T-Shirt weather. The always crowded Hoover Dam was a sight we had never seen up close. Parking and walking to the viewing point was amazing, even in the bright sunny day. Jnaki On our return cross country trip from Kansas City back towards the Westcoast, we did stop at Lake Las Vegas just 20 miles outside of actual downtown Las Vegas during our last stop prior to heading for the coast. We wanted to sail on the lake, as a dealer had set up shop with some rental sailboats we normally see in So Cal harbors. So, we thought it was going to be a natural for us. But, as we got there, the dealer said no rentals as the winds were too unpredictable and they did not want us to be out on the lake during those wild swooping windy days. Despite being a relatively flat lake, the swirling winds made it difficult for most people on the lake to sail, so, the shop closed the rental fleet to everyone. We had been out on the ocean in stronger winds, but they were predictable coming from a certain direction and we would be able to adjust the sails to move ahead. YRMV We knew about the swirling winds in mountain lakes and those are very unpredictable. Despite the hot weather, we braved the area in our A/C station wagon and drove around the desert area as sight seeing tourists. Actually, there is not much to see besides dry, brown desert scrub, unless one comes to a water sprinkling area and now, some greenery. Ha!
The Jalopy Journal
