Get Off the Beaten Path in Henderson, NV
If you feel like you do the same thing every weekend, you may be looking to shake things up a bit. Our team at Las Vegas Jewelry and Coin Buyers has assembled a list of some exciting places that locals may not know about. Below, you can discover some of the most underrated places to visit in Henderson, Nevada.
Lion Habitat Ranch
Lion Habitat Ranch is a great place for anyone with an adventurous spirit. This sanctuary houses lions and giraffes and offers different experiences to cater to guests’ varying interests. For example, you can participate in “Feast with the Beasts,” which is an opportunity to enjoy a delicious park-prepared meal in close proximity to the animals. You can also take an hour-and-a-half tour to see all of the behind-the-scenes action that goes on at the sanctuary. Depending on the time of day, you may get to see care tasks like feeding, bathing, and cleaning.
General admission tickets are affordable for all, but there are special discount rates for local residents, seniors, military personnel, college students, and hotel employees. All children under 3 get in for free, and one child between the ages of 4 and 14 can enter for free with the purchase of an adult ticket. You can also take advantage of group rates to save even more money if you’re coming with a larger party.
Some of the coolest activities to participate in at Lion Habitat Ranch are the animal feedings. It’s one thing to watch the zookeepers feed the animals, but with this event, you have the chance to do it yourself. You can pay per person or per pound of food to feed either the giraffes or lions. When you head home for the day, don’t forget to stop by the Lion Habitat Ranch’s gift shop. The shop sells paintings that the resident giraffe, Ozzie, creates himself, which will help you make your trip even more memorable.
Ethel M Chocolates and Cactus Garden
Have you ever considered the combination of chocolate and cacti? We hadn’t either until we visited Ethel M Chocolates and Cactus Garden, but the two turned out to be the perfect duo. You can visit the chocolate shop to purchase various chocolates that include nuts, fruits, and caramel filling.
You can also opt for milk or dark chocolates, or adult chocolates with liqueur inside of them. If you come during the chocolatiers’ shifts, you can see them in action, making all the treats that you love. If you visit during an off-hour, you can still take a self-guided tour of the kitchen and factory and get a glance into the world of chocolate-making.
Feel free to enjoy the chocolate yourself during an on-site tasting or buy a few boxes to give to the special people in your life. If someone you know has a birthday or special occasion coming up, you can pair a box of chocolates with a new piece of jewelry from Las Vegas Jewelry and Coin Buyers.
Once you finish all your chocolate tasting and shopping, you can head to the site’s cactus garden. This is a three-acre area that contains nearly 300 plant species. Some of the cacti and succulents are native to the southwest United States, while the others are desert shrubs and trees from South America and Australia. There’s plenty of beauty to explore here, and you can take in all of the fascinating greenery at your leisure as you stroll on the garden’s trails.
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve consists of 140 acres of land for several resident desert birds like roadrunners, crissal thrashers, Abert’s towhees, and verdin all year long. Thousands of migratory waterfowl make their way in and out of the preserve, depending on the time of year, so you’re likely to have a different experience during each season you visit. You can access any one of the nine birding ponds via grass and paved surfaces. The paved surfaces are wheelchair accessible, so all visitors can easily navigate the area and witness the birds in their temporary or permanent habitats.
If you want to do something a little different at Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, you can visit the habitat of the resident tortoise Tino. He emerges from hibernation in late March, so residents can see him in action before he goes back into hibernation, which is usually sometime in the middle of October. Meanwhile, there are plenty of educational programs that the preserve hosts so that you can learn more about Tino and his lifestyle as a desert tortoise.
Three Kids Mine
Three Kids Mine, which some residents colloquially refer to as “The Wheel of Misfortune,” is a marvelous sight to see. While it was once a manganese mine in the 1900s, it’s now a go-to roadside attraction that features graffiti from local artists. You can stand on the structure’s edges to look at the fascinating artwork that people create. Each time you visit, you may find something new to marvel at, as the artwork is always changing.
Once you’re done spectating, you can continue along the hiking trail near Lake Las Vegas. Three Kids Mine is a resting point between mile markers 9.0 and 10.5. You can hike your way to mile 9.0 or drive to Three Kids Mine, complete your observing, and continue hiking to get some steps in for the day.
Clark County Heritage Museum
Clark County Heritage Museum is a great place for history buffs who want to learn more about their place of residence. It’s open most days from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. except for major holidays like New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The whole site is around 30 acres in size, so there’s plenty to explore.
One of our favorite areas is the fossil site, as you can learn about the history of pre-historic southern Nevada. You can also visit the Ghost Town and Mining Trail to take a stroll and witness some old-timey buildings that have since undergone restoration. Other points of interest include the Railroad Cottage, the Boulder City Depot, and the Esslinger Barn.
Do you have a favorite spot to visit in Henderson, Nevada? The team at Las Vegas Jewelry and Coin Buyers is always looking for new places to see. We’d love to hear about your go-to spot off the beaten path, so you can contact us today to chat. You may also stop by one of our locations, whether that be in Henderson or an adjacent city, to browse our inventory of watches, gold, silver, diamonds, coins, and other luxury items.
Lion via Flickr by Peter Harrison | Licensed by CC BY 2.0
