Laughlin lies just 90 miles from Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada. You may think, why not just go to Vegas? There are a few reasons why people may prefer Laughlin…
· It’s WAY cheaper.
· If you don’t like crowds, it’s much calmer.
· It sits along the Colorado River, which is stunning, but it allows for water sports if that is your jam.
· The mountains surround the city, so nature and outdoor adventures are in abundance.
· It lies at the southernmost tip of Nevada, making it minutes from California and Arizona as well, so there is a lot to do in surrounding areas.
Although we much prefer Las Vegas, we had the pleasure of visiting family and seeing a new place. We found that Laughlin had a more outdated feel and lacked activities within the hotels, outside of gambling.
Some of the highlights of our visit were:
· Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs – Located on Spirit Mountain, you can find these etchings if you travel along Christmas Tree Pass. There are petroglyphs all over in this area, however, there is a substantial concentration of around 1,000 at this specific spot. Created somewhere between 1100 and 1900 AD, these beautiful pieces of history are assumed to be created by members of the Mojave tribes. These ancient markings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are visited frequently. The meaning of these engravings has been lost amongst prior generations, but you will see recognizable images, such as bighorn sheep, the sun, eyes, and people.
· Avi Resort & Casino – This resort is not on the main strip of hotels, but we much preferred this one. The payouts gambling were by far the best, the crowd was better, the hotel was nicer, and if you stay here, you have a private sand beach along the Colorado River. The smell of smoke was also much milder, which is a big plus for us. Fun Fact – The property line for this hotel is along two states, so depending on where you enter – you may be in California or Nevada. If you hit the strip of hotels, we recommend Bourbon Street Casino.
· Davis Dam – This Dam was created by the Mexican Treaty of 1944 in which the United States was responsible to deliver water to Mexico. It runs 67 miles along the Colorado River downstream from Hoover Dam, and 88 miles upstream to Parker Dam. Although you just drive through the parking lot and look at it, it’s a cool little piece of history.
· Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort & Casino – This is the oldest casino in Laughlin. While this hotel is nothing special, the hotel honors the city’s founder, Don Laughlin. Here you can view his vast collection of cars, learn some state history, and see how the city got its start.
· Pioneer Casino – This place is nothing to write home about when it comes to lodging or gambling, but the buildings are worth a picture. It looks like the old west!
Even though we were a bit underwhelmed, we do think this would be a great spot to rent some jet skis and see a concert over a weekend! It’s not a must go on our list, but we still had a wonderful time.
Did somebody say gambling?
TnT
Bonus Pic…This was in Don Laughlin’s Casino – This is a super old casino table! We thought it was neat!
