Located just 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip and nestled along a majestic mountainside, the Mediterranean-themed Lake Las Vegas Resort offers vacationers a special brand of tranquility that can’t be found anywhere else in Southern Nevada. Along its 10 miles of shoreline, you’ll find three championship golf courses, world-class hotel accommodations, shopping and fine dining as well as abundant recreation, in and out of the water.

Lake Las Vegas offers world-class hotels, fine dining, shopping and recreation.

The centerpiece of the resort is the Monte Lago Village, a charming, Tuscan-inspired enclave that’s home to the MonteLago Resort  and Casino, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas, the Lake Las Vegas Vacation Villas as well as dozens of smalls shops, galleries, cafés and restaurants. Favorites for our family include breakfast at Café Positano, delicious gelato from Tutti Gelati and dinner and wine at Sunset & Vines or the Medici Café and Terrace at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas.

MonteLago Village at the Lake Las Vegas Resort.

Each weekend, the MonteLago Village features live, outdoor entertainment from music performances to movies “al fresco.” You can visit the village’s calendar for a listing of events available all year long. 

The village’s full-service marina offers watercraft rentals for sailing and fishing, and yacht cruises on the 320-acre lake. You can also take a ride of an Italian Gondola, enjoying the picturesque view while enjoying a gourmet meal and sipping champagne. During the winter months, the village unveils its floating ice skating rink at the marina, providing fun for the whole family. Skate rentals are available on site.

Take a ride on an Italian Gondola at the marina at Monte Lago Village.

For those looking for a more relaxing vacation, take a stroll through MonteLago Village’s quaint and narrow, Italian-style streets, or take a walk along miles of walking trails that encircle the lake’s 10 miles of shoreline. 

For the golf enthusiast, tee up at one of the lake’s magnificent golf courses, including The Falls, Reflection Bay or Southshore. The views from the fairways are breathtaking.

Located on the northwest end of the lake and encompassing 21 acres of lakefront property, the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort is a great option for families and for vacationers traveling with pets. The resort features four restaurants, a 9,000 square-foot spa and a children’s camp. An onsite concierge also offers a range of adrenaline-inducing excursions, including treks to the Grand Canyon, kayaking on the nearby Colorado River and Hummer tours of Nevada’s Valley of Fire.

To get to Lake Las Vegas Resort, take US 95 South or I-215 East to Lake Mead Boulevard and travel east until you reach the entrance. Travel time is about 25 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.

The resort’s hotels offer great seasonal packages making a trip to Lake Las Vegas an affordable one for the entire family.

All photos by Jason Roth.

Sun Valley, Idaho, is a great place to visit, whether you seek a romantic weekend getaway, or a fun-filled family vacation. My husband and I just returned from a quick trip last week, and even though we were only there a short time, we came up with a list of our favorite outdoor activities in Sun Valley:

Biking
Sun Valley, a planned resort community near Ketchum, Idaho, boasts miles of paved and unpaved bike paths, perfect for leisurely rides into town for ice cream, or an over-the-bar, single-track mountain bike adventure up one of the many trails in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. I rented a bike from one of the local shops and headed out with a group to conquer the Copper Basin – my personal recommendation? Go for a higher-end bike with multiple shocks. That single track can get a little bumpy!

Fly Fishing
The river runs right through town, and during the summer, locals hire out as guides to tourists interested in learning or perfecting their fly-fishing technique. My husband went out with Silver Creek Outfitters on the Big Wood, just above the Magic Reservoir, and enjoyed an afternoon of catching (and releasing!) rainbow trout. Although, he did add that it was a good thing the scenery was so beautiful, as sometimes the fish did not cooperate!

Horseback Riding
Just north of Ketchum, in Galena, Idaho, several outfitters offer guided trail rides ranging from 1.5 hours to all day. Our friends took their daughter up one afternoon and enjoyed a lovely trail ride with spectacular mountain views.

River Rafting
Alas, the water was very low in the Snake River when we visited, but early in the season, white water rafting is an exciting way to see the Sun Valley. With Class II and III rapids perfect for family adventures, and Class IV rapids for those seeking more thrilling rides, river rafting looked like a great activity. Next time we will make sure we visit in May and June, when the waters run high.

Ice Skating
That’s right, ice-skating. Even in the summer, the ice rink at Sun Valley Lodge offers open-skate, private lessons, and ice hockey. And for those of who would rather leave this sport to the professionals, Saturday nights during the summer, Sun Valley is host to The Sun Valley Summer Ice Show, featuring Olympic and World Champion skaters.

In between these activities, we also took in a tennis lesson or two, went swimming in the pools, and enjoyed a few retail therapy opportunities. Sun Valley also offers golfing, hiking, and other family activities. We are already planning a winter trip, with all the cold-weather sport options!