Las Vegas’ best secret occurs in the autumn. Ask someone who lives in Las Vegas and chances are he will say that the city’s shoulder seasons, especially the fall, are really the best times to visit because the weather is stellar, the crowds are lax and everything people love about Las Vegas is intensified with the extension of local events and festivities.
While much of the country is busy pulling out winter jackets, Las Vegans are finally pulling on jeans and t-shirts and turning off the air conditioning. They can’t wait to get outside, and visitors to the city are encouraged to participate in the fall-time fun. Arts festivals in Boulder City and Summerlin highlight the talent of hundreds of artisans from Nevada, Southern California and Northern Arizona, and at Nellis Air Force Base, Aviation Nation celebrates the Air Force’s accomplishments in air, space and cyberspace with flight demonstrations, tours and more.
Several sporting competitions also take place in the Las Vegas area around this time of year, including the Rock-and-Roll half- and full marathons; the Hoover Dam half- and full marathons; a number of 5-kilometer runs and a couple of triathlons near Lake Mead. Beyond organized events, however, the fall months are an ideal time to hike through Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire, nearby outdoor recreational areas that can be visited in the summer but are much more enjoyable beyond the oppressive heat.
Though a car is needed to reach most of these autumn festivities, the reward of getting beyond the glitz and meeting some of the people who actually live and work in Las Vegas provides a perspective on the city that few visitors ever take the time to explore.