Lake Las Vegas for Families
Lake Las Vegas’ “oasis” moniker refers both to its calm, quiet atmosphere away from the Strip—and its man-made lake in the middle of the desert. More laid-back than originally planned, the lovely community offers hotels, lake activities, and a quaint Mediterranean-style village.
101 Montelago Blvd, Henderson, NV 89011, USA
Kids visiting the Westin will love the resort’s kiddie pool, featuring an enormous waterslide that will make adults envious. There’s also a large indoor-outdoor play area (packed with toys!), mini putting green, and sandbox.
2240 Village Walk Dr, Henderson, NV 89052, USA
The outdoor shopping center, packed with stores, restaurants and bars, is a great place to spend an afternoon. Hit up local favorites: the affordable Colorz clothing store that carries brands like Twisted Heart, Da’ Nang and J & Company; Flea Bag’s Barkery and Bow-tique, which bakes doggie treats fresh daily and offers chic dog outfits and accessories; and home accessories from Magnolia Lane.
10 Via Bel Canto, Henderson, NV 89011, USA
An authentic family-owned Italian ristorante, Luna Rossa offers a thick menu of antipasti, pizzas, entrées, and homemade pastas. Favorite items include asiago cheese-filled gnocchetti, salad with grilled salmon and green beans, and linguine with clams. Or go for its homemade ravioli in a variety of flavors, three types of gnocchi, or an indulgent fettuccine Alfredo. Not a pasta night? Order a thin-crust pizza or delicious entrée of chicken or veal. No matter what you’ve chosen to dig into, don’t skip the wine—Luna Rossa’s list is as impressive as those homemade ravioli.
7050 Wetlands Park Ln, Las Vegas, NV 89122, USA
No swimming in this wash—it’s the treated urban waste on its way to Lake Mead. But a brand-new $15 million visitor center offers an interesting education on how the system has greatly improved in recent years in order to allow the Wetlands and its vegetation and wildlife to thrive. The volunteers there can also help interested guests navigate the miles of concrete and gravel walking trails.
25 Via Bel Canto
One-woman show, “JZ,” curates a luxury home furnishings store at the Village with pieces from all over the world, from Asian statement pieces to Italian Carrara marble. Highlights include custom-order furniture, Persian carpets, and stunning chandeliers. Portofino caters to all budgets—price points vary from $2 for little knickknacks, to $200,000 for one-of-a-kind pieces.
11041 South Eastern Avenue
A casual sushi mainstay, I Love Sushi has been a date go-to for as long as anyone can remember. Great for business lunches, too, thanks to long private booths that can hold a group or allow plenty of space to lay out paperwork, I Love Sushi can certainly win any award for “fun for everyone.” Then there are the inventive rolls, a list of more than 100. There are too many to remember what’s in what, but that’s ok—with names like Rock ‘n’ Roll, Kiss of Fire, and Bam Bam, reading the menu is half the fun.
