Vegas for Wild Life Animal Lovers

Posted by:  //  Category: Las Vegas Animals


Wildlife is something that big and little kids from all over the world find fascinating. Whether the wildlife is marine, mamma, reptilian, or bird in nature-even insects, kids find intriguing and love to explore. In Las Vegas there are many casinos that not only offer shows that center around animals but also offer shows where animals are the stars. This is one of the few cities in the world that will offer quite the variety of fun, adventure, activity, and fantasy to its visitors. It’s a good idea to sit back and enjoy as much of that as floats your boat while you’re here.

Some of the great animal offerings you can explore and enjoy while visiting Las Vegas include the Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park. This zoo makes up in quality what it lacks in size. This is a relatively small zoo but offers some rare offerings that make this zoo very much worth visiting. Among the rarities at this particular zoo is one of the last families of Barbary apes in the U.S. In addition to these creatures, enjoy watching wallabies, flamingos, chimps, emus, and exotic reptiles.

Zoos aren’t the only businesses in the business of housing animals. It seems that many museums are cashing in on this act as well. Even if some of the shows are offered free the casinos are definitely cashing in on the big rewards that hosting these animal acts offers. The Mirage is home to quite a selection of animals among the offerings here is a White Tiger Habitat at the Mirage. These magnificent creatures are extinct in the wild. Visitors to this free exhibit are fortunate to be able to view them in their snow-white surroundings (this allows them some degree of security and the ability to ‘blend in’ with their environment).

In addition to the White Tiger Habitat, the Mirage is also home to the Mirage Aquarium. This aquarium is home to more than 1000 animals (60 species) that ordinarily would call coral reefs their home. The coral reef within the aquarium is one hundred percent artificial and there is no actual coral reef in this aquarium at all.

The Mirage is also home to the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. I guess you could say that they really do love their animals over there. The goal of this project is not only to provide a safe environment for dolphins but also to educate visitors on the important roll in the ecosystem that these wonderful animals have. The admission to the Secret Garden is $15 for adults. For $500 you can become a trainer for the day if you are over the age of 13. This is a wonderful experience for those that are willing to pay the price.

Mandalay Baby Shark Reef offers glimpses of some rare and not so rare marine life. There are free aquarium experiences around the city but none of them actually quite compare to the scope of the Shark Reef, which is one of the largest exhibits of its kind in North America. The Shark Bay is open daily from 10 am until 11 pm and adult tickets are $15.95 while children’s tickets are $10.95 (4 and under may enter free). This is probably one of the best things to do and see in Las Vegas and well worth the price of admission.

This is only a small taste of the wonderful animal centered activities and events that take place in Vegas each and every day. Animal lovers beware, there is much to see and do here.

Las Vegas Vacations for Less

Dog Parks in Las Vegas

Posted by:  //  Category: Las Vegas Animals

All American Park
Park includes 1 dog run.

Other amenities include:
Approximate Acreage: 45

Football Fields ( 5)
Playgrounds (2)
Picnic Areas (2)
Jogging/Walking Track
Tennis Courts (4)
Water Play Area
Restroom Facility
Concession Stand
Open Space Areas
This is a non-reservable park.

Barkin’ Basin Park
7.75 acre park designated specifically for dogs.
Adjacent to W. Wayne Bunker Park

Three separated dog cells
Shaded seating areas for owners
Dog and people water fountains

This is a non-reservable park.

Centennial Hills
Park includes 2 dog runs

Other amenities include:
Approximate Acreage: 120 (when all phases complete)

Picnic Areas (10)
Sand Volleyball Courts (10)
Soccer Fields (2)
Playgrounds (2)
Water Play Area
Jogging/Walking Path
Restroom Facility
Open Space

For information on reserving this park, please call (702) 229-6718.

Charlie Kellogg and Joe Zaher Sports Complex
The sports complex includes 3 dog runs.

The new state-of-the-art Charlie Kellogg and Joe Zaher Sports complex is set on approximately 110 acres in the northwest part of the Las Vegas valley. The expansive regional park has 11 lighted soccer fields – seven are artificial grass and four are natural turf. It features a three-cell “dogs only” area, children’s play areas, shaded picnic shelters and a large walking/jogging path that surrounds the entire park. The complex is also home to the Amanda and Stacy Darling Memorial Tennis Center, the largest of its kind in the state of Nevada. It includes 23 tennis courts, including one main court with stadium seating for approximately 2800 spectators, a small pro shop, locker rooms and office space. The sports complex will be a huge draw for large tennis and soccer tournaments and is a wonderful addition to the surrounding area.

Children’s Memorial Park
Park includes 2 dog runs.

Other amenities include:
Approximate Acreage: 34.68

Baseball/Softball Fields (6)
Basketball Courts (2)
Bocce Courts (2)
Concession Stand
Fitness Course
Horseshoe Courts (2)
Jogging/Walking Paths (2)
Playgrounds (4)
Roller Hockey Rink
Tennis Courts (2)
Picnic Areas (9)
Restroom Facilities (2)
Dog Park
Open Space

For information on reserving this park, please call (702) 229-6718.

Jaycee Park
Jaycee Park is currently closed for a renovation project that will add a new lighted soccer field and parking lot, a playground area and a small water feature to the 10-acre park. Other improvements include expanding the dog park and reconfiguring pathways, upgrading pathway and security lighting, installing shade structures, reducing turf areas and adding native plantings.

Park includes 2 dog runs.

Other amenities include:
Approximate Acreage: 18.4

Baseball/Softball Fields (2)
Playgrounds (2)
Basketball Court
Bocce Courts (10)
Fitness Course
Horseshoe Courts (6)
Jogging/Walking Palths (3)
Picnic Areas (13)
Shuffle Board Courts (6)
Restroom Facilities (2)
Open Space

Lorenzi Park
Park includes 2 dog runs.

Other amenities include:
Approximate Acreage: 59.37

Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza
Baseball/Softball Fields (4)
Basketball Courts (2)
Concession Stand
Fitness Course
Jogging/Walking Path
Playrounds (3)
Pond
Tennis Courts (10)
Picnic Areas (15)
Restroom Facilities (3)
Open Space

Police Memorial Park
Park includes 3 dog runs.

Other amenities include:
Approximate Acreage: 24

Playgrounds (2)
Dog Park
Basketball Court
Picnic Area
Jogging/Walkiong Path
Tennis Courts (2)
Skate Bowl
Roller Hockey Rink
Desert Garden
Fallen Officer Tree Grove and Memorial Wall
Lou Gehrigs (ALS) Tree Grove
Restroom Facility
Open Space

This is a non-reservable park.

Winding Trails Park
Park includes 1 dog run.

Other amenities include:
Approximate Acreage: 4

Playground
Walking Path
Picnic Area
Dog Park
Restrooms

Woofter Park
Park includes 2 dog runs.

Other amenities include:
Approximate Acreage: 9

Playground
Fitness Course
Dog Park
Restroom Facility
Open Space
This is a non-reservable park.

Las Vegas Pet Friendly Hotels

Posted by:  //  Category: Las Vegas Animals

So you just can’t leave Fluffy at home. Well, luckily for you, there are some pet friendly hotels in Las Vegas that allow you to bring your furry little friend along with you. Now you don’t have to leave your pets in a kennel or pay a pet-sitter – they too can enjoy the excitement of Vegas, or at least the excitement of waiting around for you, as you enjoy Vegas.

There are not a wide range of pet friendly Las Vegas hotels, but there are enough to satisfy most travelers. If you want to stay at a strip hotel, you might have a problem: there are only two places you’ll be able to store your pet. The highly rated Four Seasons, just south of Mandalay Bay.

The Four Seasons has a couple rules that need to be followed for them to accept your pet. First, it must be under 25 pounds (similar weight restrictions abound through pet friendly hotels in Las Vegas), and second, and more difficult, your pet must not be left unattended. There is, however, no additional pet fee for keeping your pet here.

When you are considering Las Vegas pet friendly hotels, make sure to check which pets are allowed – hotels such as La Quinta or Travelodge must be dogs or cats. Even if the pets are small or exotic, they will be turned away. So don’t go trying to sneak your flying squirrels or 6 foot pythons into these establishments.

Another, technically, pet friendly Las Vegas strip hotel is Circus Circus. This is a technicality, however, since pets are not allowed inside the actual rooms or casino, but are restricted to the Circusland RV Park adjacent to the hotel. In fact, if you are looking to bring pets into the city, Las Vegas RV parks are a good bet. But if you don’t happen to have a recreational vehicle handy, most Vegas motels allow reasonably sized pets (under 50 lbs) and charge only a deposit instead of a non-refundable fee. The relative lack of popularity of these motels also means that they are much easier to book than the Las Vegas pet friendly hotels, too.

Overall, the majority of pet friendly hotels in Las Vegas are the lower grade airport hotels. Howard Johnson Inn and Amerisuites both allow dogs and cats of all kinds for a small deposit, as does every Best Western within city limits.

For those who want high class pet friendly Las Vegas hotels would do good to look at off-strip wonders such as the Green Valley Ranch and the Red Rock Resort and Spa. As long as they are under the 50 pound weight limit and you don’t mind paying a little extra to accommodate your trusted pet, these lodgings are perfect for you.

By Destination360