Families don’t need to go far to find year-end fun

By René Hill

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008 | 6:01 p.m.

Now that Christmas has passed, the gifts have all been set aside or at least well used. The kids still have another week off and time to do things. It's also a time when most of the adults are working a bit shorter workday.

The holidays are always an excuse to take some well-deserved family time at the end of the year. This would be a great time to take the family to one of the many attractions available to locals and visitors alike.

There are a wide variety of places to take the family here in the Las Vegas Valley. A wide variety of choices are available, from nature hikes to art exhibits. You just have to decide what interests your children have and look in the local paper for the location and hours of operation.

Las Vegas is host to a variety of attractions on and off of the Strip.

If you are interested in art and would like to take the children to see some of the world's best art, the Gallery of Fine Art at the Bellagio and the Las Vegas Art Museum, 9600 W. Sahara Ave., are both excellent places to go to view some of the great art works of past centuries, as well as modern works.

If you prefer natural and local history, there are several local museums where you can take your family. The Nevada State Museum, 700 Twin Lakes Drive, houses permanent exhibits on regional natural history and has a 13-foot model of a mammoth skeleton. If you would like to explore something of a scientific nature, the Atomic Testing Museum explores the history and role of the Nevada Test Site in the state.

For hands-on fun with younger children, the Lied Discovery Children's Museum offers 100 hands-on exhibits, as well as ongoing workshops, performances and demonstrations.

If nature interests you and your youngsters, there are a wide variety of nature areas from which to choose. The Mandalay Bay Hotel plays host to sharks at the Shark Reef, and the MGM houses the Grand lions at its zoo.

For those with a taste for hikes or just a walk, there are the Wetlands Park and the Springs Preserve.

With the last of break and some extra time, there are plenty of ways to spend time with the family. All one has to do is look at the local paper in the attractions section, and you will find something to fit your interests and those of your children.

Have a Happy New Year.

Rene Hill is an English teacher in the Clark County School District. She can be reached c/o The News, 2360 Corporate Circle, Third Floor, Henderson, NV 89074 or [email protected].