Mt. Charleston
Living in the Las Vegas area means dealing with the blistering summer heat of the Southwest, and with temperatures soaring above 100 degress, it can be difficult to seek refuge from the dry, blazing hot weather. Luckily it is only about a forty minute trek to Mt. Charleston, which provides a good 20+ degree reduction in temperature throughout the year.
Several times a year, my girlfriend and I take a morning journey up to the lodge, grab a decent and inexpensive breakfast, do some hiking/walking around, enjoy the fresh mountain air, and drive and look at the scenery. When we get bored, we cruise down the hill, grab a coffee and a book at Borders, and then spend the rest of the day lounging in the air conditioning back in the valley. We always forget to take the camera whenever we go, but I did manage to snap a few low-res pics with my iPhone during our last outing.
