Everyone knows about Hoover dam, but here are a few other ideas.

45 minutes northwest of downtown - Mt. Charleston. Take a break from the casinos and summer heat and drive to the end of the road. There is a little lodge that is over 5000 ft up where you can have breakfast and lunch and enjoy the change of scenery. You can ski in the winter or escape the heat in summer.

1 1/2 hours north on I-15 - Virgin River Gorge. We have gone to Vegas for years and never explored this far, even though it is so close. Words CANNOT describe the scenery on through this gorge - it is breathtaking. Only another mile further is Zion National Park. Be sure to see the movie at the entrance to the park; the movie alone is worth the drive.

Berlin Wall - a piece of it is in the men's bathroom at Main Street Station.

Driving to Red Rock was wonderful! It was a relief for me to get away from Vegas for awhile. Vegas is fun, but much of it is not for me. I like the concerts best. And, nature trips are always nice.