New parks campaign highlights the other side of Las Vegas: the outside

They say the hardest thing to find in a casino is the exit, but for those who make it outside, Las Vegas lies at the center of a vast playground waiting to be explored.

That is the message of a new Web-based campaign launched Wednesday as part of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

It’s called FindYourPark.Vegas, and it’s designed to connect residents and visitors to the outdoor and public spaces around them, from National Parks to neighborhood ones.

The website highlights a host of recreation destinations within a five-hour drive of the Strip, including 23 National Park Service sites and millions of acres of canyons, lakes, wildlife, trails and mountains.

“The recreational opportunities from Las Vegas are endless,” Lake Mead National Recreation Area superintendent Lizette Richardson said in a statement. “No matter the season, no matter the activity, you can find your park from Vegas.”

Attractions within an hour of the resort corridor include Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston, Lake Mead, the Springs Preserve, Sloan Canyon, Desert National Wildlife Refuge, the newly designated Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument and an array of state, county and city parks.

In three hours or less, you can find yourself in Death Valley, Zion National Park, Mojave National Preserve or the new Castle Mountains National Monument in California southwest of Searchlight.

A five-hour trek will take you to 15 more National Park sites, including Grand Canyon, Great Basin, Bryce Canyon and Joshua Tree.

FindYourPark.Vegas was developed by the Park Service, Nevada State Parks, the Southern Nevada Agency Partnership and the City of Las Vegas. It’s a local spin on the Park Service’s national centennial campaign, which can be found at www.findyourpark.com.

Along with the website, the campaign includes a variety of printed materials and a public service announcement that will air on the canopy at the Fremont Street Experience during National Park Week, April 16 through 24. The film, which is now in production, stars an Elvis impersonator, a showgirl and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman.

“Las Vegas is a top tourist destination because of our amazing resorts, five-star dining, fabulous boutique shopping, and of course, we are also the entertainment capital of the world,” Goodman said in a statement. “What people may not realize is that we have several world-class outdoor recreation areas and parks that not only attract visitors, but are also great amenities for our residents.”

Contact Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350. Find him on Twitter: @RefriedBrean