Things To Do In North Las Vegas

Las Vegas is known for its top-notch golf courses, with more than 60 scattered throughout the Vegas Valley, complete with spectacular water features, views and challenges. While most experience courses in the environs of the city limits, two golf facilities are out-of-the-way hidden gems, nestled in picturesque settings off the beaten track and away from the hustle of the Strip. Located 35 minutes south of Las Vegas near the California border, the Primm Valley Golf Club offers two Tom Fazio-designed courses. The 6,945-yard par-71 Lakes Course is lush enough to make you forget you are in the desert, with tall pines, thick orchards, green ryegrass and acres of lakes and river systems. While the 7,131-yard par-72 Desert Course similarly contains five lakes and vibrant greens, it also spotlights the natural beauty of the mountain peaks and desert valleys. Palm trees, mesquite and a variety of cacti and native desert wildflowers can be seen, giving a sense of isolation while appreciating the beauty of the Mojave Desert. Best of all, your greens fees include the use of a rental cart and full access to the 22-acre practice facility, which offers a driving range, putting greens and more. About 25 miles northwest of the Vegas Strip at the base of Snow Mountain, the Paiute Golf Resort is a master-planned, multi-course facility built on Native American land. It offers three Pete Dye-designed courses suited to players of all skill levels, with panoramic views of the Vegas skyline and the nearby snowcapped mountains in the Spring Mountain, Sheep Mountain and Mt. Charleston ranges. At an elevation of 2,800 ft., temperatures run eight to ten degrees cooler than the city, providing a respite from the 100 degree heat that often blankets Sin City. The 7,146-yard 72-par Snow Mountain course features a desert landscape, wide ryegrass fairways, railroad tie bunkers and seven water hazards. The 7,112-yard 72-par Sun Mountain course is the least difficult and most scenic of the three, with Joshua trees, wildflower blooms, four large lakes and the best vantage point for viewing the mountain ranges. The 7,604-yard 72-par Wolf Course is the longest in the state of Nevada, and the most difficult of the three courses, thanks to tricky fairways and sloping greens. And if you need a little extra help, PGA-certified instructors are available for lessons.

On this week’s agenda: watch Clueless poolside, the way Cher would have wanted; drink nickel beers and play mini golf (maybe not in that order); catch some Chicago theater; and enjoy live jazz with a Latin flair. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Las Vegas. Dive-In Movies at Boulevard Pool The Strip | Monday, August 18 "OK, so you’re probably going, is this like a Noxzema commercial or what?" It’s not, but it’s the next best thing: a poolside screening of Clueless (and The Devil Wears Prada) at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas’s Boulevard Pool. Adding to the Cher Horowitz–approved luxury? Handcrafted cocktails and movie snacks available for purchase throughout the evening. (3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S; $5) Rick Arroyo and The Latin Salsa Jazz Ensemble Downtown | Saturday, August 16, 7 p.m. Start warming up those hips, because on Saturday Viva Las Vegas Event Center hosts Rick Arroyo and The Latin Salsa Jazz Ensemble for a night of dancing and cocktails. Between dances, pause to reflect on your host’s pedigree: the award-winning Latin jazz musician has opened for the Beach Boys, Donna Summer, and many more, including President Barack Obama. Each general-admission ticket includes a drink. (1201 Las Vegas Blvd. S; $15+; buy tickets here) Nickel Beer Night at Beauty Bar Downtown | Tuesday, August 19 On Tuesdays at Beauty Bar, beers are served the way your grandfather remembers: two at a time and for a nickel apiece. This week, sip those bargain-priced brews during live performances by BARS Murre with Andre Legacy and sets from resident DJs. Did we mention that beers cost a nickel? That’s less than a temporary tattoo! (517 Fremont St.; free) Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England Downtown | Through Saturday, August 23 During a recent trip to Chicago, local producers Todd VonBastiaans and Bryan McCarthy saw Theater Wit's production of Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England. They liked it so much, they brought it home with them to Art Square Theatre. Set against the backdrop of a failing college museum, the play follows three women as they navigate an academic love triangle tinged with love, loss, and critical theory. The cast and crew head back to the Windy City next weekend, so don't dally. (1025 S. 1st St.; $25; buy tickets here) Fore! The Planet at Springs Preserve Westside | Through Monday, September 1 When naturists put their minds to it, even putt-putt can be educational. At Fore! The Planet, visitors to Springs Preserve navigate 18 holes of ecology-themed mini golf, learning lessons on evolution, dinosaur extinction, and food chains while simultaneously pursuing a hole in one. The course winds through settings that include a tropical rainforest and a polluted waterway. (333 S. Valley View Blvd.; free for members or with paid general admission)

On this week’s agenda: an afternoon stroll through Springs Preserve’s gardens, kid-friendly walks with dinosaurs, an Australian version of the Bee Gees, and a night with Jay Leno. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Las Vegas. Botanical Gardens Guided Walk at Springs Preserve Westside | Every Saturday and Sunday Every Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., Springs Preserve’s expert staff leads guests through a guided walk of their botanical gardens—which include 110 acres of display gardens, natural gardens, and wildlife habitats. The gardens are also home to the biggest collection of Mojave Desert cacti and succulents. (333 S. Valley View Blvd.; free) Jay Leno at the Mirage The Strip | Friday, August 8, at 10 p.m. Late-night funnyman Jay Leno stops at the Mirage as part of the Aces of Comedy series, continuing a post-retirement return to his standup roots. (3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South; $59.99+; buy tickets here) Walking With Dinosaurs at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum Downtown | Week of August 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids walk in the steps of dinosaurs this week at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. They’ll get to identify different dinosaur tracks and make their own footprints as part of the activity—and see which adult shrieks first when the 35-foot-long T. rex lowers its head and roars. (900 Las Vegas Blvd. N.; free with paid admission; buy tickets here) The Australian Bee Gees at Excalibur The Strip | Sundays–Thursdays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. During 75-minute multimedia tribute shows, the Australian Bee Gees recreate the sounds, styles, and moves of rock and disco legends the Bee Gees. While they play hits like “How Deep is Your Love” and “Staying Alive,” audience members can groove along, recreating (or creating) their own disco moves. (3850 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; $44.95+; buy tickets here) Sin City Comedy and Burlesque at Planet Hollywood The Strip | Nightly at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Comedy and burlesque have been bedfellows since the days of vaudeville. These days, they come together at Planet Hollywood’s nightly show, Sin City Comedy. Founded by longtime standup comedian John Padon, Sin City Comedy features a rotating lineup of top comedians who have appeared on everything from Comedy Central to VH1 and the Late Show with David Letterman. As for the burlesque element, we can’t so much as offer a tease—but that’s the point of the show. (3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; $42+; buy tickets here)