Deals in The Strip

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: neo-soul and R & B from singers Dwele and Bilal, First Friday Art celebrations, open-mic night, a little doo-wop for the family, and selfies with parrots and flamingos. Have fun, and as always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Las Vegas. Dwele and Special Guest Bilal The Strip | Saturday, July 26, 7 p.m. Singer, songwriter, and producer Dwele stops at the legendary House of Blues for a night of R & B and soul along with special guest star Bilal. Come early for dinner before the show at Crossroads at House of Blues, which features a menu of contemporary soul food from celebrity chef Aarón Sánchez. (3950 Las Vegas Blvd S; $49+; buy tickets here) WordUp! Poetry & Music University | Tuesday, July 29, 7 p.m. Right across from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, campus, The Freakin’ Frog hosts WordUp!, an ongoing, weekly open-mic for poetry and music. Known for its craft beers and whiskey selections, the bar has hundreds of options for liquid courage before taking a turn at the mic. (4700 S. Maryland Pkwy.; free) First Friday Art Celebration Downtown | Friday, August 1, 5 p.m.–11 p.m. At the Arts District’s monthly arts fest, local artisans get a platform to share and sell their work while networking with peers and community members. Each event features live music, visual and performing arts, food from local vendors, and a themed KidZone. This month’s festival pays homage to the work of Lewis Carroll with a Wonderland-themed art walk. (107 E. Charleston Blvd.; free) Flamingo Wildlife Habitat The Strip | Daily, 8 a.m. to dusk The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat makes for an idyllic escape off the busy Strip. Along with a huge flock of Chilean flamingos, the habitat is home to koi, swans, pelicans, parrots, and other exotic fauna. Snap a selfie with a parrot or photobomb a live pelican feeding (twice daily!). (Flamingo, 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. S; free) Forever Doo Wop The Strip | Through December Through an eight-person ensemble of lead singers, Forever Doo Wop leads audiences through the history and genres of doo-wop music through a series of vignettes and mini concerts. The family-friendly show kicked off at the Riviera Hotel and Casino on July 23 and runs through December. (2901 Las Vegas Boulevard South; $39+; buy tickets here)

On this week’s agenda: a musical spin on menopause, standup comedy at the Laugh Factory, a ride on the Nevada rails, a (funny) tour of the Hoover Dam, and a book event with Michael Jackson’s security-team-turned-authors. Have fun, and as always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Las Vegas. Menopause the Musical The Strip | Nightly through October Menopause is hilarious. At least, it is during Menopause the Musical, appearing through October at the Luxor Hotel and Casino's Atrium Showroom. The show tells the story of four women whose chance meeting at a lingerie sale leads to spontaneous (and uproarious) song-and-dance routines about mood swings and hot flashes. (3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S; $39 and up; buy tickets here) Comedians Dom Irrera, Mike Saccone, and Frazer Smith at Laugh Factory The Strip | Sunday, August 31 at 8:30 or 10:30 p.m. LA comic Frazer Smith welcomes award-winning headliner Dom Irrera for this week’s show at the Laugh Factory. Irrera brings with him more than three decades of joke-making experience, which includes a Cable Ace Award for Best Standup Special and memorable guest spots on Seinfeld and King of Queens. Featured comic Mike Saccone opens the night. (801 Las Vegas Blvd. S; $32 and up; buy tickets here) Ride the Nevada Southern Railway Boulder City | Every Saturday and Sunday Ride the rails into the past every weekend on the Nevada Southern Railway excursion train. Departing from the Nevada State Railroad Museum, the train pulls its authentic Pullman coaches and open-air cars along an historic branch line built in service of the Boulder Dam project in the 1930s. (600 Yucca St., Boulder City; adults are $10, children are $5) Comedic Hoover Dam Tour Lake Mead | Daily A Hoover Dam tour hasn’t been this funny since the days of Clark Griswold. Led by Comedy on Deck Tours' comedian guide, tour-bus riders travel from Las Vegas to the Hoover Dam, where they enjoy PG laughs during a 45-minute trek atop the dam. The tour also includes lunch and a pit-stop at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory. (Bus tour departs from several Las Vegas locations before arriving at Hoover Dam; $79 and up; buy tickets here) Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days Book Event Northwest | Saturday, August 30 Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard were present for the passing of a legend, working as members of Michael Jackson's security team at the time of his death in 2009. At Barnes & Noble, they'll recount their experiences and sign copies of their book, Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days. (2191 N. Rainbow Blvd.; free)