Things to Do in Winchester

After noticing a lack of guided outdoor-excursion opportunities, James Dingess founded Desert Adventures in 2004 to help locals and visitors to take advantage of Nevada’s stunning natural landscapes. What began as a small paddling outfit with a handful of kayaks and a single employee has since expanded to include ATV, mountain biking, and time-travel adventures led by knowledgeable guides. Desert Adventures stays true to its kayaking roots with a fleet of 125 shells and half- to four-day Colorado River runs. Guides also lead multiday, multisport excursions combining various activities, as well as high-speed ziplining tours that careen from the top of Red Mountain to the base of Bootleg Canyon. Most adventures accommodate all skill levels, but some carry experience or age restrictions.

Awesome Adventures' knowledgeable guides shepherd participants through the scenic beauty of the Valley of Fire State Park during rappelling excursions and photo-op-rich journeys through cliff-lined deserts. Red rock formations jut out against a crystal-blue horizon emblazoned in historical petroglyphs drawn by the indigenous people of the region and celebrities who got lost on the way to Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Following a stop at the visitors' center, groups hike through the picturesque valley on their way to the rappelling cliffs reaching heights of 60–150 feet.

The year 2013 marks the 20th anniversary of Black Canyon River Adventures’ guided rafting tours. Created by volcanic activity over the course of millennia, its walls rise more than 2,000 feet above the Colorado River’s edge. Rafters glide between these walls on the company’s assorted rafting tours, which also incorporate visits to sites such as the Hoover Dam or the Techatticup Mine, where they learn about area mining history.

At one lab station, an interim investigator carefully examines bullet casings. At another, single strands of hair deliver the DNA samples necessary to send a suspect to imaginary prison for a long, long time. Around every shadowy corner of CSI: The Experience, the latest recruits in forensic science slide into the latex gloves or behind the majestic mustaches of popular TV characters to solve crimes through interactive detective work.

A total of 15 lab stations harbor the evidence of three murders, each of which throws multiple suspects into the mix to trip up investigations. Videos featuring cast members and real-life scientists provide guidance throughout analyses, and afterward, newly established sleuths receive certification by prying an official CSI: The Experience diploma from the cold, lifeless hands of their email inbox.

Kids careen over springy walls or safely tumble down inflatable slides at BounceU's supervised and climate-controlled pliant playground. Along with bouncing, kids can shoot hoops at pop-a-shot-style goals or don oversize boxing gloves and helmets to duke it out for pudding-cup pink slips. During open bounce hours, families can pop in unannounced for as much inflatable fun as the day allows. Alternatively, regularly scheduled day camps whisk kids along a six-hour structured day of exercise, crafts, and snacks. Birthday packages outfit parents and kids with a variety of options for making a party unforgettable without having to worry about cleaning up the mess from a rented shark tank.

At Posh For Kidz, infants and kids up to 6 years old divvy up into age-specific playrooms to explore indoor-playground equipment with up to nine of their peers. The well-monitored play place puts an emphasis on providing enough room for kids to run around without ever feeling too hedged in. In addition to open play times, two-hour birthday parties give kids free rein over two playrooms, plus a party room in which to eat cake, open presents, and compare retirement plans. As tykes traverse playplaces, parents and older children can relax in a comfy lounge.