The great outdoors is a highlight of Southwest Nevada. Several meeting facilities and accommodations feature outdoor venues, sports enthusiasts will find a variety of activities in which to participate, and Lake Las Vegas and the Colorado River are entertainment staples.
Mesquite
Mesquite is nestled in the Virgin River Valley and is surrounded by scenic flat-top red mesas. Meg McDaniel, senior manager of regional sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said Mesquite has unique character due to its location.
“It is only 80 miles from Las Vegas and offers a feeling of relaxation and an escape from everyday life,” McDaniel said
The town has meeting space totaling 84,000 square feet and has 1,745 sleeping rooms.
CasaBlanca Resort and Casino offers 70,000 square feet of meeting space in a variety of meeting venues with capacities that range from 25 to 3,000 people. It also offers golfing, a spa and several dining areas, such as Katherine’s, a steakhouse and grill.
“CasaBlanca’s outdoor Event Pavilion is a great place to have an event,” McDaniel said.
The hotel’s River, Skydome and Seasons lounges offer music, dancing and live entertainment most days of the week.
The Eureka Casino Resort has 6,300 square feet of meeting space and five meeting spaces that hold from 40 to 200 people. Gregory’s Mesquite Grill can be found there as well and offers traditional mesquite-grilled specialties.
The Virgin River Hotel has more than 700 newly remodeled rooms and one meeting room with 1,900 square feet of space.
In addition, Mesquite has the Highlands Estate Resort Hotel, which offers 500 square feet of meeting space. Its meeting room can hold 45 attendees. The local Holiday Inn Express and Suites has nearly 6,000 square feet of meeting space in six meeting rooms. Its Grand Falcon room has a capacity of 135 people or 120 people banquet-style.
There are eight golf courses in Mesquite; McDaniel said you are never more than 10 minutes away from a golfing range. Awesome Adventure Park is also in the town and offers zip lines, paintball, archery and more. There is also the Mesquite Fine Arts Center and Gallery, and the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum offers visitors a look at pioneer life in Mesquite.
Laughlin
Laughlin’s hotels and resorts are clustered in a one-and-three-quarter-mile stretch along the Colorado River and are connected by river walks and water taxis.
“This offers an intimate, small-town feel with the modern conveniences of high-rise hotels,” McDaniel said.
The Laughlin Event Center includes outdoor space with 9,300 permanent seats, up to 2,100 seats for arena events, food and beverage outlets, and three VIP rooms.
The Edgewater Casino Resort has several meeting venues, including the E Center, which has a capacity of 2,500 people, a showroom with a capacity of 384 people and the Rio Vista Room, which has a capacity of 550 people. It also has a stage with state-of-the-art lighting and sound.
The Aquarius Casino Resort has a variety of meeting venues with capacities ranging from 90 to 1,900 people. It also has 1,900 rooms and suites for lodging.
“The Colorado River is basically [Laughlin’s] administrative street. It’s calm, relaxed,” McDaniel said.
The river also offers water sports such as canoeing, kayaking and river boat tours. Nearby North Reach Park and Trails offers 10 miles of fun for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as an amphitheater.
There are a variety of places to eat, among them Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at the Golden Nugget Laughlin, which offers fun casual dining on the river; Mark Twain’s Chicken, Ribs and Steak at the Colorado Belle Casino Resort; Taqueria del Rio at the Tropicana Laughlin Hotel and Casino, which features authentic Mexican cuisine; and the Windows on the River Buffet at the Aquarius Casino Resort, with views of the Colorado River.
