"The Prickly Desert Coral CATCH Week1: On a road trip from Texas to California, I stopped in Arizona for a sleep. While driving though the lonely and isolated desert roads, headed towards Nevada, I spotted these cactus that reminded me of the Caribbean coral species the Staghorn. Naturally I stopped along the road to photograph it, only to discover after a few quick footsteps that my sandals were then coated in small, urchin-like cactus spines. I quickly snapped a photo before tip-toeing back to my car and trying in vain to remove the spines. The desert is beautiful in a prickly way, but I think I'll keep my Caribbean sea."

"A Spa Oasis at Qua Spa Visiting the Strip? Save time for its spas. One of my favorites: Qua, at Caesars Palace. The Roman baths make you feel like you've left Las Vegas behind, and the snow room is worth a (quick -- it's cold!) stop. Then the treatments are out of this world. On my most recent visit, I got the Nagomi treatment, on the mini-menu for the new Nobu boutique hotel inside Caesars. It included a therapeutic massage and excellent facial with a new fizz-like layer that worked on my skin. I couldn't think of a better way to start my day."

"For 20 years now, the Spring Mountain corridor north of the Las Vegas Strip has been a hotbed of hot pots—and every other Asian dish under the desert sun. When celebs such as Anthony Bourdain and Penn Jillette raved about the real-deal northern Thai cuisine at Lotus of Siam, chowhounds followed. Tell your friends you're finally making the trip out to the strip mall and they'll tell you to avoid the items you can order from the takeout joint at home: no pad thai, no chicken satay. They're right. Dive into the last page of the menu, the one about dishes from Northern Thailand, then entrust your tastebuds to the award-winning hands of Chef Saipin Chutima and try her larb or the jackfruit curry, anything with ground pork sausage, the khao soi (egg noodles and meat in a coconut curry sauce), the nam prik ong (a chunky mix of pork, tomato, and red chili, served with lettuce and raw vegetables), or the whole fish with chilis. The food is spicy, yes, and the afterburn is serious, but the depth of flavor is sublime enough to make you weep with regret the next time you have to call your local takeout place for delivery."

"Vegas' Home for Rare Books Bauman Rare Books is well known among antiquarian booksellers, and marks a striking contrast to most of the shops and boutiques you'll find in Las Vegas . Having worked in the rare book business in the past, I can't resist a beautifully tooled leather binding and the crinkle of pages brought to life by engravings."

"Farmers and Artisans in Vegas The fresh and local food movement has hit Vegas in recent years, and the fresh52 farmers and artisan market is a great way to discover the best that Vegas has to offer. Also, the Sunday markets often feature live entertainment, chef's demonstrations, and activities for the kiddos as well."

"Save money during these five-star happy hours. Happy hours (and reverse happy hours after about 10:00 p.m.) are one of Vegas’s best kept secrets. Belly up to the bar of gourmet restaurants like Aria’s American Fish for excellent deals on drinks and bites such as lobster rolls and mac ‘n’ cheese. Hit up Red Square Bar at Mandalay Bay for drinks specials and a taste of caviar, or visit nearby Stripsteak. Try the cocktails at the Cosmopolitan's Comme Ça, or head to Fashion Show mall and check out RA Sushi or El Segundo Sol. If you're inside the Forum Shops in Caesars, both Trevi and Sushi Roku have happy hour specials to put a smile on your face."

"See 3,000-Year-Old Indian Petroglyphs in Nevada's Desert Valley of Fire is the oldest state park in Nevada, and a great place to see 3,000-year-old Indian petroglyphs and explore the red sandstone formations created during the age of the dinosaurs. Bring your camera to photograph the landscape while hiking this rocky landscape formed over 150 million years ago. The red sandstone gives off an incredible light, which makes the grey rocks nearby appear turquoise. Great place to camp while watching incredible sunrises and sunsets! Photographers will go crazy for this place, especially in spring, when a variety of wild flowers bloom. Skip the Las Vegas strip and head straight to this magical place!"

"Fresh produce from Gilcrease Orchard Las Vegas may be seated in the heart of the Desert Southwest, but there are still a few places to pluck apples from trees and choose the biggest pumpkins from right off the vine. Gilcrease Orchard is one of those places. The orchard is only open seasonally, but when it is open, people descend upon it in herds to get their hands on several varieties of apples, leafy greens, peaches, pears, plums and many row crops. Grab a gallon of the orchard's famous apple cider if you decide to visit! By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"

"Coffee Art at Sambalatte For their morning cup of joe, many locals living and working on the west side of the city head to Sambalatte, a locally owned coffee shop with an extensive caffeine-fueled menu and a laid back vibe. It's common to find local runners and cyclists catching up with each other after their morning workouts, college students and writers plugged in and working diligently on papers, and folks dressed in business clothes having meetings, all within a few tables of each other. In addition to coffee (often adorned with lovely foam art), Sambalatte offers sandwiches, quiches and pastries to hungry patrons. Musicians perform for guests in the evening. By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"

"Pedal to the Metal with Exotics Racing There are a number of attractions in Las Vegas that allow visitors to get behind the seat of a fancy car, but only at the Las Vegas Speedway can people actually push the limits on how fast they can go. At Exotics Racing, choose the car of your choice -- popular options include a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche or Audi -- then learn how to safely push the limits on the track while still reaching maximum speeds on the straightaways. During the driving experience, an instructor will sit in the passenger seat and provide guidance on when and how to accelerate, decelerate, turn through corners and pass other cars. Driving one of these cars is very much an only-in-Las-Vegas experience, and it is an incredibly popular attraction. However, if you'd like the adrenaline rush but are nervous about driving, there is a drive-along experience that is also lots of fun. By AFAR Traveler , AFAR Local Expert"