If spending your time in smoke-filled casinos gambling your vacation away and eating at every buffet while you’re in Las Vegas is all the activity that you think is possible, think again. The city and surrounding areas offer plenty of opportunities for active sports. There are many highly rated golf courses and tennis courts; and almost every hotel has a large swimming pool and health club. All types of watersports are offered at Lake Mead National Recreation Area; there's rafting on the Colorado River, and great hiking in the canyons, and much, much more.

Golf:

There are dozens of courses, including some very challenging ones that have welcomed PGA tournaments. Green fees vary depending upon the time of year and the day. It’s important to call ahead for opening and closing times because these change frequently. If you are a die-hard golfer, you may want to contact American Golf  (800) 468-7918, a nationwide reservation service that’s located in Arizona. This service assists in arranging golf trips and to book tee times that are difficult to attain. Check out the Rio All-Suite Hotel because they have their own golf course.

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Hiking:

Hiking is an awesome way to get exercise and Las Vegas has some incredibly scenic locations. The best hiking time of the year is November to March because in the summer temperatures can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade. Some great locations include Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire State Park.

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Tennis:

If you love to play tennis, many hotels in town have tennis courts. The following establishments also have tennis courts available:

• Bally’s (702) 967-3380). There are eight night-lit courts; fees range from $10 (guests) to $15 (nonguests), hours vary, and reservations are advised.
• The Flamingo Las Vegas (702) 733-3444). There are four outdoor night-lit courts, rates are $12 (guests) and $20 (nonguests). Lessons are available and reservations are advised.
• Monte Carlo (702) 730-7777). There are three night-lit courts that are available to public for $15 an hour.
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) (702) 895-0844). There are dozens of night-lit courts, open weekdays (6 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.); weekends 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.), call to see if the courts are available, rates are $5 per day.

Rock Climbing:

• Red Rock Canyon (702) 515-5350). Besides offering some amazing natural beauty, Red Rock has more than 1,000 routes that cater to beginners and challenge experienced climbers.
• Sky’s the Limit (800) 733-7597). If you want to try rock-climbing but feel you need to brush up on your skills or learn new ones, Sky’s the Limit offers many programs for beginning, intermediate, and advanced climbers. The school is accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association.
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Source: Travel MSN.