When it comes horseback riding, many operators are adding luxuries like spas, paintball areas, and ATV rides. At least, that is the trend for the handful of dude ranches that still dot the last remnants of the American West, according to a story by CBS.

A few of them aren't following the trend and they don't have any plans to change. The spirit of the original dude ranch or cowboy trail rides still immerses riders in an authentic experience like ranchers and historic naturalists intended since the 1800s.

"I think it's great that some dude ranchers have added  interesting things like swimming pools," says James Hoke, president of TourGuy.com LLC. "But we still need some cowboy trail operators to preserve an experience that is as authentic and as immersive as possible."

Hoke says immersive experiences are still an important part of the draw for guests taking rides with Las Vegas Horseback Tours, which operates in remote areas of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

"Of course, there is a difference in that many of our guests are enjoying all of the more luxurious and modern amenities on the Las Vegas Strip," Hoke said. "That is what makes the tour brilliant. It separates the best of two worlds, with all the resort amenities readily available and the increasingly rare experience of an authentic trail ride miles away in one of the most stunning and beautiful areas in Nevada."

The trails across the rugged desert are not only authentic, but they are also historic. Part of the tour takes riders on a stretch of the Old Spanish Trail, which follows the same paths cut by Mexican caravans between 1829 and 1948. Originally, the trails were mapped out by connecting foot paths of Native Americans.

After the trails fell out of use by frontiersmen and traders, they became a favored route by bank robbers, outlaws, and desperadoes. Riding the well-worn trails could make tracking escape routes more difficult while providing additional cover from posses and lawmen, especially when the trails snaked in and out of canyons and river beds.

"If you've never leaned back in a saddle while a horse navigates into a ravine or wash, some areas of these horseback trail rides will be unforgettable," says Hoke. "Everything about this excursion gives riders a sense of what it was really like to be an American cowboy, outlaw, lawman, or even one of thousands of families that crossed the United States by wagon train. I guarantee that you will stand right where they did and still wonder how they could have done it."

Since the Red Rock Canyon is protected as a national conservation area, Las Vegas Horseback Tours is one of the few operators in the West that will always provide an authentic trail ride, leaving the luxuries and lavishness of a resort experience to world famous hotels. There will never be a resort or even a ranch allowed on this pristine land.

"What people always need to keep in mind, especially in the desert, is that it is one of the most fragile environments anywhere in the world," says Hoke. "There are wagon wheel tracks made by pioneers in the 1800s that still exist today all across the Mojave Desert and Great Basin. By sticking to these routes, we not only create a vivid reimagining of the American West for people, but also one that protects the environment."

Horseback riding will attract even more interest this year. 

Hoke also said that horseback riding is becoming a reclaimed activity all over the United States as more and more people are taking an interest. There are new areas being proposed in places like Ocean City, more research being conducted on how horseback riding helps kids, and some additional excitement being generated as Elizabeth "Beezie" Madden will be vying for her fourth gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.

"All of these stories, and the recent success of the movie Warhorse, has had a profound affect on people even though it was a story that took place in Europe," says Hoke. "The American West and horseback riding is deeply rooted in our heritage as a nation and more people want to experience that connection firsthand."

In the Red Rock Canyon area, TourGuy.com highlights two rides. The first is a breakfast ride that begins at 8:30 a.m. (hotel pickup at 7 a.m.) immediately following an authentic Western-style breakfast cooked over coals. After the ride, guests are invited to spend some time at Bonnie Springs Ranch, which includes a replica of an 1880s mining town. The second ride, which also takes place in the morning, follows different sections of the Old Spanish Trail, and ends with an authentic cowboy lunch.

TourGuy.com is a rapidly-growing tour company located in Las Vegas. It offers several dozen tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon as well as select national parks in California, Utah, and Nevada. Most are eco- or adventure tours. The company opened in 2010. It also offers several other horseback riding tours, including one located near the Grand Canyon in Arizona (Las Vegas guests are returned to their hotels the same day).

Last year, we reported that paddlers and whitewater rafters had proposed a 20-year federal moratorium on new uranium mining claims around the Grand Canyon, citing unacceptable risks of recreational, environmental, and aesthetic impacts. The areas that would have been most impacted included Havasu Creek, Kanab Creek, and the Little Colorado River watersheds.

Two days ago, the Obama administration announced a 20-year ban on new mining on federal lands near Grand Canyon National Park, saying the move would allow current mining to continue while officials monitor potential impacts. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar made the announcement after an area covering one million acres had been opened up under the Bush administration, mostly for uranium mining.

Not everyone was pleased with the decision. The mining industry said the decision was driven by politics, not science, and had produced a study that said even the most severe accident would not significantly elevate radioactivity. However, the Center for Biological Diversity maintained that a previous U.S. Geological Survey found “elevated radioactivity is evident at all sites” on locations that had been mined or explored for uranium on public lands north of the Grand Canyon.

TourGuy.com Supports National Park Preservation

TourGuy.com currently supports one whitewater rafting adventure from Las Vegas. It also includes two other river tours, one that glides down a rapid-free portion of the Colorado River at Black Canyon. Another is included as part of a much more expansive adventure, Grand Canyon Deluxe Airplane and Ground Tour.

All three tours made the Top Five 2012 Bucket List Tours, which is an annual list created by TourGuy.com based on input from tourists and adventurers on what they would most like to do while visiting Las Vegas. While two of the tours are operational year round, the whitewater rafting tour is scheduled to reopen on March 15.

"The whitewater rafting experience in one of the most exclusive and hard to book tours anywhere," said James Hoke, president of TourGuy.com. "There are just over 400 permits for 12- to 25-day non-commercial permits and very few commercial permits. It is by far the tour that is booked furthest in advance, especially because it is the only one-day trip from Las Vegas."

Hoke calls the tour one of the most intense and physical tours offered by his company, with the only possible exception being custom tours. The tour must be preserved because it can easily be described as the longest back country river journey in the lower 48 states. It is recognized worldwide as one of the most beautiful, remote, and challenging river trips on the planet.

Las Vegas has plenty of things to do for everyone. Since its earliest beginnings, the city of lights has evolved from a gambling town into a sophisticated city with top tier live entertainment, lavish dining, and luxurious retail — most of which is readily served on a stretch of road better known as the Las Vegas Strip or a smaller stretch to the north, Downtown Las Vegas.

"Las Vegas frequently makes the top ten best destinations and it is hands down the biggest party in the nation if not the world on New Year's Eve," says James Hoke, president of TourGuy.com LLC. "With so much to offer, there isn't much more to add with the exception of something so memorable that it makes most people's bucket list, year after year."

With the exception of one tour, Hoke says almost all of them take place off the Las Vegas Strip, just over the horizon. Las Vegas is less than a day trip away to some of the most breathtaking national monuments and natural wonders, including Death Valley, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon.

"Every year, after our guests have taken even one tour, they quickly start making bucket list of things they would like to do in Las Vegas," said Hoke. "We save this information every year to develop our top five list, with the best time to release the information just before the New Year when many people access what they've accomplished and start making new bucket lists for the year ahead."

The Top Five Picks From Adventure Tourists In Las Vegas.

1. Soar Above The Las Vegas Strip. The Vegas Neon Lights helicopter city tour has climbed to the number one position for 2012. The flight, which begins with a champagne toast, flies high above both ends of the Las Vegas Strip in a luxurious ECO-Star helicopter. The short but unforgettable 15-minute flight has been twice named among the Top Ten Helicopter Thrills by the Travel Channel. With TourGuy.com, guests save $15 person, keeping the tour under $100.

2. Walk Barefoot In Desert Sand Dunes. As part of the expansive Death Valley Ground Tour, TourGuy.com takes visitors to the one area where they can see and walk along the legendary sand dunes near Death Valley (Death Valley itself doesn't have sand dunes). The most common tours include a visit to the Mesquite Flat Dunes, which are located near Stovepipe Wells and rise about 100 feet. They also make for some of the best photo opportunities because the dunes cover such a vast area. In total, there are five different areas with sand dunes, with most of the others requiring custom arrangements. TourGuy.com guests save $10 per person.

3. Raft The Colorado River. TourGuy.com offers three tours that touch the Colorado River, each with very different features that are suitable for all types of adventure and eco-travelers. The Black Canyon Colorado River Raft Tour is a relaxed, casual tour (no rapids) through the Black Canyon. The One-Day Grand Canyon Whitewater Trip covers 40 miles with several white water areas. And the third excursion is part of the expansive Grand Canyon Deluxe Airplane and Ground Tour, which includes a riverboat ride up the Colorado River. TourGuy.com guests save up to $70 per person (depending on the tour).

4. Take A Picture Of The Extraterrestrial Highway. Ever since the movie Paul, staring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost came out, there has been renewed interest in taking a pilgrimage to America's UFO heartland. Most of the full-day Area 51 Tour is lighthearted and fun much like the movie, except the highlight of the tour, which stops at the front gate of the legendary Area 51. As fun as all the other stops are, including the famous Little A'le Inn for lunch, Area 51 always carries with it an ominous and foreboding tone. Even the most jovial individuals become quiet while reading the signs "Use Of Deadly Force" authorized. TourGuy.com guests save almost $20.

5. Ride Horses At Red Rock Canyon. There are many ways to experience nearby Red Rock Canyon, but horseback is the most memorable. Almost all of these private trails take visitors well beyond sight of any road or manmade structure, especially as they follow the same trails as outlaws, lawmen, wild mustangs, and Native Americans. The Red Rock Horseback Ride is the only way to appreciate the expansive landscape that greeted settlers, traders, and cowboys. With TourGuy.com, you save $20 off an already discounted price.

"The only surprise this year is that our most popular tour, the Grand Canyon Helicopter Landing, didn't make the list," said Hoke. "Then again, I suppose it makes sense. As our most popular tour, many people are wondering what to on their next visit to Las Vegas. The only other thing I might add is that anyone planning to visit during New Year's weekend should book in advance. We hold very few seats for last minute requests during this very busy weekend."

TourGuy.com was founded to help people experience another side of tourism with its first major hub located in Las Vegas. It was founded during National Tourism Week in 2010 and consistently offers the lowest base price, with additional discounts, in the Las Vegas area. For more things to do outside Las Vegas, discover the full offering of adventure and eco-tourism in Nevada.

Many people visit the Las Vegas Strip over the holidays to escape harsh winter climates and cold weather. But escaping the cold weather isn't always the best option even while visiting Las Vegas, especially when the American Southwest is dotted with areas that receive crisp, untouched snowfall.

Partly because of the regions's erratic elevations and sometimes due to unexpected weather patterns, snowfall in the American Southwest is as beautiful as it is unpredictable. And unlike snowfall anywhere else in the United States, the expansive landscape allows photographers, naturalists, and adventurers to see snowfall for hundreds of miles, even where it is least expected.

As dramatic as some of the nation's most beloved landmarks can be, they are even more striking with snow. To help coordinate anyone hoping to capture the very best of the American Southwest as a winter wonderland, we've created a list of the top three areas where snowfall becomes breathtaking and monuments take on an entirely new life of their own (assuming you plan it right and have a little luck).

3. Death Valley. Seeing snowfall on one of the lowest, driest, and hottest places on earth is exceptionally rare. While there have been recent accounts of snowfall, anything under 2,000 feet is generally confined to a light dusting that doesn't last more than a few hours. The last heavy accumulation dates back to 1922 and the best chance to see it happen is usually in the first few weeks of January.


TourGuy.com books full-day tours to Death Valley that begin with a complimentary hotel pickup at 7.a.m. in Las Vegas. The tour includes stops at the ghost town of Rhyolite, Hell's Gate, Death Valley Tower, Badwater, Zabriskie's Point, the Devil's Golf Course, Salt Lake (pictured above), and the Artist's Palette. For more information, visit Death Valley One-Day Ground Tour.

2. Grand Canyon. With the Grand Canyon at 7,000 feet, it sees snow every year from late December to early March. The snowfall is mostly unpredictable with storms that usually last one or two days, leaving a blanket of snow on the mountains for two to five days. Some patches, especially in shaded areas, can last for weeks.

Not everyone knows about Ushuaia. It's commonly called the southernmost city in the world. The average temperature ranges from 50 degrees Fahrenheit in January to 34.9 degrees Fahrenheit in July.

The extreme temperatures are more forbidding. The record low was -13 degrees, not counting the wind. It rains or snows there 200 days a year. And you wouldn't ever want to visit, unless you appreciate extreme travel. Ushuaia is the most common port to the End of the World.

 The coldest place on earth.

While some records might make it disputable. Antarctica —the End of the World — is consistently the coldest. And while it is not considered dangerous per se, travelers are always warned that the remote location, frozen landscape and unpredictable weather can make operations in Antarctica a logistical nightmare.

Once you're there, assuming you book your trip with a tour company that includes land-based operations, anything is possible. You could try ice climbing or brave a mini-expediation into a landscape known as a world of snow and profound silence. Everything is white.

The climate is cold and dry. While some locations that cater to tourists are moderately cold, about -13 degrees Fahrenheit, more adventurous travelers are generally told to plan for colder weather. Mount Vinson and the South Pole frequently drop to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Severe storms can roll in any time. But the landscape it unlike any other in the world.

People see all sorts of things there. And many tours are sure to include Zodiac trips past massive icebergs or, if you're lucky, amazing animal sightings such as penguins, orcas, and sea lions. Others are even more hands on — affording you the chance to take the helm, handle the sails, and even set the course.

While there are dozens of variations, TourGuy.com recommends choosing a tour operator that is a member of the International Association Of Antarctica Tour Operators. This member organization adheres to our polities, working to ensure safe and responsible private travel for the 30,000 people a year in need of adventure.

 The hottest place on earth. 

At the other extreme is Death Valley National Park, which is located primarily in the Southern California Desert and part of Nevada. It is the largest park in the United States and one of the most desolate environments in the world.

While not nearly as large as the southern extreme, Death Valley includes 3.4 million acres of land. Although surrounded by sweeping mountain ranges, Death Valley is the lowest point in North America. The absolute lowest point, Badwater Basin, is 282 feet below sea level.

You would never want to visit in the summer (but some people do), unless you appreciate extreme travel. Actually, the travel is much less extreme than the environment. The average temperature ranges from well over 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter.

At its most extreme, Death Valley recorded the second hottest recorded temperature on Earth, reading a scalding 134 degrees Fahrenheit. However, that record was set at a location typically four degrees cooler, which means Death Valley might have set the record.

If you go during the hottest months, the heat will hit you like opening the door of an oven. You can see it rising off the desert floor. On any blacktop, tires sometimes stick to the road. There is nothing quite like it. It's not impossible to be taken in by a mirage.

Fortunately, the winter months are much more forgiving, but no less enjoyable. With such a huge stretch of untouched and protected land, Death Valley has some of the most dramatic ecological wonders in the United States: sand dunes, marbled rock, sun-baked mud, and salt flats.

Even better, you do not have to travel to the southernmost city in the world. You only need to visit Las Vegas. TourGuy.com will make all your arrangements to pick you up from your hotel and take you on the most extensive one-day tour of Death Valley. In one day, you will have the most memorable experience of a lifetime, taking pictures that you will keep forever.

The peak season to visit many eco- and adventure tours in Las Vegas is right now. 

TourGuy.com is the fastest-growing eco- and adventure tour company in the American Southwest, with operators in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. While we have almost 100 tours to choose from, TourGuy.com also specializes in exotic custom tours and groups of 20 or more. Visit TourGuy.com for more information. All of our tours follow the principles of Leave No Trace.