In a recent study, Nestle Waters North America Inc. (Nestle Waters) found that the only reason more Americans don't visit national parks is because of the perceived time commitments. Seventy-nine percent of Americans feel they do not have enough time to enjoy nature's offerings and nearly three-quarters of Americans (74 percent) say that spending time enjoying life's pleasures takes a back seat to work and other day-to-day responsibilities.

The study also suggests that while four out of five Americans (81 percent) agree that "me time" is an important part of making the most of life, they don't always consider visiting a national park as part of that "me time." When they do have time, many plan vacations centered around metropolitan areas because they have the perception that national parks are less accessible.

"This is the kind of perception we work to change every day," says James Hoke, president of TourGuy.com. "Although Las Vegas visitors spend most of their time on the Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas is surrounded by several major national parks, all of which are readily accessible with the help of a tour operator."

Hoke says most Las Vegas visitors stay in Las Vegas approximately 4.6 days. He suggests dedicating one-half or one full day to exploring the national assets around Las Vegas, including Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Grand Canyon West, Grand Canyon National Park (South), Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Red Rock Canyon, and Zion National Park.

"A half- or full-day trip to one of our nation's national parks tends to help relax people, giving them a more well-rounded and satisfied experience," said Hoke. "The average tour costs less than what most people gamble in a day, even among those who don't plan to gamble during their trip."

According the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, only 10 percent of return visitors come back to gamble. However, more than 80 percent report gambling about $500, which is twice as much as they plan to spend on food and drink, four times as much as they plan to spend on shopping, and ten times as much as they intend to spend on shows.

Hoke says that he believes more people would consider including national and regional parks, provided they place their trip reservations before arriving in Las Vegas. He says many people don't consider visiting national landmarks until they are in the hotel room and notice an advertisement in an in-room magazine or hear other people talking about it.

Reserving Eco- And Adventure Tours Early Can Save Money.

"By that time, many of the trips are sold out or cost significantly more than placing reservations with specialists who can offer discount tours in Las Vegas," explains Hoke. "It's especially true during national holidays like Memorial Day. Foreign visitors are much more likely to place reservations early but they appreciate they may never have another chance."

In reality, Americans sometimes feel the same way. Hoke says the most common complaint of people who visit Las Vegas is that they did not make time to visit a national park. That coincides with the study by Nestle Waters.

The study said nearly every American polled (98 percent) considered visiting America's national parks one of the best ways to enjoy nature. The most popular sight to see while visiting the Western United States was Grand Canyon National Park.

TourGuy.com offers dozens of other area eco- and adventure tours in and around Las Vegas. Hoke says people who place reservations through the site can save as much as 50 percent off some Las Vegas attractions. Since tour operators have pre-routed tours, visitors generally see two to four times as much than if they tried to duplicate the trips on their own.

In addition to the study, Nestle Waters launched a "Better Things in Life" sweepstakes. By visiting any of their brand websites, Americans can enter for the chance to win a grand prize trip for four to their choice of one of our country's 394 national parks.