There is no question that the driving force of Las Vegas tourism is the Las Vegas Strip, with its casinos, celebrity shows, clubs, shopping, conventions, and fine dining. But lately, there is something else that has been attracting tourists to the Las Vegas area.

"More and more people are thinking of Las Vegas as a gateway destination for outdoor activities and natural beauty," said James Hoke, president of TourGuy.com LLC. "As people discover how many national parks are located within a one-day drive of Las Vegas, some people book their trips specifically for the abundance of outdoor adventures."

Hoke ought to know. For more than a year, he has been managing the fastest-growing tour and travel concession company in the area, with almost 100 different adventure and eco-tours available. In addition to creating custom tours, TourGuy.com works with the finest concessioners in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah.

Eight National Parks Near Las Vegas.

• Bryce Canyon (Utah). Located in southwestern Utah, Bryce Canyon is best known for its giant natural and colorful amphitheater. The canyon is striking because it has the highest concentration of hoodoos of any place on earth, silent spires that look like watchmen over the valley.

Bryce Canyon is included as part of an extensive list of ground tours. On clear days, visitors can see panoramic views of up to 200 miles. You can learn more about Bryce Canyon at TourGuy.com.

• Death Valley (California). Best known as one of the most foreboding places on earth, Death Valley is the lowest, driest, and hottest location in North America. At Furnace Creek, this park came close to setting a world record when it reached a sizzling 134 degrees in 1913.

There are many more natural wonders to see besides Furnace Creek. The entire area is riddled with dramatically changing landscapes, ranging from painted canyons to white sand dunes. In contrast to lowland areas, the entire valley is surrounded by mountains. It makes for an unforgettable place any time of year; fortunately the ground tours include an air conditioned luxury SUV. You can learn more about Death Valley at TourGuy.com.

• Grand Canyon West (Arizona). The West Rim is the only place on earth that rivals the scenery of the Grand Canyon. Located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, the ruggedness and closeness of the canyon walls help put this natural wonder into perspective. It is also home to the horseshoe-shaped skywalk bridge, which provides a unique glass bottom view of the canyon over a vertical drop ranging between 500 and 800 feet.

Many tours — air, ground, and water — are all arranged in cooperation with the Hualapai people. Unlike the South Rim, these native Americans have preserved much of the natural beauty of the canyon with unobstructed views from several vantage points. You can learn more about Grand Canyon West at TourGuy.com.

• Grand Canyon South (Arizona). Considered one of the natural wonders of the world, it is the only place on earth where you can see two billion years of geological history by gazing into a canyon about one mile deep. Created in the last 40 million years, the Grand Canyon was made as the Colorado River carved out one of the most beautiful terraced canyons, making it visually overwhelming.

After crossing the newly-built Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge and several other brief stops at scenic locations, this ground tour travels to the Grand Canyon with stops at some of the best places to take in the scenery, including Yavapai Point and Bright Angel Lodge. This tour, specifically, has the longest run time inside the park and was voted "Best Of Las Vegas." You can learn more about Grand Canyon South at TourGuy.com.

• Lake Mead (Nevada). Although the water levels are still low compared to several decades ago, Lake Mead National Recreation Area is still a favorite as one of the largest manmade lakes in the world. Created with the completion of Hoover Dam, this massive lake with seven sections is as amazing as the dam that made it. Hoover Dam itself is one of the eight engineering wonders of the world.

Although there are several tours to Lake Mead, one of the best features a 12-mile, rapid-free raft trip down the Colorado River to Willow Beach, Arizona. Quiet and relaxed, the ride begins at the foot of Hoover Dam and then continues through the famed Black Canyon. The trip includes a Hoover Dam tour too. For more information about Lake Mead, visit TourGuy.com.

• Red Rock Canyon (Nevada). This is a unique recreation area in the United States, known for a set of large red rock formations that consist of sandstone peaks and the Keystone Thrust. The Red Rock area has a complex geological history, which over millions of years helped to create the dramatic landscape, with river washes, pine trees, and desert plant life that changes as the elevation climbs and descends throughout the area.

Even more exciting than a guided tour of the conservation area is an adventure tour that takes visitors even closer to the remarkable formations on horseback. With both breakfast and lunch rides, each with their own trails, visitors experience a close encounter with the Wild West in designated areas that are not accessible by foot or vehicle. For more information about Red Rock Canyon, visit TourGuy.com.

• Valley Of Fire (Nevada). Perhaps one of the most mysterious parks within close proximity in Las Vegas, primarily because it used to be a place of great importance to the Anasazi, the Valley of Fire is home to dozens of historic and natural sites with odd and one-of-a-kind red sandstone formations that date back to the age of the dinosaurs. The park has also been featured in several films because of its unique and otherworldly qualities.

The ground tours to the Valley of Fire include stops at several unlisted and remarkably well-preseved petroglyphs. The tour is sometimes referred to as the jewel of the American West, especially because it provides a glimpse into early civilizations, including the Great Anasazi “Lost City." You can learn more about the Valley of Fire at TourGuy.com.

• Zion National Park (Utah). One of the most compelling aspects of Zion National Park is its rich and diverse ecosystems that include desert, river banks, woodlands, and forests spanning 230 miles. Hundreds of birds and dozens of animal and reptile species make the area their home (with wildlife sightings not uncommon). What makes the area unique is that the the Great Basin, Mojave Desert, and Colorado Plateau all converge at Zion.

There are two tours to Zion National Park with one including a stop at Bryce Canyon. In addition, one tour includes a visit to the ghost town of Grafton and several historic places where the classic movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” was filmed. For more information about Zion National Park, visit TourGuy.com.

For more information about things to do in Las Vegas, please visit TourGuy.com, which has dozens of tours to some famous locations around Las Vegas. All of these adventures range from half-day to full-day tours.