Red Rock Canyon is a nice place--in the early spring and autumn anyway.  I've never had a problem with tourists there.  It will be hot no matter where you go, even if you leave early in the morning (I would leave as early as possible, be up there by 7:30 or 8:00 at the very latest).  Be sure to bring lots of water. There are some hikes in Red Rock that lead up into shaded canyons--I've always liked Ice Box Canyon, which can be suprisingly cool once you get up into the canyon (if there is water there, even better, the hike goes from ok to GREAT with water--unfortunately there probably isn't much now as we haven't had rain in quite some time). 

The only place nearby that would be a little cooler is Mt. Charleston, but that will probably be busier with tourists and locals than Red Rock (simply because it is cooler)--but you would see more typical moutainous trees and such if that's your thing.  A slightly farther drive (about 45 minutes out of the city) is Valley of Fire State Park, which is neat, though it too would be very hot and there aren't cooler canyon hikes like at Red Rock (if you can't tell, we pretty much live indoors from April/May-September to my dismay, the desert really can be a beautiful place).  Lake Mead has pretty much gone to hell in a handbasket and will probably be very crowded.  There are lots of places my husband and I enjoy hiking that aren't really in an official park or anything, but I wouldn't know how to direct out of towners there without a GPS unit.

So, in a nutshell, if you want to do something outside this time of year, I'd say Ice Box Canyon at Red Rock is your best bet.  Come back October-March and you'll have alot more fun with a lot mroe options!  Google Ice Box Canyon, and you'll probably get some good descriptions and reviews.

Elizabeth

I also tried Kombucha tea for the first time there.  So good! 

I love kombucha tea!  It makes my mouth numb for hours.  I made my friend try it and she hardly got a tingle.

I'm bumping this.

I am planning a trip to Vegas in a couple weeks.  Because of the people I will be with, I will probably have to spend most of my time on the strip.  Any vegan friendly suggestions? :-\  Happy Cow isn't so helpful in this area!

the wynn hotel there has a FABULOUS  buffet.
it's like, 3 rooms...1 room is a bunch of salads, pastas, veggies, and fruits...i was there in summer of 2006 and had my fill of yummy stuff...of course, there's also lots of dead animals in some of the areas of the buffet, but, i try to ignore it, kinda like i try to ignore the asses that are everywhere on the streets here.
:)
good eats

Returning to Las Vegas this christmas and wondered if anyone can recommend veggie friendly places to eat/drink in and around the strip?  First time I went was about 5 years back and we mostly ate a huge breakfast, snacked during the day, then a main meal later at night.  Will prob be similar this time around! 
Thanks.

Had a good time in Vegas, bit of a challenge to find veggie eats tho being the only veggie amongst 6.  The result of which is that I am now known as the "leaf eater"  ::)

New fave drink is a frozen mojito - so good anytime of the day!  

I would chow down at breakfast/lazy brunch try and get through the day until dinner at night.

The Mandalay Bay diner was good for brekkie:  decent ish choice of staple brekkie stuff but vegan choice would have been limited I guess.  Loads of fresh fruit, cereals, mini bagels, cooked porridge oats and creamed wheat (yukky looking - didn't go there).  Even had couscous, hummus, baba ganoush and fresh baby veggies for brunch - twice in the same sitting! Think we went there one evening after a hard day's shopping:  loaded up on cooked veggies and some leaves!

Went to Fremont St one night, had dinner in a steaktastic restaurant in the Golden Nugget - I had a huge chunk of iceberg with a blue cheese dressing with green beens on the side and mashed 'tato.  Ate til was full, was good.   Place was atmospheric, loads of old framed black n white photos of Vegas old days, stained glass window partitions; service was good and attentive; were happy to accommodate my extensive demands  :-D

Went to Noodle bar back in MB twice:  had veggies in black bean sauce over noodles one night and a veggie chow mein the other time; service - very happy (I swear one of the waiters was the happiest man on the planet, so so smiley).

Went to an Italian in the Venetian on Christmas Day, overlooking the canal, fabulous decor;  had a fab veg/minestrone soup followed by gorgeous fresh spinach pasta and spicy tom sauce; service a bit up themselves but the place was devine.

Ate at the "Burger Bar" restaurant (the walkway section between MB and the Egyptian hotel - what's it called again? - next door, ffs my memory is terrible - EDIT:  LUXOR) where they advertised a breadless vegan burger with eggplant as the "bread" bit; I'm not fussed on eggplant so I didn't try it; had the veggie burger with skinny fries; tasty; nice place.

Anyone else see this on AOL's homepage today?

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/las-vegas-casino-mogul-steve-wynn-mandates-vegan-menus/19601213

I live in Las Vegas (well, Henderson, a suburb) and Strip options for eating vegan were few.  I actually don't go to the Strip more than once a year or so, which is why I don't really have any good opinions when people ask. Off strip, I've got lots of good options to tell you about.

I heard about the Steve Wynn resorts the other day and am (of course) very pleased about it. Too bad it's "fine dining" and I won't be able to afford it all that often. Maybe for my birthday.