I am going to be in Vegas for several days while my wife is in a conference, so my days will be pretty free. I am thinking about heading out to the Valley of Fire, and maybe the Hoover Dam - anywhere else I should go?

My inclination is to get out of the city, but there are also some things on the Strip I would like to photograph at night - like the fountains at the Bellagio - but in general, I am not an urban vacationer since I work in/around D.C.

-shooter

I know it seems odd but the wife and I visited this place before it opened as an attraction. http://www.springspreserve.org/

We only got to see the gardens area. You might want to check it out now that it has opened up fully.

Red Rock Canyon was the first thing to come to mind, but the Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon are both close, relatively speaking.

Yeah, Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, and Hoover Dam, are the first sights that come to mind. Here is a pretty good list of some other things to consider.

Las Vegas is a different kind of "urban" vacation, as it is not like most other cities. There are tons of sights to photograph on the strip, both day and night. For a different perspective, head up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, or the Stratosphere. And the light show (nighttime only) at the Fremont Street Experience (downtown), is also worth seeing. I've been photographing Las Vegas for years, and never seem to run out of subjects.

Have fun!