By Jannelle Calderón
I’m always thinking, “That sounds like fun!” when I see a new exhibit, a cool event, or a unique place in Las Vegas (and even around the state). So I’m challenging myself to get out there more, and I will report back here in the newsletter and share my experience and what I learned.
This week I started off easy. I visited Springs Preserve. I had been before, a few years ago, but I had never seen their indoor galleries, which were the perfect excuse to get out of the heat.
Now through Oct. 5, there’s a “Dino Safari” exhibit that showcases 18 moving dinosaurs. In the image above you can see the comparison of my foot to that of a Weewarrasaurus, which lived in what we now know as Australia.
We moved on to the next gallery where the focus is more on the Las Vegas Valley—how Indigenous people lived in the area, how it grew through migration, the railroad, and the Hoover Dam, the plants and animals you can find here, and the landscape, from flash floods to how mountains are created.
My favorite part? I’m torn between the train replica that showed how people would travel back when Las Vegas connected Los Angeles and Salt Lake City (that’s my little cousin pretending to be a passenger), and seeing the lizards, snakes, and gray fox (pictured taking a nap).
Despite this outing being pretty low stakes and easy, I do feel fulfilled and excited to keep exploring.
Have you been to Springs Preserve? Or have you explored a new place? Share your photos with me!