Experience The Ice Age In A New, Incredible, Nevada State Park

The Ice Age returns to Las Vegas! No, I’m not referring to the recent cold snap we’ve been shivering through lately. Instead, I’m talking about the new Ice Age Fossils Nevada State Park. At the present time, it’s set to officially open this weekend.

If you or your children find history, animals, plants, and ecology fascinating, then get set to visit this new park. According to the Nevada State Parks website, Ice Age Fossils State Park will officially open this Saturday, January 20^th, 2024.

So, this will be a fantastic family outing. Furthermore, this is a 315-acre park, with plenty of trails to explore during your visit. You’ll be able to see real fossils from the Ice Age, occurring about 25,000 years ago here in Southern Nevada. For example, take the “Megafauna Trail” and view metal sculptures of the large animals present during the Ice Age. Or you can hike the “Big Dig Trail” and see actual fossils.

Per the park's website, there were marshlands covering this area. Furthermore, plenty of now-extinct Ice Age mammals roamed the marshlands of Southern Nevada. For instance, herds of bison, camels, and mammoths would have been grazing the grasslands. Additionally, ground sloths, American lions, and dire wolves inhabited this region. Incredible!

Of course, admission fees for any Nevada State Park are just $3 dollars. In addition, our state parks offer free admission for kids 12 and under. The new Ice Age Fossils State Park is located in North Las Vegas. It’s east of Floyd Lamb State Park at 8660 North Decatur Boulevard, 89084. Right near Shadow Ridge High School. Basically, if you take the 215 Northern Beltway, just exit at Decatur and keep heading north.

Moreover, you can check out the website for a video and some awesome photos before you visit. Now, feel free to scroll down for more content which you may enjoy.

A Nevada State Park was just voted for having one of the best colorful backgrounds in the world.

Pantone, a company that specializes in providing color categorization, released its "color of the year," which is Viva Magenta. Travel Experts at Planet Cruise created a list of must-see destinations based on Pantone's color of the year. These places are perfect for your next photo opportunity or travel wish list.

At the top of the list ranks Nevada's very own Valley of Fire State Park.

According to a press release from Planet Cruise, the state park covers nearly 40,000 acres in Overton, Nevada. The bright red Aztec sandstone wedged between layers of grey and tan limestone create an environment that radiates "viva magenta." The team at Planet Cruise said in their press release that this park has one of the best colorful backgrounds in the world.

The travel experts at Planet Cruise have rightfully picked Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park as the top location when it comes to the real-life emulation of this color. From the fiery stone, the everlasting memories made at that park for locals, and the enduring nature of the tock, Valley of Fire is truly the perfect example of viva magenta.

"Viva Magenta’s organic origins hail from the cochineal beetle. This insect produces carmine dye, one of the most precious, strongest, and brightest of the natural dye family. The red tone of Viva Magenta connects us to original matter, imbibing us with a primordial signal of strength," Pantone's website states.

The website further states, "Viva Magenta offers us the assurance and motivation we need to weather long-term disruptive events. Three years deep into a pandemic, facing a war, an unstable economy, social unrest, supply chain breakdowns, and mounting climate change, we need to heal. And still, we need to find the motivation to continue."

The other destinations that made the list include other jaw-dropping locations across the globe. From flower fields to copper-colored beaches, these places will leave you wanting to hop on a plane!

If you're interested in seeing the entire list of must-see travel spots for the most beautiful viva-magenta-inspired backgrounds then scroll down below.

Valley of Fire's bright and vibrant red rocks makes this a no brainer when it comes to must-see destinations of Pantone's color of the year. Located in Overton, Nevada, this park is a great escape for Vegas locals who want to get away from the city for a little bit. The national park is open all year round and can be reached by car on all designated driving routes.

This destination is a bucket-list item for many people. Rainbow Mountain is located in Peru's Andes Mountains, and it's often part of a Machu Picchu escapade. A sedimentary deposit of minerals created the rainbow-colored rocks that have become the location's main attraction point. This is one of National Geographic's “Top 100 Places To Visit Before You Die." The vibrant rocks have slivers of viva magenta within the huge mountains. Beautifully breath-taking, this destination is something from a storybook. 

Often called one of the most "beautiful" gardens in the world, Keukenhof Gardens is only open for the tulip season. The season starts on Marc 24 and ends on May 14. Attendees can see crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths and early tulips flower at the start of the season. The plethora of bright and vibrant colors makes this garden a top destination for this year's color of the year travel list!

Possibly one of the most distinguishable wetlands in the world, Panjin Red Beach in China's Dawa County. The bright red plant Suaeda salsa is all over the area. According to TravelandLeisure.com, the seepweed species soaks the saltwater from the sea, which then turns the group of plants into a bright red color. The sea of red is the epitome of viva magenta. This destination can be reached by bus or train; then, visitors can take the designated walkway throughout the wetlands to view the beautiful scenery, according to Planet Cruise. 

The beautiful bright, almost pink, colored water in Australia is a trip that's truly worth it. Hutt Lagoon is located in the Indian Ocean's mid-west region of West Australia. The carotenoid-producing algae Dunaliella salina is what gives the water a red color. The fact that this lagoon looks "fake" is what makes this natural occurrence the perfect destination for those who want to visit "viva magenta" destinations. Planet Cruise says the best time to visit Hutt Lagoon is during the summer. According to WesternAustralia.com, the water can vary in color from bubble gum pink, lilac and even dark red.

Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

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