Grapevine Canyon | Texas | expected comfort-food fixings

Outside Bets
About 10 miles out of town, the photogenic Christmas Tree Pass and Grapevine Canyon offer an ideal solitary retreat from the bells and whistles of Laughlin. The three-hour hike through the canyon presents trekkers with a wealth of camera-ready views, including ones of several seasonal waterfalls and patches of wild grapevines. But the coolest highlight of a visit here is getting to see the 1,000-year-old American Indian petroglyphs along the canyon walls.

Fill Up
There aren’t any celebrity chefs building 10-story wine walls or importing brick ovens the size of a Winnebago in Laughlin, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any boys who can whip up a mean steak. Texas favorite Saltgrass Steak House (2300 South Casino Drive, 702-298-7153), inside the Golden Nugget casino, cooks certified Angus T-bones and massive porterhouses to perfection over a campfirelike open flame. The only brewpub in town, the Boiler Room Microbrewery (2100 South Casino Drive, 702-298-4000) keeps clients sauced with five handcrafted brews (try the Hefeweizen) and with all the expected comfort-food fixings that go well with them.