Las Vegas Sports & The Outdoors

Las Vegas 51s. The triple-A Pacific Coast League team used to be the Las Vegas Stars. But when the parent team switched from the San Diego Padres to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team adopted a more distinctive and publicity - generating name, taken from nearby Area 51, rumored home of UFO and mysterious military activity. The 51s play at Cash-man Field (850 Las Vegas Blvd. N, Downtown), the field where professional baseball made its Las Vegas debut in 1983.

Runnin' Rebels. The hottest tickets in town during the school year were once the basketball games of the former NCAA champions at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas. But since head coach Jerry Tarkanian was fired in the early 1990s, the Rebels-and their ticket sales-have cooled off considerably. Charlie Spoonhour coached the 2002-03 season. Games take place at the Thomas and Mack Center (4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., University District) on the UNLV campus.

Escape the City Streets. A conveniently-located store that rents bikes, Escape is on West Charleston Boulevard almost halfway between downtown and Red Rock Canyon. Most folks drive to the store, park there, rent their bikes, and pedal out the rest of the way to Red Rock and back (30 mi round-trip). Bike rentals range from $28 to $50, with both hybrid bikes (fat slick tires) and mountain bikes available. For a fee, Escape will also deliver bikes to your hotel or motel and pick them up again ($12 each way). Tours are available. 8221 W. Charleston Blvd., West Side.

Las Vegas Scooters. If you don't want to pedal, rent a scooter. Rentals are available by the hour, half-day, or full day. 3735 Las Vegas Blvd. S, South Strip.

The Castaways Hotel & Bowling Center. With 106 lanes, this is the world's largest bowling alley. (Although given its size, it is surprisingly quiet.) Its pseudo-tropics atmosphere is a charming throwback to another era. 2800 E. Fremont St., Boulder Strip.

Orleans. The Orleans is in a working-class neighborhood, and its 70-lane bowling center sees lots of traffic, but its not-far-off-the-Strip location also makes it a popular spot for visitors. 4500 W. Tropicana Rd., West Side.

The Suncoast. Reflecting its upscale Summerlin neighborhood, the bowling center at the Suncoast, with 64 lanes, is designed to provide every high-tech toy for bowlers. 9090 Aha Dr., Northwest Las Vegas.

Texas Station. This 60 lane-alley was the first to declare itself a nightclub hybrid, adding fancy lights and a booming sound system for a "cosmic bowling" concept that's since been initiated at the Gold Coast and Suncoast as well. It draws a youngish crowd, so if you like to party while you bowl, this one is for you. 2101 Texas Star La., Rancho Strip.

Floyd Lamb State Park. Tule Lake is a good place to catch rainbow trout (summer) and catfish (winter). The park is open 8 AM-7 PM in summer, until 5 in winter. 9200 Tule Springs Rd., North Las Vegas.

Lorenzi Park. A good spot to cast your line in Las Vegas itself is the pond at Lorenzi Park, which is stocked with rainbow trout in the winter and channel catfish during the spring and summer; the park is open 7 AM-11 PM. 3333 Washington Ave., West Side.

Angel Park. The municipal course is an intensely popular Arnold Palmer-designed layout. There are four courses here: two 18-hole courses, an 18-hole natural grass putting course, and a par-3 lighted course. The latter, the 12-hole Cloud Nine, replicates a dozen of the world's most famous par-3 holes; nine holes are lighted for night play (hence the name). Call two months prior to set up your tee times, as this place fills up fast. Fees range from $135 to $160. 100 S. Rampart Blvd., West Side.

Bali Hai Golf Club. Inspired by the South Pacific, the 18-hole Bali Hai, with its 2,500 palm trees and 7 acres of water, is reminiscent of a tropical island. The entrance is a mere 10-minute walk from Mandalay Bay-making it the only course within easy walking distance of the Strip. The clubhouse comes complete with a pro shop, restaurant, and a bevy of tropical plants to round out the tropical-paradise theme. Hefty greens fees begin at $250 mid-week, going up to $295 on weekends; ask about twilight specials that start at $150. 5150 Las Vegas Blvd. S, South Strip.

Black Mountain Golf and Country Club. With two large lakes and spectacular desert landscaping, the 40-year-old, 27-hole Black Mountain is a good place for beginners. Fees range from $30 to $100. 500 Green-way Rd., Henderson.

Calloway Golf Center. The 42-acre golf training facility offers instruction, a 110-station driving range, and a 9-hole par-3 course. At Calloway, fees go from $25 to $45.6730 Las Vegas Blvd. S, South Strip.

Las Vegas Golf Club. Established in 1949, this is the oldest golf course in Las Vegas. It's a mature course with lots of trees (though little water). Many local tournaments are sponsored by this popular club, one of three Las Vegas municipal courses. The championship layout is 6,630 yards, par 72. There's a lighted driving range, putting green, restaurant, and snack bar. Non-residents pay upwards of $69 for 18 holes. 4300 Las Vegas Dr., West Side.

Shadow Creek Golf Club. This $52-million club is owned by MGM Mirage. One of the most exclusive golf courses in the country, it is a stomping ground for high-caliber celebrities and high rollers. Contrary to popular belief, mere mortals can get one of 6 to 12 daily tee times here-if they're staying at any of the MGM Mirage resorts. A round of 18 holes costs $500 and includes a personal caddie and round-trip limo transfers. Check with your concierge at the following hotels: MGM Grand, New York-New York, the Mirage, Golden Nugget, Bellagio, and Treasure Island. 3 Shadow Creek Dr., North Las Vegas.

Mt. Charleston. In summer, hikers escape the heat by traveling 45 minutes up to Mt. Charleston where the U.S. Forest Service maintains more than 50 mi of marked hiking trails for all abilities. Trails range from %-mi long (the Robber's Roost and Bristlecone Loop trails) to the extremely strenuous 10-mi North Loop Trail, which reaches the Mt. Charleston summit at 11,918 feet; the elevation gain is 3,500 feet. There are also plenty of intermediate trails, along with marathon two-, three-, four-, and five-peak routes only for hikers who are highly advanced (and in peak physical condition). The Mt. Charleston Wilderness Area is part of the Toiyabe National Forest. 2881 S. Valley View Blvd., Suite 16, Las Vegas, NV 89103.

Red Rock Canyon Recreation Area. In winter, when downhill and crosscountry skiing are the outdoor activities of choice on Mt. Charleston, hikers head to Red Rock, which encompasses 197,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management recreation lands. Like Mt. Charleston hiking, Red Rock Canyon hiking runs the gamut from short discovery trails for children to all-day routes up the sandstone to various mountain peaks. Note that there are only 35 mi of maintained trails at Red Rock, and it's extremely easy to get lost; search-and-rescue teams, including helicopters, are dispatched regularly to find lost hikers. People are also hurt or killed occasionally in falls. It's imperative to know where you're going (and how to get back!) and what you're doing before you set out to conquer the Aztec sandstone of Red Rock Canyon. Make sure someone else knows where you're going, and when you're expected to return, as well. W. Charleston Blvd., West Side.

Bally's Casino Resort. Eight courts are open to the public for a $10-$15 (per hour, per person) court fee. Las Vegas Blvd. S, Center Strip.

Sunset Park. Court rentals are $3 per person per hour during the day, $5 per person per hour at night. Racket stringing, sales, and other supplies also are available. 2602 E. Sunset Rd., East Side.