Going to Vegas for Christmas, Is the Valley of Fire worth a day trip?

[M_Six]

Red Rock Canyon is a must and a very easy trip. You don't even need a full day. Death valley is also worth the journey, although our visit there only made me wish I had booked a room at the inn there so I could have more time.

Valley of Fire is a very cool place. I couldn't stop taking pics and I still didn't get all I wanted. I was driving my wife crazy pulling over every 100 yds or so for another shot. If you go, bring lunch. There is no place at all to get food there. If you come in from the highway side and drive all the way through, there is a small town a few miles north of the back entrance where there is a McD's, but it's not what you'd call close. Stop at a sub shop in Vegas and bring a sandwich and soda. The backroads back to Vegas from the back entrance are also very scenic. You might give them a shot if you have a GPS or a decent with maps.

Here's a pano of the first thing you see when you drive into the park. Click for the full image.