Its a little bit further out (2 hr 45 minutes) but I recently did a side trip from Vegas to Zion and it was spectacular. Some pictures are posted here.
http://community.the-digital-picture...ead.php?t=6777
I haven't been to Valley of Fire. You also have Red Rock Canyon close by. If you look at some of the various tours that run out of Vegas (Pink Jeep Tours, etc) they might give an ideas of where to go. I probably wouldn't recommend a tour since they won't give much time for photos, but you can get some ideas on what is close.
Next year I would like to head to Bryce and Grand Staircase.