Mount Charleston Cabins

A half-hour's drive north of Las Vegas, west on Route 157 and nearly 8,000 feet up in the gorgeous Toiyabe National Forest (Spring Mountains National Recreation Area), the cabins of the Mount Charleston are perched along the wall of a steep canyon. Each is postcard perfect, a romantic mountaintop retreat, with private decks, fireplaces, double-wide whirlpool baths and no television sets (well, a couple of cabins do come with satellite TV, but with views like this, you likely won't want to turn it on).

The Mount Charleston Cabins have 21 condo-style log cabins. These offer private decks, fireplaces and whirlpool baths, plus a garage or carport, gated entry and, eventually, a heated lap pool and fire pit.

The centerpiece of the Mount Charleston Cabins is the large, rustic restaurant, which seats 200 around an open wood-burning fireplace; a a scenic outdoor deck is also a great spot to relax. The lounge is open until midnight and there are video poker machines at the bar.

The Mount Charleston Cabins has a wedding gazebo and can accommodate large receptions, corporate parties and retreats. It is also a base for horseback riding, backpacking and sleigh rides in the winter. Just up the road, there are numerous hiking trails and picnic sites, and a ski resort at Lee Canyon.