Mesquite

Mesquite, once known as Mesquite Flats when it was founded by the Mormons in 1884, is the fastest growing area in Nevada, thanks in large part to its burgeoning golf scene. The population of Mesquite, located in the Virgin River Valley 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, has doubled in the last decade to nearly 20,000 as some of the best names in the golf course architecture have painted canvasses on the desert landscape.

Here, among a dozen or so great layouts, you can book tee times at The Chase at Coyote Springs, a 7,400-yard Jack Nicklaus signature course that features 11 lakes, great mountain views. Arnold Palmer put his stamp on the Oasis Golf Club, and John Fought recently unveiled the critically acclaimed Championship Course at Sand Hollow Resort in nearby Hurricane, Utah, just across the state border. Other Mesquite options include CasaBlanca Golf Club, Falcon Ridge, the Palms, Wolf Creek Resort and the Coral Canyon Golf Club and the Ledges Golf Club in nearby St. George, Utah.

Mesquite is also the home of the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship on the new Long Drive grid at the Mesquite Sports Complex, where the biggest bombers in the world let it fly with the driver. The Golf Channel's popular Big Break series also had a stop in 2007 at Oasis Golf Club.

Of course, along with Mequite's golf courses have come resorts and casinos. It began with the Peppermill Mesquite Casino, which opened in the 1970s, but has since grown to include several top destinations such as Eureka Casino Resort, CasaBlanca Resort, Falcon Ridge Hotel, Virgin River Hotel and Casino and Wolf Creek Resort. Each offer world-class spas, gaming, sports books, fine dining and plenty of other fun things to do like Cosmic Bowling at the Virgin River Bowling Center or target practice at the Oasis Gun Club.

The Mesquite area is also a great location for outdoor experiences. You can try horseback riding, mountain biking or hiking at locations such as Zion National Park, Snow Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Lake Mead