The Grand Canyon is widely regarded as one of the most important natural landmarks in the US. It just so happens to be reachable by car from Las Vegas. However, considering that the drive can take up to five hours, people recommend that you splurge on a helicopter tour rather than taking the road. You can have a flyover over the Grand Canyon with companies offering day trips, and then on the way back, you can do some aerial sightseeing over the Las Vegas Strip. This can all be accomplished in one amazing trip.

Visit the Valley of Fire, which is located just one hour outside Las Vegas, to take in one of the most breathtaking sights that Mother Nature has to offer. The ever-changing sandstone that gives the area its distinctive swirls gives the landscape the appearance of a neutral-toned watercolor painting, which is reminiscent of how the landscape appears. Also, if tourists look carefully enough, they can see some ancient petroglyphs that have survived for several millennia.

Those who are interested in finding even trailer stones on their day trips can do so in the Cathedral Gorge State Park. It is approximately a 2.5- hour journey from the Las Vegas Strip. The state park provides visitors with extra opportunities to explore, one of them being the numerous hiking routes and extensive caves that are located there. You can get the absolute best views by walking the Millers Point Trail. It is a relatively short trail that leads to an incredible view.

If you are interested in experiencing some art and culture in the great Las Vegas outdoors can do so not more than half an hour away at Seven Magic Mountains. The artist Ugo Rondinone is responsible for creating vibrant artwork that is made out of boulders, and he opened it to the public in 2016. According to the website, the structures are supposed to represent the place midway between the manmade and the natural.

Red Rock Canyon is one of the most iconic and well-known day trips from Las Vegas for a good reason. The national conservation area is about a 20-minute drive from Las Vegas, and it features numerous hiking routes and breathtaking landscapes. If you decide to visit in the spring, you will be rewarded with a unique wildflower bloom.

UFOs and aliens are currently receiving a great deal of attention. That said, there is no better time to take a day trip to Area 51. Lean into the subculture fun by visiting kitschy shops and cafes like the famous The Little A Le Inn Barr and Motel. Then, take a drive down to the Extraterrestrial Highway.

Cheese to food lovers is like icing to cakes — they just belong together. If you’re a foodie yourself, you’ve likely heard of Marissa Mullen before. The Brooklyn-based content creator and food stylist is taking the world by storm, one cheese plate at a time. And now, she’s made the ultimate charcuterie board anyone can try at home.

The Cheese Plate to End All Cheese Plates

Mullen’s debut book, That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life, was an absolute hit with hosts and cheese lovers around the world who now know how to make showstopping grazing boards that leave their guests insanely impressed (and hungry!). To help you, too, Mullen has shared her insights on how to assemble the perfect charcuterie board at home and wow everyone, including yourself.

How to Make This Cheese Board

Mullen’s cheese board includes 10 of her best tips that anyone, chef or not, can apply and experiment with.

Cheese Plate Ingredients

Start by prepping the following ingredients:

• Cheeses — Brie, soft-ripened goat cheese, dill Havarti, truffle pecorino
• Meats — Genoa salami, salami piccante
• Produce — dried figs, dried cranberries, raspberries, Castelvetrano olives, green grapes
• Crunch — candied nuts, shortbread cookies, Marcona almonds, flatbread crackers, fruit-and-nut crackers
• Garnish — fresh rosemary
• Dips — honeycomb

Mullen’s Tips for Cheese Board Domination

1. Use a solid foundation for your cheese plate. Pick boards or plates that have a small lip around the edge, so things don’t fall off in transit.
2. The placement sequence is key. Marissa suggests these steps: 1) cheese, 2) meat, 3) produce, 4) crunch/crackers, 5) dips, and 6) garnish.
3. Aim for a variety of milks (sheep, goat, cow), and pick three to five cheeses. Make sure there is a variety in textures, too (soft, hard, bloomy). Before servings, keep the cheeses out of the fridge for about 45 minutes to fully enjoy their flavor and texture.
4. Use a cookie cutter for semisoft cheeses to create fun and whimsical shapes.
5. To make Mullen’s mouthwatering Brie brûlée, grab a round Brie and cut off its top. Then, coat it with sugar and torch it till brown. Alternatively, you can put it in the oven over high for a few minutes.
6. To create a classic and totally Instagrammable “salami river” to spice up your grazing board, fold the salami slices in half twice and tuck the bottom ends into the top opening of the next slice.
7. Always add a dip. Always. (e.g., pair the intensity of blue cheese with the sweetness of honeycomb)
8. Add a few crackers on the board to get people started, but don’t forget to serve a separate cracker plate for easy refilling.
9. Any cheese board needs a good and fresh garnish. Think fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary.
10. To get that mic drop moment, buy a set of linens or a bouquet of flowers that match the colors on your cheese plate so the entire tablescape ties together perfectly.

Yes, making the perfect cheese board is that easy. Go wild!