"About an hour from Las Vegas, this stretch of the Colorado River provides a surprisingly verdant beach experience in the desert—swimming, boating, and fishing are popular, and the marina serves as a common launch point for guided kayak tours to Emerald Cave (aka Emerald Cove), a scenic alcove where algae and sunlight combine to make the water glow vivid green." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines