HENDERSON, Nevada — When one tries to imagine a “family-friendly” neighborhood, the Las Vegas area might not come to mind. But “family-friendly” flowed from the mouth of almost everyone I met in Inspirada, Nevada, a planned community 20 minutes from the Strip.

Come here on a fall evening, when the desert sun is low and shadows grace the parks and the village squares, and you’ll see a little slice of heaven on Earth — particularly if you’re a parent.