There are many places to visit in Las Vegas, the city of leisure and entertainment par excellence. Its huge themed hotels along the Strip offer everything from gambling in its casinos, shopping in its malls to watching magic shows, circuses or music, to celebrating your own wedding.
This city built in the middle of the Mojave Desert, in addition to enjoying its attractions and shows, offers you the opportunity to take a trip to the spectacular Grand Canyon of the Colorado or rent a car and do a stretch of the legendary Route 66.
1. Place a bet in a world famous casino
Even despite the $5 minimum deposit casinos on the Internet, with one foot in the past and one in the future, Caesars Palace, at 50, remains an icon of Sin City’s decline. The Palace is one of the last remaining old school properties, and few casinos in Las Vegas can match it in atmosphere. But before you get to the roulette, poker or baccarat room, do some research. The Gamblers General Store in Downtown Las Vegas has a library of books on how to take on casino challenges. If poker is your game, head to the Bellagio, where you can see some of the world’s best players in action, or to the legendary Downtown Golden Nugget, where you can pit your skills against those of gray-haired, anonymous veterans who don’t seem to have left their seat for decades. If you prefer to stick to slots or video poker, head to The Palms, where the payouts are above average, or to the Gold Coast or Circus Circus, both of which offer examples of Las Vegas’ vintage past.
2. Practice trekking
Visitors to Las Vegas are often surprised to discover that The Strip isn’t a four-mile-long, swanky city lost in the middle of the desert. The city is surrounded by mountains and canyons that offer wonderful excursions throughout the year. During the winter, visit the Red Rock National Conservation Area, where reddish rock walls are dotted with climbers and trails leading to charming ravines. In summer, head north to Mt Charleston, nearly 10,000 feet high: cooler temperatures, Bristlecone pine forests and sweeping views of the valley.
3. The Welcome Poster, one of the places to visit in Las Vegas
One of the things you have to do in Las Vegas is to be photographed with the famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign on the back. This sign, located on the south side of Las Vegas Boulevard near the Mandalay Bay hotel, marks one of the boundaries of the Strip and is one of the symbols of Las Vegas. As a curiosity we will tell you that on the back of the sign you can read the phrases “Come Back Soon” and “Drive Safe”.
A great way to save is to book the Las Vegas Pass which gives you free access to over 50 Las Vegas attractions or the Go Las Vegas Card which includes top attractions depending on the days you are in town.
4. Walk the Strip
The Strip is the most famous avenue in Las Vegas, the one you’ve seen a thousand times in movies or pictures with all the casinos on either side. The street is 6 kilometers long and goes approximately from the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign to the Stratosphere hotel tower, where we were staying.
My recommendation is that you walk around it both during the day and at night, watching the two very different scenes that this great avenue leaves with the sunlight and when it falls and all the neon lights come on.
5. See the Bellagio fountain show, one of the most beautiful in Las Vegas
This show became famous with the movie Ocean’s Eleven and since then, it’s one of the most sought after shows in Las Vegas. And they certainly are spectacular. Water, colors and music combine in a beautiful show that is also free. Don’t hesitate, the Bellagio fountains are one of the best things to see and do in Las Vegas.
You can check out the show’s schedule on the Bellagio’s website.