Your Las Vegas vacation will likely revolve around the iconic neon lights and famous (albeit somewhat kitschy) sights along the Strip. This is where Lady Luck will make or break your bank account, but there are other diversions attached to the casinos: ride a gondola at The Venetian, see views atop the Eiffel Tower atParis, Las Vegas or enjoy the renowned fountain show at the Bellagio.
But if you can part with the glitz and glam of Las Vegas Boulevard, you’ll find the rest of the city has plenty to offer. Check out the Fremont Street Experience's lightshow, enjoy a history lesson at the Mob Museum or the Neon Museum, or stretch your legs at Red Rock Canyon And if you have the time, plan a quick road trip to the Hoover Dam.
Las Vegas may be known as “Sin City” because of its mob history and gambling, but it’s so much more than slot machines, poker tables and wedding chapels with Elvis impersonators officiating. The fabulous Strip is filled with over-the-top casinos that allow tourists to visit different countries and see world landmarks without setting foot off The Strip, officially a.k.a Las Vegas Boulevard. Casinos feature attractions from pirate ships to great Egyptian monuments to circus acts and gorgeous botanical gardens. Hey! Who has time for slot machines anyway? Here’s a look at some of the
Top Tourist Attractions in Las Vegas
1. The Strip
The 2.5-mile-long central section of Las Vegas Boulevard, which runs through the city from northeast to southwest, known as The Strip, is lined with huge entertainment palaces, many built with a defining theme and home to performance venues, luxury hotel rooms, and fine dining. The Strip is particularly impressive at night, when the city is illuminated by an endless succession of glittering neon signs.
Most visitors enjoy walking along the Strip and taking in the sights. Generally speaking, the Las Vegas Strip runs from the Mandalay Bay Hotel to the Treasure Island Hotel. Many of the hotel complexes have free street side entertainment, from dancing fountains to erupting volcanoes.To truly experience Las Vegas, stay on The Strip, preferably at one of the major resorts.
2. Bellagio
This Strip staple offers plenty of ways to lay your money on the line, from table games and slot machines to a race and sports book. This is also the choice casino among many high-rollers due to its high-stakes tables. What's more, this casino hosts the World Poker Tour, among other tournaments. But there's more to the Bellagio than the casino floor. Even those who don't gamble praise the Bellagio for its upscale atmosphere and variety of amenities and attractions.
Anyone who's seen a movie set in Vegas will recognize the Bellagio's massive fountains: Every 15 to 30 minutes, those walking past the Bellagio are treated to a complimentary light and water show with the fountain's jets shooting water into the air during intricately choreographed "dances."You'll also find a fine art gallery as well as botanical gardens within the Bellagio – not to mention a luxury hotel, several restaurants, Cirque du soleil's "O" show, a spa and numerous nightlife venues.You don't have to pay to walk around the Bellagio or to enjoy its fountain show, but you'll need some cash for the restaurants, bars and shops. The Bellagio is open to visitors 24 hours a day.
3. Stratosphere Tower
Major Vegas hotels center around themes or special gimmicks to draw visitors. The Stratosphere Hotel is no exception. It is home to the Stratosphere Tower, which, at 1,149 feet (350 meters) high, is the tallest freestanding tower in the United States. The observation deck is THE place to go for spectacular 360-degree views of the city and surrounding terrain. Since the tower is open until 1 a.m. on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends, it’s a good place to see Las Vegas at its glittering best. One of the most visited attractions in Las Vegas, the tower will appeal to daredevils and thrill seekers too who, for a fee, can sky jump off the tower at 855 feet (261 meters).
4. The Mob Museum
If you’re fascinated by folks like Al Capone and the underworld dealings of gangsters past and present, Downtown’s the Mob Museum, housed in a former courthouse that hosted part of the Kefauver hearings, is a must. The museum’s exhibits and artifacts (including the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Wall) detail the Mafia’s impact on Las Vegas and the rest of the country, as well as the steps law enforcement took to bring the dons down. Check the museum calendar for special speaker events, author talks and Mob-related parties.
5. Fermont Street Experience
The Fremont Street Experience is mostly known for its overhead light show, Viva Vision, which is an eye-popping visual spectacle. Street performers, impersonators and artists known as buskers are found all along the street level on Fremont Street, making a walk up and down the few blocks under the canopy feel like an adult carnival. A zip line ride, SlotZilla, zooms riders under the canopy and over the heads of the people below. And, of course, every hour after dark the overhead canopy explodes into images and music. During the day, the FSE is a bit more sedate. Pedestrians can stroll from casino to casino and check out the wares at the shopping kiosks. If you're shopping for souvenirs, several places along the FSE feature inexpensive trinkets and tee-shirts.
6. Venetian Hotel And Gondola Rides
The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas is located on "The Strip" across from Treasure Island. It is one of the city's finest resorts and has many interesting tourist attractions. Visitors can walk through the themed shopping arcade built to resemble the city of Venice, complete with blue skies, canals, and gondoliers. The hotel also features recreations of the main attractions found in Venice such as the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs, along with many others.
The Venetian Gondola Rides are a fun way to see the complex. Situated out in front of the Venetian Hotel, near the sidewalk, boats await passengers who are then taken on a ride by their personable gondolier through the shopping arcade inside the hotel.
7. Caesars Resort
A larger-than-life resort, Caesars Palace was dreamed up and built Jay Sarno, who worked hard building motels in the 1950’s. His love for gambling led him to Las Vegas, where he envisioned a casino much more glamorous than what the Strip had been offering. And so Caesars Palace opened in 1966 at a cost of $24 million, and was unlike anything Las Vegas had seen. With fountains and pools and employees in Roman-themed uniforms, it was an immediate hit, and set the standard for the themed-hotels that are so common in Sin City today. The casino has made an appearance in several Hollywood movies since it opened its doors including the Academy Award-winning film Rain Main and the 2009 hit comedy The Hangover.
8. The High Roller
The Las Vegas Strip offers plenty of epic vantage points, from the restaurants atop Mandalay Bay to the clubs that crown the Palms, but perhaps the best views come courtesy of the Linq’s anchor attraction, the 550-foot-tall High Roller observation wheel. Grab a few friends and your camera and climb aboard one of the glass pods for a 30-minute trip over the Strip with 360-degree views of the Vegas Valley. And if you like your vistas with a side of booze, book a spot in one of the Happy Half Hour cabins, which includes an open bar during your trip ’round the wheel.
9. Helicopter Rides Over Grand Canyon
For a great aerial view over Las Vegas, or even the Grand Canyon, visitors may want to take a helicopter ride. Las Vegas has a number of companies providing helicopter tours that take visitors over Las Vegas and the Strip, or as far away as the Grand Canyon. This is a great opportunity for anyone with limited time to see not only Vegas, but the surrounding landscape and one of America's most impressive and famous natural attractions.
10. Vegas Indoor Museum
Vegas Indoor Skydiving offers a truly unique experience. Here, visitors will get to experience what actual skydiving is like, without an airplane or parachute. Qualified instructors escort participants to a vertical wind tunnel where they are suited up in special gear. Once the fan is turned on, anyone can float effortlessly in the air. No experience is necessary.
Some Interesting Facts About Las Vegas
* There is one operating slot machine in Las Vegas for every 8 residents.
* In Nyala, a man is forbidden from buying drinks for more than three people.
* Everyone walking on the streets of Elko is required to wear a mask.
* In Eureka, men are forbidden from kissing women.
* Nevada has more mountain ranges than any other state. The highest point is at the 13,145 foot top of Boundary Peak.
* The first airplane to land in Las Vegas occurred in 1920 and it was piloted by Jack Beckley and landed at Rockwell Field which was located on what is now the Sahara Casino property.
* The average Las Vegas Valley household consumes about 230,000 gallons of water a year.
* In 1864, the longest Morse code telegram ever sent occurred in Nevada, it was the state constitution being sent from Carson City to Washington D.C. in 1864.
* The only round courthouse in the United States is in Pershing County Nevada.
* Seventeen of the top twenty hotels in the world are located in Las Vegas. For exact room counts,
* Construction workers on the Hoover Dam in 1933 were treated to a new invention, the Hard Hat. The Hard Hat was invented specifically for workers on the Hoover Dam.
* In 2007, Nevada has about 50,000 miles of paved road.
The excitement doesn’t end at Las Vegas casinos and shows; there are lots of things to do in Vegas. From zip lines and zoos to aquariums and galleries, there’s adventure around every corner. It’s no wonder people from all over the globe plan a yearly Las Vegas vacation.
You can up the adrenaline with machine gun rentals or take a trip around the world’s largest observation wheel, the High Roller. For a peaceful interlude, see the playful side of dolphins at The Mirage's Dolphin Habitat or the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.
Want a fun and unusual way to experience the culture and history of this unique city? Try the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, the Mob Museum and a local favorite, the Neon Museum, where you can see vintage neon signs that have been restored to their former glory.Make the most of your trip and tap into the excitement of Las Vegas attractions by taking full advantage of all this city has to offer.
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