Las Vegas
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Las Vegas, also known as “Sin City,” is filled with amazing restaurants and bars, glowing neon signs, flashy casinos, and endless entertainment venues. However, beyond the bright lights of the Strip lies an ordinary city with homes, schools, shopping centers, and stores. Even more, there are numerous outdoor activities for families. Whichever you’re choosing to experience, Las Vegas has something for everyone.
Travel tip #1: Most casinos offer free drinks to keep people gambling. While you’re playing, wait for a cocktail waitress to come and take your order. Note that tips are expected.
Places of Interest
Seven Magic Mountains: Located about 45 minutes outside of Las Vegas in Jean, Nevada lies this colorful art installation created by Ugo Rondinone. It features 33 boulders of various colors stacked in seven different towers, giving the desert landscape some vibrancy. Learn more about this art installation by clicking here.
Welcome to Las Vegas Sign: The “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign is a Las Vegas landmark. It’s been up since around 1959 and welcomes visitors and locals alike into the city. You can park in the designated lot and snap some photos as you head into Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Boulevard: Commonly known as “the Strip,” this massive street is one of the nation’s busiest. Lined with hotels, casinos, shops, and restaurants, it’s definitely a place to experience what makes Las Vegas what it is.
The Cosmopolitan: This hotel and casino has awesome decor. I love the design, art, and architecture here. It’s a cool place to walk around, grab some food, and relax. Be sure to take a picture in front of The Chandelier and get a drink at the bar.
The Bellagio: One of the more upscale places along The Strip and one of the most expensive hotels ever constructed, the Bellagio is home to a variety of designer stores. Every night, there is a water show in front of the hotel. Monday through Friday, it shows every half hour from 3-8 pm and every 15 minutes from 8 pm until midnight. On Saturdays and holidays the show runs every half hour from noon to 8 pm. After 8 pm, it’s every 15 minutes. Fountain show times begin at 11 am and run every half hour until 7 pm on Sundays.
Top of the World at the Stratosphere: This restaurant and bar sits 107 floors up and has an awesome view of the city. It’s a great place to see the Strip from above for free! On weekdays, be sure to catch their Happy Hour from 4-7 pm for half-price appetizers and drinks.
The LINQ: The LINQ is not only a hotel, but an area along the Strip offering several different experiences. There are lots of restaurants to choose from, plus attractions like the 550-foot-tall High Roller and FLY LINQ.
Downtown Las Vegas: Downtown is the historic center of the city. It is home to casinos like the Golden Nugget and the California. There are lots of places to explore, eat at, and hang out at in Downtown LV.
Fremont Street Experience: This 24-hour pedestrian mall in Downtown Las Vegas is home to several casinos, shops, and attractions. The SlotZilla zipline runs for over a third of a mile beneath the entertainment center. Be sure to catch the Viva Vision Light Show on the canopy ceiling above, too!
The Container Park: The open-air mall is constructed from old shipping containers. There are lots of shops selling clothes, watches, chocolates, and special gifts to take a piece of Las Vegas home with you. It’s a fun place to walk around if you’re in Downtown—look for the giant fire-breathing praying mantis!
Las Vegas Premium Outlets: Las Vegas is home to two sets of outlets—Las Vegas North and South. Both are relatively close to the Strip and have a variety of brand names, like Levi’s, Kate Spade, and Ralph Lauren. If you choose to drive, the North Outlets charge $5 USD for non-locals for the first three hours and $10 USD for anything over that.
Travel tip #2: Dayclubs and nightclubs are fun spots for party life, but they might not be everyone’s cup of tea. If places like Omnia or Drai’s aren’t the thing for you, a day trip to the Hoover Dam or Grand Canyon West might be more appealing. Vegas’ Arts District is also quite nice and features some cool museums.
Food
Eggslut: “Eggslut is inspired by a true love for eggs.” The menu features basic breakfast sandwiches—Bacon, Egg & Cheese and Sausage, Egg & Cheese—as well as more elevated options, such as The Gaucho and The Slut. You can find Eggslut in the Cosmopolitan Hotel, plus in Los Angeles, Kuwait City, and London.
Hash House A Go Go: Going off the idea of serving “twisted farm food,” this restaurant dishes out a variety of Midwest-inspired food. I recommend trying the Sage Fried Chicken & Waffles—which can be easily split between two people—or the Sage Fried Chicken Benedict. Their mac-n-cheese was awesome, as was the bacon they use in everything!
Giordano’s: A Chicago favorite that can be found in Las Vegas! I first tried Giordano’s deep-dish pizza when in the Windy City and gladly ate it again in Vegas. Deep-dish pizzas generally take about 45 minutes to prepare, so be ready to relax and wait.
Gordon Ramsay Burger: Found at Planet Hollywood, one of Gordon Ramsay’s many restaurants in Vegas is a great place to go for burgers, fries, and shakes. Their gourmet beef patties are cooked over an open flame using prime cuts of meat while all ingredients are of high quality. I recommend trying Burnt Ends Poutine Fries, Farmhouse Burger, and Crispy Chicken Pepper Chicken burger.
Bacchanal Buffet: This luxurious, high-end buffet inside Caesar’s Palace is one of the best buffets I’ve ever eaten at! Although there is usually a wait and the per-person price seems a little high, the food quality, variety, and presentation is well-worth it. Many dishes are uniquely displayed on small plates, which is great for sampling multiple items during your meal.
Wicked Spoon: Similar to Bacchanal Buffet, Wicked Spoon in the Cosmopolitan is another buffet that serves high-quality food in a beautiful setting. The dishes here tend to be a bit more creative, fusing different flavors and combinations. Check their website for prices.
Travel tip #3: There are tons of places to eat in Vegas that it can be difficult to choose just a few to indulge in on a single trip! Many celebrity chefs have restaurants here that are worth trying, but be prepared to possibly wait in lines to be seated.
Transportation & Accommodation
If you fly into Las Vegas, you will land at McCarran Airport. There are shuttle services, as well as rental car and ride share services to take you to your destination.
Driving to Las Vegas is common for those from neighboring states—the drive from Los Angeles only takes about 4-5 hours! However, parking can quickly add up in Las Vegas, especially if you’re staying along the Strip. It is best to park your car and keep it in one spot to save time and money.
Walking to get place to place is feasible in Downtown and on the Strip. If you choose to walk between casinos, be aware that they give the illusion of being much closer to each other than they actually are. Plan for ample walking time to get from one casino to the next.
Taxis and ride share services (Uber and Lyft) are easy to access if needed. Ride share services often have designated pick-up and drop-off areas at hotels and casinos that tend to be away from main streets. Las Vegas also has a train (the Las Vegas Monorail) that connects some of the major areas from McCarran Airport to the end of the Strip. One-way rides cost $5 USD.
For accommodation, hotels are your best option in Las Vegas. There are a multitude to choose from at different price points. Booking.com is a great place to check rooms and rates for Las Vegas. Staying on the Strip is a good place if you want to eat, gamble, go to shows, and have quick access to all things Vegas. The Flamingo was a nice place to stay—three nights being about $230 during August, which included parking and resort fees. Downtown accommodation options, like The California and Golden Nugget tend to be a bit cheaper, but are about a twenty to thirty minute drive from the Strip.
Travel tip #4: Going between the Strip and Downtown is expensive if you choose to use taxis or ride share services. A one-way taxi will set you back about $25 dollars while ride share services fluctuate in price based on time of day and demand. I personally found ride share services to be cheaper, yet the taxi drivers were much more friendly and drove a lot safer.
Climate
Las Vegas lies in the Mojave Desert and has a hot desert climate. Summers are long, dry, and hot with temperatures reaching triple digits (100+ degrees Fahrenheit/ 40 Celsius) during the daytime. However, summer is also monsoon season—these months typically see heavy flooding with steady downpours of rain and wind. Moreover, summer is peak tourist season, so expect lots of people everywhere you go. In contrast, winter has a very low number of tourists with its sunny and mild day weather and cold nights. The best time to visit the city is from March to May and from September to November, as the spring and fall seasons offer the most moderate weather.
