Las Vegas needs no introductions. It is the ultimate adult playground – the place to lose track of time and indulge in as much dining, entertainment, shopping and sun-bathing as possible.
From five-star hotels to endless buffets to sparking shows to crowded gaming tables, you will be dazzled by all that is Vegas. Start your adventure by strolling down the Strip and checking out the flashing show signs, mesmerizing hotels and casinos like Bellagio, Luxor and The Venetian, restaurants, clubs and shopping centres. At night, head to the Fremont Street Experience, a 4-block pedestrian mall covered by an arched canopy, for the free nightly shows with 12.5 million lights and 550,000 watts of incredible sound.
If you’re a novice gamer, many hotels offer free lessons so that you can become an expert in a flash. Each hotel is a destination in itself, so while you’re wandering through them, explore all that they have to offer including designer boutiques at Caesars Palace and sparkling pools at The Beach at Mandalay Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, MGM Grand or the Palms, just to name a few. And who said you have to go to an amusement park to ride a rollercoaster? Just head to New York-New York, Circus Circus or the Stratosphere Tower where an open roller coaster car travels along a 69-foot ramp at 30 miles per hour until suddenly stopping 29 feet over the edge of the tower and 866 feet from the ground below.
You also don’t need to visit a zoo to get your animal fix. Many hotels along the Strip have live animal exhibits like Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage where you will come face to face with white lions, white tigers, panthers, leopards and a family of friendly Bottlenose Dolphins. You can also see over 2,000 exotic sea animals in 1.6 million gallons of water at Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay including sawfish, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, piranha, jellyfish and the rare golden crocodile.
No matter what your budget or taste, Vegas has your culinary needs covered. Go all out with a $777 burger at Le Burger Brasserie made with Kobe beef and Maine lobster and topped with caramelized onions, imported Brie, crispy prosciutto and 100-year aged balsamic vinegar. It’s even served with a bottle of Rose Dom Perignon champagne. For something with a twist, try Roxy’s Diner at the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower. Enjoy mouth-watering food and 50s style milkshakes as the wait staff sing songs from Grease.
If you need a break from the ringing of slot machines, drive 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas to Hoover Dam. This immense structure is considered to be the world’s largest dam with nearly a million visitors each year. Take a guided river tour on the Colorado River below the dam or visit Lake Mead for a relaxed day of fishing, boating, swimming and hiking the stunning desert that surrounds the lake. Continue driving and you’ll reach the Grand Canyon. This natural wonder stretches up to 18 miles wide, a mile deep and consists of 277 miles of the mighty Colorado River. Take spectacular panoramic pictures from the South Rim or ride a mule to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon for insight into the canyon’s rich past.