Las Vegas Travel Guide - Entertainment & Travel Tips

Things to do in Las Vegas

Welcome to Las Vegas, the city of over 1700 licensed gambling places, 197,000 slot machines, 3740 annual conventions, and 315 average weddings per day. Discover here a glistening web-work of casinos, theme parks, museums, national parks, malls and dining districts, a city glittering with glamour and lights, a place that promises to leave you breathless.

Landmarks and Attractions in Las Vegas

One of the most popular destinations—and more popular tourist dreams—in Las Vegas is to walk The Strip and explore its world-famous casinos. Also in the city, visit galleries like M Modern Gallery with its modernist art, the Gallery of Fine Art at the romantic Bellagio. Scale the Eiffel Tower Replica for a breathtaking view of the city, or experience a little bit of Italy on a serenaded Gondola ride through the Grand Canal. Savor the experience of zero gravity with Las Vegas Space Flights, browse the world's largest and finest antique and special-interest cars at Imperial Palace Auto Collections, rise the tallest rollercoaster at The Stratosphere Tower, and check out the world's Largest Golden Nugget.

Among the many activities that cost nothing but provide timeless rewarding memories themselves, catch the magical Bellagio Light and Water Fountain Show. Greet the 300 birds at the Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel, enjoy the spectacular indoor Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio Hotel, feel the heat at The (man-made) Volcano at the Mirage Hotel. Catch the fifteen-minute sexy Sirens of RI show (music, dancing, acrobatics, and lovely-women-vs.-pirates sword-fighting). Head down to the Rio Hotel for the hourly carnivalesque and lively Masquerade Village Show, or to Circus, Circus Hotel for one of the oldest and beloved shows at the largest permanent circus worldwide.

Nightlife and Family Fun in Las Vegas

Families will delight in group activities offered everywhere; hit the trails on foot or on horseback, revel in amusement parks like Adventuredeme, enjoy performances by the Cirque du Soleil, and fall in love with the animals at Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, Shark Reef, and Lion Habitat. Take a trip to the monumental Hoover Dam, stopping along the way to sample some candy at Ethel M Chocolate Factory.

Whether your aim is to gamble (train yourself with free gaming classes at the Las Vegas Hilton), shop, or feast your eyes on unique glamorous eye-candy, you'll find your fix at the casinos at the Strip. Those include the Venetian (gondoliers, costumes, and ceiling frescoes included), Caesar's Palace (with a weather-mimicking ceiling you'd swear belongs in fantasy films), Bellagio (known as a colorful overdose of eye-candy), and Paris (think a spectacular casino floor and winding shopping lanes).

Off the Beaten Path in Las Vegas

For an unforgettable experience, head down to the Downtown Las Vegas Fremont Street for the hourly mega-million dollar canopy and light show shrouding the street. Be fascinated (or chilled) at the organs and body parts educating viewers of the Bodies: The Exhibition at the Luxor Hotel. Feel the thrill and leave the fear at Vegas Indoor Skydiving, take the Haunted Vegas Tour at Royal Resort. And don't forget Luxor, the pyramid on the Strip with the most powerful searchlight in the world (so powerful that if aliens exist, they've seen it).

Restaurants and Shopping in Las Vegas

Vegas shopping offers something for every style and budget. Right off the strip you'll find all two million square feet of the Fashion Show Mall with its many anchor stores. Most casino hotels are also equipped with vast shopping centers including chain and specialty retailers. Other popular shopping meccas include the Wynn Las Vegas and the outdoor Town Square Las Vegas. Many districts are delightfully characterized with ethnic vibes, such as the Grand Canal Shoppers at the Venetian, the Moroccan-style Aladdin's Desert Passage, and the Rome-reminiscing Caesar's Palace forum shops.

Where there are casinos and hotels, be sure there will also be impeccable dining experiences. Celebrity chefs throughout the city are constantly cooking up storms, and there are countless choices where you can't go wrong. Enjoy an exquisite and pricy indulgence (try eponymous places like Joel Robuchon or Alex and Paul Bartolotta's), flawless dishes and views (Alizé, Rosemary's Restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi), best wallet-friendly thrills (Capriottis, Le Village Buffet), and countless other international or all-American restaurants and cuisines.

Photos provided by: Thierry, Tim Parkinson

Map of Las Vegas