Las Vegas Travel Guide
Once a dusty, desert town in Nevada, Las Vegas is now a playground of big hotels, outrageous neon lights and outlandish personalities. Its transformation into a gambling hotspot began in 1931, when the first gaming licence was issued. Since then, Vegas has continued to expand and evolve, from a post-war gangsters’ paradise and favoured hangout of the Rat Pack in the mid-’60s, to a glittering spectacle.
Vegas' themed hotels are legendary. Experience ancient Rome at Caesars Palace or climb aboard a gondola at the Venetian. Marvel at the Mirage’s erupting volcanoes, see The Big Apple’s skyline at New York New York, or drink a cocktail at the top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris hotel.
While it’s known as Sin City, Vegas is about more than just gambling and adult entertainment. Families can find plenty of innocent fun, some of which, like the Bellagio hotel’s nightly fountain show, is free. A stroll along the Las Vegas Strip or The Forum Shops will also cost you nothing. Watch the nightly parade at the Fremont Street Experience without paying a cent.
Las Vegas provides experiences on an extravagant scale. The Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is a just a few hours' drive away. There’s a record-breaking free fall at Stratosphere Tower and exotic sea creatures at Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium. Even Sin City’s seedy past is on display at the fascinating Mob Museum.
Although the famous all-you-can-eat buffets and juicy hamburger joints are still in town, Vegas has stepped it up in the food stakes, with a new crop of restaurants attracting discerning clientele. The shopping here rivals New York and Los Angeles, with hundreds of designer boutiques, opulent malls, children’s stores and plenty of souvenir shops. If you can't find it in Vegas, it probably can't be found.
