Overview
Risen from the desert around gambling, Las Vegas turned itself into a resort city of vast themed hotels, each a world of casinos, restaurants, shows and pools. The Strip is its heart, a few miles of neon where replicas of Venice, Paris and ancient Rome stand side by side, busiest and brightest after dark. Hot and dry, it is a city of excess and spectacle, and also the gateway to some of the American West’s greatest landscapes.
Highlights
The Strip is the show in itself, walked past the fountains of the Bellagio, the replica Eiffel Tower and the themed mega-resorts, dazzling at night. Beyond the casinos are world-famous residencies, shows and restaurants, and the old downtown on Fremont Street keeps a brasher, older Vegas. Day trips reach the Hoover Dam, the red rocks of nearby canyons and the Grand Canyon further east.