Las Vegas Area Travel Guide (Part 2)

The Las Vegas Area Travel Guide is a resource for Las Vegas visitors who wish to sample the Southwest's great scenery and outdoor recreation. All destinations within the guide are no more than five hours' drive from Las Vegas. Included are sites close to Las Vegas, such as Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Red Rock Canyon, Arizona locales (including Grand Canyon, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Historic Route 66), Utah (Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park), and California (Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve). Details include descriptions and links to many references. Notable Las Vegas attractions also are included.

Navigating the Guide

Open the Locater Map by clicking on image at right. Place your mouse pointer on any map icon. A brief description will appear. Click on the link in the icon info window for details. You may also use the Pull-Down Menu or the Las Vegas Area Travel Guide Index at the bottom of the page.

Las Vegas Area - City of Las Vegas

This symbol indicates links into the American West Travelogue.

There are endless writeups regarding what to see and where to stay in Las Vegas. This page highlights a selection of non-gaming activities and attractions and some of the notable resorts on the Strip.

Some of the most well-known resorts on the Las Vegas Strip:

• Bellagio. Patterned after the same-named village in Northern Italy. Offers upscale elegance in a cultured atmosphere with much sculpture, artwork, etc. Also, features an 11 acre lake with huge fountains. Its buffet is said to be the best in town.
• Caesars Palace. Has set the standard of Las Vegas elegance for years. Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is one of the top upscale shopping areas in town.
• Excalibur. Medieval-themed resort with turreted castle facade, moat, and drawbridge.
• Luxor. Egyptian-themed resort with main building shaped like a pyramid. Replica of the Sphinx out front.
• Mandalay Bay. Very upscale tropical-themed resort. Features an 11 acre tropical lagoon complex.
• MGM Grand. The huge complex has long been an entertainment center on the Strip.
• Mirage. A very tropical-themed resort. Huge living rain forest on the inside is a stark contrast to the desert on the outside.
• Monte Carlo. Format is French Riviera during the Victorian Era.
• New York, New York. One of the famous resorts, its facade simulates the New York City skyline. The inside is also based on New York: the casino simulates Central Park, and other areas resemble different New York neighborhoods.
• Paris Las Vegas. Opulent resort based on Paris. Features a 50-story version of the Eiffel Tower.
• Planet Hollywood. Upscale movie-themed complex. Includes popular Miracle Mile Shops mall.
• Venetian. Themed on the Italian city of Venice, even including gondola rides.
• Wynn Las Vegas. One of the newest resorts, the theme is extremely elegant style and refinement.

Almost all of the major hotels have various attractions and exhibits as well as stage shows. Some of the more notable non-gaming activities and attractions:

• Fremont Street Experience. A four block section of downtown Las Vegas has been converted to a pedestrian mall, covered by an audio-visual canopy consisting of 12 million lights. Free musical video shows take place approximately hourly during the evening. Also, free live entertainment. See the website for schedules. Many of the old-time flashy neon signs have been restored in the downtown area, adding to the entertainment. (If you are staying on the Strip, take public transportation, as the traffic is very slow and downtown parking is limited.)
  
  
• Adventuredome. An extravagant five acre indoor theme park at Circus Circus Hotel. Features a rollercoaster, white-water raft ride, IMAX theater, and more.
  
  
• Mirage Attractions. Features a fabulous aquarium, an indoor rain forest, erupting volcano, and Siegfeld and Roy's Secret Garden which houses a dolphin habitat and some of their most exotic animals.
  
  
• Mandalay Bay Shark Reef. Fantastic aquarium complex with the focus on sharks and other sea predators.
  
  
• Liberace Foundation and Museum. One of the better museums in town. Features memorabilia and exotic belongings of the late entertainer as well as a large collection of unusual antiques.
  
  
• Atomic Testing Museum. Features permanent and changing exhibits related to the Nevada Atomic Test Site which was active from 1951-1992. The U.S. Department of Energy conducts a free monthly guided tour of the Test Site. The day-long, 250-mile tour departs from and returns to the museum. Space is very limited for this popular and unusual tour, and reservations must be made many months in advance. An advance security check is performed on each visitor.
  
  
• Stratosphere Tower. The 1,149 foot tower, part of the Stratosphere Hotel complex, offers panoramic views of Las Vegas from observation decks at the top. Also, a number of exotic thrill rides which use the outside of the tower.
  
  
• Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. Offers some of the best fine art from around the world through rotating exhibits.
  
  
• Cirque du Soleil. The spectacular and world-famous show generally has different ongoing versions playing at a number of local hotels. See the website for the current schedule.
  
  
• Las Vegas Monorail. The monorail services the Strip area from MGM Grand to the Convention Center to the Sahara. It is an excellent method of getting around and avoiding the slow traffic. There is also an extensive system of buses.
  
  

Accomodations, Flights, Cars, and more for Las Vegas

• Click Here for the Best Las Vegas Hotel Deals!
• Las Vegas Deals: flights, hotels, cars, vacation packages & more!
• Best Western Las Vegas, NV

Other Links for City of Las Vegas:

• Official Las Vegas Tourism Web Site
• Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce
• Las Vegas Strip - National Scenic Byways (U.S. Dept. of Transportation)
• Las Vegas Shows

Las Vegas Area Travel Guide Index

• Hoover Dam, Northern Arizona, Route 66, Grand Canyon
• City of Las Vegas
• Las Vegas Area - East (Lake Mead / Valley of Fire)
• Las Vegas Area - West (Red Rocks / Mt. Charleston)
• Utah National Parks Loops
• Death Valley Area and Mojave National Preserve
• Travel Itineraries

• Northern Arizona
• Grand Canyon Area
• Southern Utah
• Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon
• Lake Powell