Vegas: The Sparkling lights, the showbiz glitz, and the spinning of the casino wheel. The roar of a win and the sigh of another loss! There really is no other place like it. A walk down the Vegas strip is enough to highlight that fact. All this stunning opulence and over-the-top exuberance can be a daunting sight, but with a little preparation you can make your Vegas experience a memorable one, even an event if you choose.
Set your compass for the heat of the desert and prepare yourself for an adventure. And a bit of advice. Save your pennies for those slot machines!
The Attractions
Outside of the city
As attractions and experiences go, Las Vegas offers a wide variety. From the awe-inspiring and unforgettable to the bizarre! Plan your sightseeing trips to make the most of your time.
Base yourself in the city, but make sure you take a trip out into the desert. The Grand Canyon is among some of the most incredible scenery to see anywhere on the planet, let alone the USA. Places like Red Rock and Bryce Canyon are popular. By pre-booking tours, you have peace of mind that you will get out to see these stunning places. Take in the views, snap plenty of photos and fill your day will incredible memories.
The Hoover Dam is a concrete structure, but it’s no less impressive than its natural neighbours. And if you want to get an even better view, then take a helicopter tour and you’ll get to see the sights of the Grand Canyon, the Dam and more from above. Now that is a once in a lifetime experience worth considering.
Around the city
You’ll want to make sure you see the natural landscape, that’s a given, but make sure you use your time in the city wisely. Time for the bright lights, the glitz, the sights, smells and sounds.
There are several ways you can do this. Taking a bus tour like the hop-on hop-off variety gives you a chance to get your bearings and see what the city can offer before you decide what you want to see. Perfect for the first timers. Or you can explore, seek the places yourself or even with a private tour. All options are worth investing in.
What you see will include the bizarre – The Eiffel Tower and the Luxor Sphinx to the famous Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand. The High roller observation wheel is another popular attraction. Each of these is worth investing your time to see. Of course, the Vegas Strip, where many of these attractions are, and possibly your hotel is situated, will mean you don’t have to go too far to find them. It’s hard to void them! Especially at night. The strip itself is around 6km long, so arrange your transport if walking its length seems daunting.
The Food
To appreciate the Vegas food scene, you might need to 1) spend a long time here. 2) have a sizeable amount of cash to eat out! So you would be better off going on an organised food tour with a local. Not only will these tour guides know the best places to go, but they can also recommend other places worth seeking trying. Again, the Strip is the place for these tours – cocktails, excellent food and maybe if you’re feeling lucky a spin of the wheel at the casino awaits!
Las Vegas isn’t for everyone, that’s true. Yes, it can seem very fake, over the top and opulent. Think of visiting Vegas as an experience that you may never have again. Embrace the uniqueness of the destination. Think about the places you can visit, the experiences you can have, and they will far outweigh the negatives.
The bright light of Vegas is calling. Plan your trip and you’ll make the most of your time there, and you never know, you might get lucky.
