Bright lights, late nights and the Hoover Dam: Exploring Las Vegas and beyond
It’s the city that never sleeps. But it’s also the city that never lets you sleep.
Walk down the Vegas Strip and you’ll soon realise that no matter what day or time it is, lights will be bright and music will be blaring.
The message is loud and clear - stay awake, keep your energy levels up and get involved.
And get involved, we did. With yard margaritas in hand (an absolute must, by the way) we walked the length of the famous street, our entertainment provided by all the sights and sounds we experienced along the way.
Each hotel is an attraction in its own right - you can take a Gondola ride through the Venetian, watch the majestic water fountain show at the Bellagio or ride the Big Apple Coaster at New York, New York. And that’s not to mention the plethora of casinos, bars and restaurants which each one houses.
In theory, you could spend the duration of your trip in the same hotel and never run out of things to do. But to do that would, of course, be a huge mistake.
Although the Strip and nightlife are the first things which spring to mind when you think of a trip to Las Vegas, the city has so much more to offer.
Head to Downtown Las Vegas to escape the always-on feeling of the Strip. It’s not without its liveliness and nightlife - Fremont Street is a quirky and colourful scene - but for the most part, this section of town feels more relaxed.
Don’t leave without visiting The Mob Museum, which takes you on a fascinating tour through the history of organised crime in the US. Give yourself enough time to make sure you don’t rush through it, and stop for a cocktail at The Underground Speakeasy and Distillery which will transport you back to the roaring 20s.
Also in this neck of the woods you’ll find the Neon Museum, where you can see hundreds of old neon signs from casinos and other Vegas businesses.
If you’re looking for somewhere special to eat, I’d highly recommend Carson Kitchen which serves up reimagined comfort food in the form of small plates. Don’t leave without trying the Devil’s Eggs and Killer Shrimp - both of which were among the standout dishes of the trip.
Packed with galleries, breweries, shops and cafes, the Arts District is another area which is well worth a visit. Brunch at Esther’s Kitchen, which serves up anything from sweet pancakes to sourdough pizzas, is a must if you venture into this part of town.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Hoover Dam, which straddles the Nevada-Arizona border, is a fairly short drive - around 35 minutes - from Vegas.
It’s probably not the type of activity that first springs to mind when you think ‘Las Vegas’, but it is well worth the journey. The visitor centre takes you through the landmark’s history and construction, as well as the role it plays in the modern day.
These lesser-known, further-out areas and attractions round off a trip to Vegas very well, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t soak up everything that the Strip has to offer too. Only then will you truly feel like you’ve had the Las Vegas experience.
Taking in a show is a must and few come more highly recommended than “O” by Cirque du Soleil at the Bellagio, which sees wide-eyed audiences watch as performers leap, swing and plunge into the water below. It is no surprise that the show’s mesmerising aquatic stunts have attracted more than 20 million spectators since it first opened in 1998.
Located on the Las Vegas Strip, Park MGM is a smoke-free resort in the heart of the city. It houses a range of restaurants and bars as well as a casino.
For more information or to book a room, visit https://parkmgm.mgmresorts.com/en.html.
There is no shortage of great restaurants on the Strip either - with every diet and food preference catered for.
The tasting menu at LPM at The Cosmopolitan was one of the best meals of our entire trip. From starters of yellowtail carpaccio and burrata, and truffle rigatoni and lamb cutlet mains, to cheesecake and chocolate mousse for dessert, nothing on the menu wasn’t something to write home about. Even the cocktails were one-of-a-kind, with the restaurant’s signature Tomatini a must-order for anyone visiting.
Another standout meal was one we had at Prime Steakhouse at the Bellagio, which we enjoyed at a table overlooking the famous Bellagio fountains. The salmon with sweet corn was truly incredible, and the steaks were done to perfection.
And if you’re looking for a slightly more edgy feel, Vanderpump à Paris is the place to go. Every drink and dish we tried there was delicious, but the truffle-stuffed baguette sharing starter, shrimp cocktail, chilean seabass and mousse au chocolat dessert bites deserve a special mention. Save room for a dessert cocktail if you can as well.
Just when it seems like you’ve experienced all that the Strip has to offer - which I’m certain will never be the case no matter the length of your stay - you can see the Strip from the sky with a 5 Stars Helicopter Tour. You’re in the air for all of seven minutes, but the sight of the Strip unfolding below you is one you’re sure to never forget.
In many ways, Vegas is what it says on the tin. It’s pure entertainment, an immersive theme park where every hotel is like a different ‘land’ with its own unique selling point. There is something to look at, to do or to visit in every part of the city, meaning you will almost always leave it wishing you had had time to do just one more thing.
Maybe that’s why it’s called the city that never sleeps. Not only does it never let you sleep, but it leaves you feeling that any time actually spent in your hotel room sleeping is time that would be better spent exploring some other wacky corner of the mad, fascinating world that is Las Vegas.