There’s no place like Las Vegas. The glittering oasis in the desert attracts nearly 40 million visitors a year with its massive themed hotels (including 17 of the 20 biggest hotels in the U.S.), big-name entertainment, endless shopping and dining, and, of course, nonstop gaming. No matter how you roll the dice, Vegas is in a class all its own.
While most visitors to Vegas try their luck on the casino floors (and even at the airport, conveniently stocked with slot machines), the destination offers many more diversions. A Las Vegas travel itinerary could include a round of golf on one of the country’s finest courses; a pampering treatment at a world-class spa; a memorable meal at one of the city’s many celebrity chef restaurants; a Broadway-style musical; and even a trip down the aisle at one of Las Vegas’s 50-plus wedding chapels. And a Las Vegas vacation doesn’t have to revolve around the Strip. The surrounding area offers a range of nature-based activities that are especially suited to a family vacation in Las Vegas, including horseback riding and river rafting, as well as the famous Hoover Dam.
Taxis are plentiful in Vegas, and public transportation options include the city bus (a one-way fare on the Strip costs $2), a trolley that runs the length of the Strip, and the Las Vegas Monorail, which runs from the Sahara Hotel to the MGM Grand. While walking the entire length of the Strip should only be attempted with very comfortable shoes, don’t miss strolling down at least part of it to experience the excitement of Las Vegas (not to mention the Bellagio’s dancing fountains and the Mirage’s erupting volcano). Be sure to remember water, especially during the summer. The average high temperature in July, the hottest month, is 105°F.