DK Travel : Las Vegas

The Entertainment Capital of the World offers just about everything: the world’s largest hotels; the brightest stars in show business; shops and restaurants that rival any on earth. It’s true, too, that the lights are brighter in Las Vegas. Yet you don’t have to go far from the glamour and glitter to find the natural beauty of lakes and the desert as well.

Treasure Island

The sidewalk outside is wooden decking, with rope railings along the waters of Buccaneer Bay. Skull-and-crossbone door handles lead to the casino, where treasure chests, old maps, and other pirate gear continue the theme. In the shopping arcade, specialty candies are sold at the Candy Reef. Pirates pose for photos at Buccaneer Bay when they’re not doing battle with HMS Britannia.
Treasure Island Buffet

Linguine, chow mein, and fried chicken share the buffet in this popular smorgasbord of Italian, Chinese, and all-American dishes. Lines are always long, so do your best to avoid peak times.
Treasure Island Gangway

Either of the ships makes a delightful backdrop for your photos, or take a shot of the ships and village.
Treasure Island Sirens of TI

This free show, staged at the entrance to the Treasure Island hotel, is a favorite with visitors to Las Vegas. The 23-minute crowd-pleaser showcases the beguiling and beautiful “Sirens of TI”, who tempt and lure a band of swashbuckling pirates. From lively sword fights and acrobatic feats of derring-do to dazzling pyrotechnics and a rousing song-and-dance finale, this show is a hit, drawing huge crowds to their evening performances.
Treasure Island – Venetian Overcrossing

A great vantage point for photographing the Strip.
Treasure Island, Venetian, and Bellagio–Bally’s Footbridges

Hop across Las Vegas Boulevard without playing traffic roulette, and enjoy marvelous vantage points of the mêlée below.
Trolleys

The downtown trolley makes a regular circuit of Fremont, Ogden, and Steward streets daily from 9:30am–1am. The fare is just $1.50 for adults.
Tropicana

Island music, exotic birds, and waterfalls make this complex a tropical paradise.
Two Days at the Dam and Laughlin

Day One

Begin with early morning coffee at Railroad Pass Casino on Hwy 93, an old-timer among gambling dens. Afterward, continue on Hwy 93 to the historic Boulder City and the amazing Hoover Dam Tour .

Go back along Hwy 93 to the junction with Hwy 95 and turn south toward Laughlin. Stop at the Nugget in Searchlight (see Nugget Restaurant, Searchlight) for lunch and the chance to visit a typical small-town Nevada casino.

For a more picturesque route, turn off 95 and head east on the dirt road through Christmas Tree Pass. Spend the remainder of the day in Laughlin, perhaps hunting for bargains at the 50-store Horizon Discount Outlet.

Overnight at Harrah’s (see Fresh Market Square, Harrah’s, Laughlin) or another hotel along the river, and be sure to take an evening stroll along the promenade.

Day Two

Early next morning, golfers can tee off at the 18-hole Emerald River Golf Course. Alternatively, the Riverview Golf Course is just across the river in Bullhead City, Arizona.

Later, head for Oatman, an old-time western town about a half-hour’s drive southeast from Bullhead City. In the afternoon drive back north to Lake Mojave. Be sure to make time to see the mysterious petroglyphs at Grapevine Canyon, off Hwy 163, before returning to your hotel in Laughlin.
Two Excursions Beyond the Neon

Morning

Begin with an early morning stroll around the UNLV campus, stopping at the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History.

Drive through the Green Valley area to Foxridge Park where if children are in your party, the play equipment will be the main attraction. Then it’s on to the Ethel M. Chocolate Factory for the free tour and walk around the cactus garden.

On the way back to your hotel, lunch at one of the terrace tables around the Interactive Fountains at Green Valley Center. You’ll have the afternoon free, but if it’s Thursday, don’t miss the Henderson Farmers Market. Or, if traffic is not too heavy, you can take a second excursion.

Afternoon

Begin at the Nevada State Museum . Motor-racing fans should then make their next stop the Las Vegas Speedway.

Finish up at Chinatown Plaza , where the herbalist-health food shop is a repository for remedies such as dried sea horses (good for the kidneys), herbs, and shark fins.

After an hour or two shopping, head up to the second floor of the Plaza, where you have a choice of different Asian restaurants for dining. Among them are Plum Tree Inn, Pho Vietnam Restaurant, Kapit Bahay Filipino Fast Food, and Dragon Sushi.

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Restaurant price categories

For a three course meal for one with a half bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
- under $20
- $20–$30
- $30–$45
- $45–$60
- over $60
Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes, and extra charges.
- under $50
- $50–$100
- $100–$150
- $150–$200
- over $200