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.

UNLV Campus

City residents’ favorite areas for taking a walk include the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, which was established in 1957. The university may not have any remarkable buildings, but there are shade trees, and in early evening the paths are blissfully uncrowded. Be sure not to miss the desert garden, which is lovely.

UNLV campus
UNLV Sports Events

The university’s Runnin’ Rebels basketball, football, and baseball teams are frequently champions.
Valley Of Fire State Park.

This is a beautiful red rock park about 50 minutes north east of Las Vegas. You can drive, park you car and walk between pure red stone mountains. At certain points there are plenty of indian petroglyphs to view and touch. Been here twice and just love, love it. My husband and I are seniors so we cannot usually walk trails to get to beautiful places. The Valley of Fire trails are very easy to reach and beautiful.
Vegas Vic Sign

Fifty feet (16 m) tall, Vegas Vic is a survivor from the early casino days. In bygone days not only did he smoke and wave but he also talked, saying “Howdy pardner, welcome to Las Vegas.” Now, Vic’s voice box works only sometimes, but he still provides the backdrop for thousands of visitors’ photographs each year.
Vendors’ Carts

Carts placed at intervals down the center of the Fremont Street mall offer sunglasses, wind chimes, stuffed toys, baseball caps, and mini-cars in various makes and models.
Venetian Gondola

Have someone in another gondola take the photo so you can be in it, too (see Grand Canal).
Via Bellagio

Simply walking along Via Bellagio is an unforgettable experience. The boutiques are so opulent as to be intimidating: even if you dare not step inside, then at least the entrances to Escada, Chanel, Gucci, and others are large enough to see inside. Tiffany’s windows are especially dazzling during the holiday season.
View from Stratosphere Tower

You may not be able to see forever exactly but, from the top of the tower on a clear day, parts of Arizona and California come into view. Count the 40 seconds it takes for the high-speed elevators to whiz up to the tower’s floor-to-ceiling glass observation floor, which is 900 ft (275 m) above street level. The tower is a tourists’ after-dark favorite for viewing the mesmerizing lights of Glitter Gulch and along the Strip.
Village Seafood Buffet

This buffet was an instant success when it opened in 1997 and continues to be a favorite with local residents. Lobster tail, shrimp, clams, and other seafood are flown in fresh daily and kept fresh in saltwater; the seafood Mongolian barbecue is especially good.
Viva Las Vegas

Don’t let the humble, rustic interior cramp your style: the chapel has a selection of fancy costumes at your disposal, covering such themes as Egyptian, Beach Party, Victorian, Gangster, Western, and even Intergalactic.

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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