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Las Vegas has many reputations. Some are nice, and some are naughty. Some are special, while others are bawdy. They are all excellent and make up why Las Vegas is so unique.
Many people visit “The Strip” and think they know Las Vegas. The Strip is not even in the city of Las Vegas, so I guess they don’t know enough.
First, let’s learn why Las Vegas is here, then we can look at the real city.
Not So Ancient
Circa 1803, the U.S. makes the Louisiana Purchase from France. It includes pretty much everything between the Mississippi River and the Rockies, except Texas.
Except for the Oregon Territory (today’s Washington, Idaho, and Oregon), Spain owns everything west of the Rockies.
Spain crosses central America to the Pacific and starts collecting land to the north and south. They stick to the coast and do not go too far north of what is now Southern California.
The 1822 Mexican War of Independence sees the area become a territory of Mexico. They call it Alta California.
As part of the war reparations after the 1846-48 Mexican–American War, the territory goes to the United States.
The indigenous people in this area knew nothing about any of these “owners” or the ownership shifts. That’s because, until 1848, they only saw a few people passing through on their way to California.
Along the New Mexico (Spanish) trail, in the Nevada Territory’s southern area, are several artesian wells. Water is an essential resource for people on the trail. Small settlements began around these wells.
Circa 1829, Rafael Rivera, a Spanish trading party member, refers to the valley area as Las Vegas. This word means “the meadows” in Spanish.
The Rest of the 1800s
Another 70+ years go by Nevada goes from territory to state in 1864.
Circa 1869, the first transcontinental train links Omaha with Sacramento across northern Nevada.
Circa 1881, another train line links Los Angeles with Atchison, Kansas. It passes through Arizona to the south.
In the Las Vegas valley, there are not many changes. More people are passing through and stopping for water for themselves and their horses.
A New Kind of Horse.
Salt Lake City wants a link to Los Angeles. Most of the trains only go east and west. One of the problems they face is that the steam engines need to replenish water along the way. Aren’t there some wells out there in that valley they call Las Vegas?
William Andrews Clark begins extending his railroad from Los Angles in 1901. Two years later, the Union Pacific joins forces, and in 1905, trains start running via the Las Vegas Valley.
Due to the fresh water in the area, and now a train station, many workers decide to stay. Later that year, the town of Las Vegas incorporates.
Cir 1909, due to growth, the state breaks off the southern portion of Franklin County and makes a new county. They name it after William Clark. The population is around 3,300 people.
In the same year, Nevada bans gambling. Due to the crime and violence stemming from gambling halls in mining towns, they ban it statewide.
Las Vegas continues to grow as people stream west. By 1930, the population is around 8,500 people.
That’s Depressing
Circa 1930, the state’s income from minerals (silver and gold) drops significantly. In a state with only one primary industry (silver and gold), that’s not good. The rest of the nation is also reeling. The Great Depression is making its way west.
By March of 1931, the state economy is in shambles. As a temporary fix to stimulate the economy, the state legalizes “gaming” establishments to bring in money. That temporary fix is still in place.
The economy of Las Vegas does not suffer as hard or as long as the rest of the state. A major construction project begins 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Its name is Boulder Dam. For the next five years, it will employ up to 20,000 men.
By 1947, they rename it Hoover Dam.
The government also builds Boulder City nearby. Similar to a company town, it houses many of the workers. Their wages will keep southern Nevada afloat until the end of the recession. Gambling is very popular with the builders and later the tens of thousands of tourists coming to see the dam.
Freemont Street in downtown Las Vegas is the center for gambling. By 1940, the population is over 16,000.
A Dark Element
The U.S. government puts organized crime out of the bootleg business in 1933 by making booze legal. The mob is looking for a new cash source. They hear there is a lot of cash floating around Las Vegas. In the 1940s, they begin “investing” in gaming halls.
A minor setback hits in 1941 when America joins the war. The crowds disappear from the casinos until the U.S. starts building military bases in Nevada the next year.
Also, in 1941, the El Rancho Vegas opens on Arrowhead Highway. It is the first resort outside of Las Vegas. The highway will later change its name to Las Vegas Blvd and get the nickname, The Strip.
Nevada’s weather, open spaces, rail connections, and nearness to the coast make it an ideal location for training pilots. In Las Vegas, existing airports become the Las Vegas Army and Tonopah Army Airfield. Within the year, there are four more throughout the state. The soldiers need a diversion, and the casinos are the answer.
The U.S. Government thinks prostitution is terrible for morale, so they make it criminal in Las Vegas. This move is as successful as prohibition and the ban on gambling.
Post War
The war is over. Soldiers are home and buying automobiles. Everyone wants to see the U.S.A. in their Chevrolet.
Bugsey Siegel, a “businessman from Los Angeles,” has trouble buying casinos within the city limits. So, he buys land along The Arrowhead Highway. In the last week of 1946, he opens the Flamingo Resort. It fails at first but begins to catch on by the following summer. It is the first luxury resort on the Strip.
Organized crime is having a tough time getting money to build casinos. Allen Dorfman, a close “associate” of Jimmy Hoffa’s, takes control of the Teamster’s Central States Pension Fund. They immediately start lending money to their “business associates.”
Suddenly, there is the Thunderbird in 1948, Desert Inn in 1950, The Sahara, and Sands in 1952. In 1955 The Riviera and The Dunes open. A year later, The Hacienda, and in 1957 the Tropicana are in business. 1958 saw the opening of the Stardust.
The Landmark, Caesars Palace, and the Aladdin are newcomers debuting in the 1960s.
Nevada’s Other Boom
In 1951, the U.S. began above-ground nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site, 65 miles north of Las Vegas. The mushroom cloud is easily identifiable from Las Vegas. Atomic Cocktails, hair-dos, and beauty contests to crown Miss Atomic Blast pop up all over town.
Also, the best spots from where to watch the explosion. This booming goes on until 1963 when the test-ban treaty makes underground testing mandatory.
Las Vegas in the 1960s.
Segregation became an issue across America in the early 50s. Nevada and Las Vegas were no different.
Clubs and casinos for non-whites were across the tracks.
By 1960, the NAACP threatens the casinos for their policies. After a meeting with local business people and the mayor, citywide casino desegregation begins almost overnight. Black unions become so strong that the Hispanic workforce decreases.
Putting a face to racial segregating are two Italians (another minority in the 60s), Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Not only do they show people that Italian’s are O.K., but they also hang out with Sammy Davis Jr. Legend (something made up no one can prove) is Sinatra would not perform until the hotels gave Sammy a room.
Howard Hughs
In November of 1966, Howard Hughes checks into the eighth and ninth floors of The Desert Inn for ten days. The following month, he is still in house refusing management requests to leave. They need the rooms for reservations by high rollers over the holidays.
Hughs does not want to leave, so he buys the hotel. It will become the headquarters of his empire. He lives on the ninth floor, and the eighth becomes the office.
Why would a hotel, with obvious mafia ties, sell so quickly? Beginning earlier in the 1960s, the F.B.I. was putting pressure on the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Get the mobsters out of the gambling business. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.
Over the next three years, he will have the opportunity to buy up several other properties for the same reason. They include the Castaways, New Frontier, Landmark, and the Sands.
It is a win-win for the area. Much of the mafia is out, and Hughs wants to change the town’s wild west image. He sees it as a glamorous location.
The 70s and 80s
Vegas continues to lose some of its naughty reputations. Ties with “reputable” industries lure more guests to Las Vegas.
The town continues to grow. The casinos draw more and more guests requiring more and more staff. More residents lead to the need for more services and places to live.
Commercial and residential areas pop up overnight throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Once nearby communities, Henderson and North Las Vegas are soon no longer out of town. Green Valley, a master community, begins construction at the end of the 1970s.
Summerlin, a planned community by Howard Hugh’s company, begins construction at the end of the 1980s. The name is from Jean Amelia Summerlin, Howard Hugh’s paternal grandmother.
The Mega 1990s
The Strip undergoes a significant shift in the 1990s. As the mafia and older generation start disappearing, the former Vegas goes into decline. Gambling boats and “supposed” Indian casinos start popping up everywhere in the U.S.A. Friday nights at the casino replace the summer vacation to Las Vegas.
Enter the mega-resort. The developers take your dad’s casino and supersize it into a small amusement park for the whole family. Castaways Resort, complete with a Tiki bar, disappears. In its place, complete with erupting volcano, dolphins, and Sigfried and Roy at the 30-story Mirage.
Within a year at the south end (at that time) of the Strip, the medieval Excaliber opens with 4000 rooms.
The south end continues to grow as the new M.G.M. Grand adds onto an existing hotel. Then Luxor opens south of Excaliber.
At the north end, what would be an additional tower at the Mirage, becomes a resort. Complete with a pirate battle in front, Treasure Island sails in circa 1993.
The Disappearance of the Old Strip
Not wanting to build outside of walking distance from the Strip center, developers begin looking inwards.
Circa 1993, the first Las Vegas landmark disappears. They implode the Dunes Resort and Golf Course, at the south end of the Strip. The Bellagio sits where the Dunes tower stood. The Park M.G.M., New York-New York, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, and T-Mobile Arena replace the golf course area.
The Landmark resort is old and in need of repair. The Las Vegas Convention Center implodes it in 1995 for a parking garage.
1996 is a tough year for Las Vegas romantics. First, The Sands Resort bites the dust to make way for The Venetian. A month later, The Hacienda, at the south end, goes up (down?) in flames on New Year’s Eve. The Mandalay Bay, Four Seasons, and The Delano will rise from its ashes.
The next year, the original Aladdins hotel comes down to build a new and improved Aladdins. Today it is the Planet Hollywood Resort.
The decade ends on a happy note with the opening of Paris Las Vegas in 1999. It replaces a strip mall of questionable tenants. It is next to Ballys, which is the original M.G.M. Grand.
Turn of the Century
Three more of the “old guard” will go in the 2000s.
The Desert Inn crumbles by 2004. Today, the Wynn and Encore fill its place.
The Stardust will implode in 2007 to make way for Echelon Place. The same year, the economy implodes. Within two years, construction comes to a standstill on the 4+billion Echelon complex. In 2013 someone purchases and clears the area for a new property that may open by 2021.
The Riviera will disappear in 2016 for space for a Convention Center addition. As of my last visit in 2019, it was a surface parking lot.
Just north of this site was the El Rancho, one of the areas first resorts. By 1979 they demolish what is remaining. Construction begins on the Fountainbleau ci 2007. It is to be the sister property of Miami’s Fontainebleau hotel. Most of the exterior is on the 63-story building when construction stops by 2009. Another victim of the economy, the property sits unfinished until 2018 when another development company buys it out of foreclosure. As of 2020, it is going by the name The Drew, and hopes are it will open by 2022.
Las Vegas Today.
Just over three million people are living in Nevada. Around two million live in Clark County, around Las Vegas.
But just as Disney World is not in Orlando, officially, the Strip is not in Las Vegas.
So do not judge one by the other.
What is in Las Vegas for me?
See & Hear.
You must see the Strip, even if it is only to drive down it at night and see the lights. But see Red Rock or Valley of Fire as well. Hear and see the fountains at the Bellagio or an outdoor performance in a park.
Taste & Smell.
Along the Strip, you can taste just about any cuisine from Asian to ziti with zucchini. But what if I say you can get away from the Strip and smell the flowers? Or better yet, fresh chocolate.
Feel.
Yes, the Strip has a pulse that they keep running on high doses of excess. But take time to feel the rest of the city and its beat.
Check out one of the local craft breweries off the Strip. Think back about that interesting museum (neon, atomic, or gangster related) you spent the afternoon exploring.
There may be better ways to end your afternoon, but this one doesn’t suck.
Should-see in Las Vegas.
The Strip
It is, for the most part, an adults theme park. The family-friendly theme from the 1990s is no longer. The lions from the M.G.M. Grand are missing. The pirate ship show at Treasure Bay, buh bye. Even the Mirage volcano erupts half as often as it used to.
There are things still for kids to do, including amusement parks at New York and Circus-Circus. The Shark Reef at Mandalay, or aquarium at Mirage, roller coasters, but they all come with a pretty hefty price. Like the $1,99 shrimp cocktail, the cheap or free stuff is no longer. About the only free thing left on the Strip is the Bellagio fountains.
Picture a mall, casino, mall, casino, and you get the idea. Look for me people watching with a glass of wine in hand. I am sitting at the bar in the Eiffel Tower Restaurant or Petrosian in the Bellagio lobby.
There are incredible restaurants, concerts, and shopping. I can find these in Los Angeles, New York, or any other major city. If money is no object, you can have a fantastic time on the Strip.
I find one nice meal, one show, and 30 minutes in one casino is about my limit. So what do you do with the other three days of your visit?
Airport / South of the Strip
Since many people arrive by plane, let’s start there.
There are a few things you can do before you reach the Strip.
Las Vegas Sign
The sign has been welcoming people to Las Vegas since 1959, even if it isn’t officially in Las Vegas. Since 2008, there is a parking area (which always seems filled) as you drive south from the Strip. So you can capture the photo heading back to the airport or U-turn upon arrival.
If you like the creations of Carol Shelby, this stop is for you. You can self guide yourself through the car collection, or join a free tour with a guide Mon-Sat at 10:30 AM. On weekdays they offer an afternoon tour as well. The “gift shop” is everything Shelby, including parts.
This museum offers many cars that have been in movies or on television. What does that have to do with Las Vegas? They have two of Liberace’s vehicles that he would use in his shows. It is one of the few places remaining in Vegas to see anything relating to its early superstars.
West of the Strip
Chinatown
WHAT? What began as a tourist trap mall has morphed into something pretty cool. You can find Chinese markets and restaurants. But over the years, the area has attracted Vietnamese, Korean, Taiwanese, Philippine, and even Japanese restaurants. Eat at one or do a progressive Asian meal. You can still find meals for under $10 and also over $100. Remember, its Vegas. The “town” now stretches for more than four blocks along W Spring Mountain Road.
North of the Strip
Thriller Villa
Only in Las Vegas. The private residence that Michael Jackson leased from 2006 – ? is now home to a large part of the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts collection. From time to time, they offer programs at the villa.
Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts collection.
A wonderful group keeping many valuable memories and mementos of Liberace and Las Vegas form the 1950s-80s alive. Check their website for special events.
This park is 15 mins drive north of the Sahara, at the north end of the Strip. The preserve has 3.5 miles of trails passing through 110 acres of native habitats and archaeological sites. They also have bike rentals. Learn about desert life or water conservation in Nevada. On top of that, it has three museums.
Nevada State Museum Las Vegas – has everything from local dinosaur fossils to a few costumes from resident Debbie Reynolds Costume collection. Other exhibits change.
Origen Museum – will show you even more about Las Vegas through the decades. Interactive displays and live local wildlife attract children.
Boomtown 1905 – is an open-air museum replicating Las Vegas the year it became a town. Learn about life, railroads, and more
East of the Strip
National Atomic Testing Museum
The museum is somewhat hidden in the lobby of a commercial building across from the UNLV campus; it’s worth finding. Also, an associate of the Smithsonian, this private museum explains everything about the local and national atomic bomb program. Exhibits include photos of the bombs they were exploding 65 miles away and a simulator.
The Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art
On the campus of UNLV, and in conjunction with the Arts College, the Barrick Museum is three collections in one. The Barrick Collection includes contemporary art in painting, sculpture, and photography, showing different aspects of Southern Nevada life. In 2012, the Las Vegas Art Museum became a partner, adding their collection. The museum is the recipient of the Vogel 50×50 for the state of Nevada. Admission is free.
The Liberace Mansion
On the other side of the UNLV campus, just south of Tropicana Ave. is Liberace’s former home. The house is a private residence, and trespassing is not welcome. From the street, you can see the second floor, “Morrocan Room,” where he would entertain the royalty of entertainment.
The current owners do offer private tours you must book and pay for in advance. The interiors remain the same, including the $350,000 marble tub, crystal ballroom, and ceiling frescos. There are close to 50 of his costumes and photos throughout the house. Click the orange link for more info.
The what? Three minutes’ drive from the Liberace Mansion is this non-profit trip down memory lane. Around 200 pinball machines from the 1950s-90 wait for you to PLAY them. This mecca is a hands-on place complete with side flippers, extra balls in play, and all the bells and whistles. So hurry up and bring your pinball money.
Casa de Shenandoah
The former 39+ acre estate of singer Wayne Newton, from 1966-2013. Attempts to make it an attraction seem to bring it back into court repeatedly. It eventually goes into bankruptcy. Recently, someone buys the property for just over 5 million dollars. There is no announcement about plans. From outside the walls, there is little to see. You can “drive-by” on your way to Henderson but do not make a special trip.
Downtown
I remember driving down Freemont Street looking at the lights on the front of all the casinos. The Four Queens, The Freemont, The Golden Nugget, and the Mint.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, you can no longer do that. It is now a Pedestrian Street. There is a zipline running overhead for two blocks and more souvenir shops than I will ever need. Unless you are into gambling, there is little reason to walk down Freemont in the day time.
The Freemont Experience
They have also put a cover over the street, making you feel like you’re in a mall. This cover becomes a video screen projecting images from one end to the other and doing light shows at night. I think it distracts from the fabulous casino facades, each with a bazillion lights on them.
I recommend visiting at dusk, right before the nighttime mobs descend. If you are a gambler, these casinos are closer together than those on the Strip. And they have a cover over them if it rains.
Keep an eye out for Vegas Vic, a 40-foot cowboy who has been waving to visitors since 1951.
Main Street Station
This combination hotel, casino, and the brewery have something for everyone. If you don’t like drinking or gambling, stop by the front desk and ask for the antique map. The hotel has an exciting collection of antiques, including chandeliers, doors, and a bronzed statue of a boar.
A five-minute walk from the Main Street Station is the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. It occupies an old post office and courthouse building. Sounds a little boring, right? It is an intelligent layout with impressive displays talking about the mob everywhere, bot just in Las Vegas. In the basement is an artesian distillery and speakeasy.
The Downtown 3rd Farmers Market is next door to the museum. It takes place every Friday.
Freemont East
This quirky neighborhood begins in the 500-block of Freemont. When you see the giant martini glass in the middle of the road, you have arrived. Some places try too hard, but many are fun, quirky shops and bars.
Dating from 1941, it is one of the oldest casinos in Las Vegas. The establishment is on the National Register of Historic Places. Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, and others own it from 1945 but sell it a year later to open the Flamingo. Today, after a 2019 refurbishing, it is still one of those beautiful old city hotels. It’s not fancy or new or significant. That’s why I like it.
This open-air mall is homes to cafes, boutiques, and a few artist studios. Where does it get its name? From the hundreds of containers in its construction. Fun to walk through or have a coffee or cocktail. 700 block of Freemont.
Atomic Liquors
This bar from the 1950s is a real blast from the past. A place where people would climb a ladder to watch the nuclear explosion better. Although it closed for a few years in the 2000s, it is the oldest free-standing bar in Las Vegas. In the 50s and 60s, it was the place for casino workers getting off work. It was open late and far from the Strip. Casino workers, musicians, bartenders, and even the performers. Frank, Dean, Sammy, Barbara, and others would come to relax. It’s a little cleaner now, and the prices are higher, but for a taste of old Vegas, stop in. They allow smoking.
If you have never been to a real Tiki Room, this is a must stop. The minute you walk into the place, it hits you—the smell of cigarettes. Once you get past that, you realize this is the real deal. Kitschy in all the right ways. Scorpions, Mai Tais, and Zombies appear prominently on the menu. Do you ever go to a bar and wonder why they have green or blue or red liqueur? You will not after a visit here.
There’s a Del Taco just down the street, Coincidence? Frankies is a 5-minute drive from Freemont Experience, on the other side of I-15.
North of Downtown
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
The museum has a multi-million dollar, world-class collection of wildlife and prehistoric exhibits. Also, it has exciting and interactive learning experiences good for kids of all ages. The museum is an associate of the Smithsonian. It is even walking distance to another site.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park
This is the first structure built by non-first nation people in the Las Vegas Valley. This state park includes the historical remains of an adobe fort the Morman missionaries constructed circa 1855. It was a way station near a source of fresh water. There are many artifacts and a visitor center.
The Neon Museum
Only in Las Vegas is there a museum with access to so many used neon signs. It is almost like walking through a who’s who of old Las Vegas. Although most of these casinos are gone, there is a little keepsake to remember.
The museum is non-profit and survives on donations. A majority of the signs do not work (yet). With more visitors, that will change. There are enough lights to make an evening visit worthwhile. You must join a guided tour. In the north gallery, they have additional signs. Through brilliant projections, they bring them to life at night in a presentation called Brilliance. It is worth that extra ticket.
South of Downtown
The Arts District
This area is a work in progress. A neighborhood of small business fronts that are slowly becoming art/artist spaces. There are still some non-family-friendly businesses in the area.
This small space is in the Arts District. A collection of predominantly photos from the days of burlesque in the United States. There is one-theme at this museum. If this subject is not of interest, this is not the museum for you. I found the price a bit steep for what was on display. They also offer classes for beginners to experts in burlesque.
Wedding Chapels
They seem to be everywhere, mocking the institution of marriage. Two of the more famous ones are on Las Vegas Blvd South in the area south of downtown.
Graceland Wedding Chapel – is supposedly the first place to offer weddings by an Elvis impersonator.
A Little White Chapel –is popular with celebrities looking for a 3-4 month relationship. They have drive-through services.
Outside of Las Vegas
Henderson
Once upon a time, it is a town outside of Las Vegas. Today, it is a little gray where one begins and the other ends.
Remember those lions you could see at M.G.M. Grand for free? This sanctuary is where they live. This non-profit site is home to several lions, tigers, and a giraffe (that paints). There are several experiences you can choose. It is in southwest Henderson. Traveling south on I-15 is the quickest route.
Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden
Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden is a 3-acre agricultural area that is the largest in Nevada. Here, you can see more than 300 species of plants and trees. A majority of the plants are native American Southwest cacti and succulents. The trees and shrubs come from the Southwestern United States. There are also a few specimens from South America and Australia.
Just who is this Ethel M? Well, she is the mother of Forrest. No, not the “box of chocolates” Forrest. The “I own the chocolate company” Forrest. The M stands for Mars.
Forrest, the creator of Milky Way, Mars Bars, and M&Ms, retires to Nevada circa 1973. After about seven years, he needs a hobby. Using several of his best employees and his mom’s recipes, he creates Ethel M to produce premium chocolate.
There are numerous outlets, but this is the factory where there is a free tour. They also have chocolate tastings and chocolate and wine sessions you can purchase. (15 minutes east of the airport).
Further Afield
Boulder City
Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum
This museum is in the Boulder City Hotel, which has some history of its own. Through interactive exhibits and historical footage, learn the challenges the men and women building Boulder Dam had.
Lake Mead National Recreational Area
With 1.5 million acres of space, 13% is water, Lake Mead. The rest of the land is desert. It offers something for everyone who likes the outdoors. There is boating or fishing on the lake. In contrast, the desert offers camping, scenic driving, biking, hiking, and more. Come between November and March for hiking in the desert. The Visitor’s Center is less than five miles from Boulder City.
Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City
This attraction is more a rail yard than a museum. Depending on the time of year, train trips depart every weekend. There are also programs to be an engineer or ride with the engineer.
Check out the hiking path in the recreational area along the old railroad bed.
Hoover Dam
Approximately one hour from Las Vegas and 15 minutes from Boulder City, it is an engineering wonder. Curving across the Colorado River from Nevada to Arizona, it creates Lake Mead, amongst other things. You can visit the visitor center, tour the power plant, or tour inside the dam itself. Check out all of the buildings near the visitor center. Each has interesting information.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Approximately 20 miles west of downtown Las Vegas is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, part of the Mojave Desert. Here you can see red sandstone peaks reaching skyward and the Keystone Thrust Fault. Along the scenic drive, you can stop and see Native American petroglyphs. There is hiking. The area has over 25 different trails from easy to severe.
Spring Mountain Ranch State Park
This state park is within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. You can explore some of the oldest buildings in Nevada, Hike, picnic, and see outside performances in the summer.
Besides the incredible landscape, I like this park because most people pass it. Maybe that’s different in summer. I have never been here in the middle of summer vacation. The desert is the last place I will be in the middle of the summer. But in the colder months, I almost have it to myself. At 46,000 acres, I am willing to share with 8-10 others. You can hike and look at the 2000-year-old petroglyphs. Check out the visitor center or do what I do, drive. The limestone, in various shades of tan and grey, highlights the numerous shades of red sandstone.
But you skipped Things!
What about the Grand Canyon?
To reach the Grand Canyon West is going to take you two+ hours each way. Then you have to do an organized tour. To reach Grand Canyon Village on the south rim, you need a minimum of four hours. It’s not a day trip from Las Vegas. It’s another destination.
What about the big splashy Las Vegas shows with glamorous showgirls, a live big band, singers, dancers, and more?
Do you mean like Lido de Paris, Folies Bergere, and Jubilee? In 1980, when Atlantic City and other gambling areas start pulling the gamblers from Vegas, Vegas stops giving things away. The cheap buffets, the endless free drinks, and the showgirl all get the ax. The day of giving something away is over.
Jubilee began with a cast of over 100 performers and 75 stagehands. There were over 1000 costumes. Do you think Bob Mackie was working for free? The theater only had 1000 seats.
The closest thing to a production show from the old days is Vegas the Show at Planet Hollywood. It tells about the early days with a production show. Dancers, singers, novelty acts, and a live orchestra is the closest you will get to the old days.
Las Vegas Summary
Wow! That’s a lot more than just gambling.
Don’t get me wrong. The new hotels are impressive.
The numerous Cirque and Cirque-like shows are overwhelming.
The number of culinary options is numbing.
The L.E.D. lights are so bright.
Once you experience the sensory overload and wallet-draining experience of the Strip, step back and see the real Las Vegas.
You do not go to New York and only see Times Square. Nor to Los Angeles to only see the Sunset Strip. (Guess where Las Vegas got its name for the Strip?) So don’t shortchange Las Vegas.