“The Entertainment Capital of the World.” This is certainly an apt description of Las Vegas, Nevada. This city, with its multiple personalities, definitely offers something for everyone.
Let’s start with the obvious – Las Vegas has the largest concentration of casinos in the world. Incumbent with that is dazzling entertainment that includes everything from the famous show-girl revues to celebrity headliners to the amazing Cirque du Soleil extravaganzas.
Not content with generic casino buildings, Las Vegas sparkles with “theme” casino hotels. Visit “The Paris” and you can have dinner in the Eiffel Tower. Or take a ride on a gondola with your own singing gondolier through the canals of The Venetian. Have a drink at Quark’s Bar at the Hilton Hotel’s “Star Trek Experience.” Mandalay Bay, New York New York, MGM Grand, and the Egyptian pyramid-shaped Luxor are more of the casinos with fun motifs.
Amazingly, Las Vegas is also a great family vacation destination. Traveling with kids is an opportunity to seek out free activities, and Las Vegas has an abundance of them. The free outdoor show “The Sirens of Ti” at Treasure Island has thrilling acrobatics and exciting pyrotechnics. Stroll up the sidewalk and catch the Volcano Show at the Mirage. From what is a beautiful waterfall by day, at night becomes a booming volcano, violently erupting by throwing red “lava” 100 feet into the night sky. And the most famous free show in all of Las Vegas is the spectacular Fountains Water Show at the Bellagio. All you have to do is walk up to the lake in front of the Bellagio and see a different dazzling fountain dance every 15 minutes.
While Las Vegas itself offers a spectacular nighttime world, there are many other fun activities within easy driving distance of the city. In nearby Henderson see how chocolates are made (with a free sample, of course!) at the Ethyl M Chocolate Factory, and wander the paths through its beautiful Botanical Cactus Garden.
For a real change of pace head over to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area for boating, swimming and fishing. You’ll also find great hiking trails and opportunities to see desert wildlife. You can even take a fun Mississippi-style paddle wheeler boat cruise.
Lake Mead is the reservoir created by Hoover Dam. Kids and adults alike find the gigantic Hoover Dam an awe-inspiring creation. You can take a Jeep tour or drive yourself the short 35 miles from Las Vegas. Boat tours to the dam from Lake Mead are also available. At the dam take a tour of the power plant and walk along the observation deck. A second tour option takes you inside the dam through its inspection tunnels.
Las Vegas does its job to offer you an exciting variety of things to do. There are also a variety of accommodations. If you want to experience one of the most budget-friendly vacations you’ve ever had, plan to rent a Las Vegas timeshare. Off the Strip you can find timeshare rentals for as little as $50/night to sleep four people. Even on the Strip timeshare rentals are a fraction of the cost of hotel rooms on a per person basis. And for that amazingly low cost you get so much more than a cramped hotel room. Separate bedrooms (great if you’re traveling with kids), comfortable living rooms, and fully equipped kitchens make a timeshare rental the best vacation bargain going.
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