![]() ![]() This short stretch houses many of the largest hotels, casinos, and attractions. The Las Vegas Strip, often called The Strip, only stretches four miles on Las Vegas Boulevard, from the Stratosphere at the northern end and the Mandalay Bay on the southern end. ©2006 If you've had enough of the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, head to Red Rock Canyon, which is located just west of the city. The surrounding area is rocky and dusty, but within the city of Las Vegas itself, travelers will find an urban oasis filled with a lot of greenery and buildings. Spring Mountains and Red Rock Canyon are located to the west, Frenchman Mountain and Lake Mead to the east, the McCullough Range to the south, and the Sheep Mountains or Range to the north. The valley is an arid basin surrounded by mountains that range in color from pink to ash gray, which makes for picture-perfect sunrises and sunsets. Geography and landscape: Las Vegas, which means "The Meadows" in Spanish, was once abundant in water and brush. There's simply too much entertainment and activities to keep you busy no matter how long you choose to stay. Be aware that many visitors leave feeling they only sampled a small amount of attractions, shows, restaurants, and outdoor activities compared to the vast array available. Whether coming for a well-earned vacation or building an itinerary to see the sights around your convention schedule, you'll want to make the most of every minute you spend in this bright city. A favorite of the stars is Flay's Mesa Grill at Caesar's Palace, where you can nosh on coffee spice-rubbed rotisserie filet mignon with wild mushroom-ancho chile sauce. Celebrity chefs such as Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, Tom Colicchio, and Wolfgang Puck have restaurants in Las Vegas. There are also the wildlife attractions that have continuously been voted the best by locals, such as the Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand, Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden, the Dolphin Habitat, the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, and bird-watching at the Wetlands State Park in the southern part of the valley.Īnother draw is the food. The anything-goes vibe is apparent here, from the Egyptian artifacts at Luxor on the south end of the boulevard to the XScream thrill ride that shoots riders 800 feet over The Strip at the Stratosphere on the north end of the boulevard. ![]() That's why The Strip oftentimes defines this city to the world. The Las Vegas Strip is only a four-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard, but it is glamorous with its luxurious resort hotels, lavish pools, acres of casino floors, Mobil Five-Star restaurants, and seemingly endless number of major attractions. These changes are under way in the hopes that more tourists will explore the downtown area instead of limiting themselves to the Las Vegas Strip. New condo high-rise buildings are being planned, the Union Park Development Project will mix residential and high-rise buildings, and municipal officials have agreed to change the zoning rules on Freemont Street so more bars are allowed closer together. But if you look closer, this town is undergoing major development projects in multiple areas. The Las Vegas metropolitan area is 600 square miles of stores, offices, and other buildings just like any other small downtown. In 2005, a record 38.6 million people visited this jewel in the desert. Gangster Bugsy Seigel opened the Flamingo Hotel in 1946, and the Las Vegas that's now known as the "Entertainment Capital of the World" was born.įrom the fledgling art community downtown to the million-dollar suites on Las Vegas Boulevard, this is a city that grew from 5,000 to nearly 2 million in one century, growing from a watering hole for gold rushers to a play destination for the world. The real growth spurt of Las Vegas can be traced to 1931, when the Nevada Legislature formally legalized gambling. A town began to form, and the city was founded May 15, 1905, as a railroad stopover for those heading west. Mormon settlers came from Salt Lake City in the mid-1800s, and railroad developers made tracks to Las Vegas in the 1890s. There's a tender side to go with its star-filled history. In fact, there's a great deal that many don't know about Las Vegas. ![]()
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