Las Vegas, Nevada Destination Guide

Section 1: Intro to the Destination

Las Vegas is a shimmering seductress promising excitement, revelry, and fortune. A town literally built to entertain, the ‘Sin City’ of today is so much more than the gamblers den of mobsters and rat packs it once was. Enjoy world-class shows, attractions, dining, and more!

Which of the Following Phrases Best Describes this Destination? (You can select more than one)

Energetic & Active

What’s the Destination Known For?

Gambling, world-class entertainment, hot nightlife

Getting There

• Airport: McCarran International Airport (LAS)

• Shuttles run from LAS to the strip for $7 one-way

• Taxis will be about $20 including tip (tell them to use surface streets – they will sometimes take I-15 for a longer – and more expensive – trip)

• If driving into Vegas, take I-15 in. Avoid heavy traffic by exiting on to Tropicana Avenue or Spring Mountain Road rather than Flamingo Road.

Local Etiquette

• Is it illegal to drink alcohol from an open container in Las Vegas? Actually, that’s a popular myth – it’s not strictly legal. But the police tend to “look the other way” all the same. 

• Standard American etiquette – expect to tip, a firm handshake is always appreciated, and haggling is typically frowned upon.

Weather

• Temperatures

• Spring:

• High: 79F / 26C

• Low: 57F / 13C

• Summer:

  • High: 101F / 38C

  • Low: 78F / 25C

• Fall: 

  • High: 80F / 26C

  • Low: 69F / 20C

• Winter:

  • High: 60F / 15C

  • Low: 40F / 4C

• Las Vegas gets very little rainfall, and while July and August are considered “monsoon” season, this is little more than tongue-in-cheek, referencing the occasional light afternoon shower. Spring and Fall are generally mild and comfortable, with the desert winter getting relatively chilly (although rarely below freezing), and Summers getting quite hot.

• 2,001 ft / 609 m

Getting Around

• Public buses (the RTC) operate from 5AM to 2AM daily. Have exact change or cash on hand for bus fare, or pre-buy boarding passes from vending machines.

• Driving can be tricky, owing both to Las Vegas’ notoriously aggressive drivers as well as the frequency of drunk tourists sliding behind the wheel. Parking can also be a challenge.

• The Las Vegas Monorail provides convenient transportation between many of the Las Vegas Strip casino resorts, including MGM Grand, Bally’s, Paris, Flamingo, Caesars, Harrah’s, LINQ, the Las Vegas Convention Center, Westgate, and SLS.

• IMPORTANT: It is illegal to hail a cab from the street. Nearly every resort, casino, shopping mall, or other large commercial establishment will have a cab stand from which you can request a taxi. Not all taxis accept credit cards, and drivers will expect a tip of 10%-15%, so have plenty of cash on hand (at least $25 USD for a one-way trip.)

• Ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft operate in Las Vegas, and can be considerably cheaper than taking a taxi. However, as of 2018 they are still forbidden from picking you up from McCarran International Airport (LAS). Beware of surge pricing (it can get outrageous.)

Section 2: What to See, Do, and Eat

Breakfast

• $-tier

• Mr. Mamas

• American Café / Diner

• 5693 S. Jones Blvd, Suite 106, Las Vegas, NV, 89118

• http://www.mrmamaslv.com

• Casual

• Cali Omelet, French Toast, Pancakes, Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs

• $$-tier

  • Omelet House

  • American (Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-free friendly)

  • 2160 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, 89102

  • http://www.omelethouse.net

  • Casual

  • Pumpkin bread, lobster omelet

• $$$-tier

  • Tableau **Reservations Recommended**

  • American / European fusion

  • 3131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

  • http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/Dining/FineDining/Tableau

  • Resort casual (collared shirt recommended for gentlemen)

  • Eggs benedict, pastry basket

Brunch

• $-tier

• The Egg & I

• American (Vegetarian and Vegan friendly)

• 4533 West Sahara Avenue, Ste 5, Las Vegas, NV 

• http://www.theeggworks.com

• Casual

• Eggs benedict, banana nut muffins, French toast

• $$-tier

  • Eat.

  • American Café 

  • 707 E Carson Ave, Las Vegas, NV, 89101

  • http://www.eatdtlv.com

  • Casual (collared shirt recommended for gentlemen)

  • Truffled egg, cinnamon biscuits

• $$$-tier

  • Bouchon **Reservations Recommended**

  • French

  • 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109

  • https://www.thomaskeller.com/bouchonlasvegas 

  • Smart casual (collared shirts and long pants recommended for gentlemen)

  • Croque madame, beignets

Lunch

• $-tier

• Monta Noodle House

• Japanese

• 5030 Spring Mountain Road, Ste 6, Las Vegas, NV 

• http://www.montaramen.com/

• Casual

• Ramen, pork belly, fried rice

• $$-tier

  • Juan’s Flaming Fajitas & Cantina

  • Mexican / Southwestern

  • 9640 W Tropicana Ave, Ste 101, Las Vegas, NV 89147

  • http://juansflamingfajitasandcantina.com/

  • Casual

  • Fajitas, shrimp tacos

• $$$-tier

  • The Capital Grille **Reservations Recommended**

  • American Steakhouse

  • 3200 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV

  • https://www.thecapitalgrille.com/ 

  • Smart casual (collared shirts and long pants recommended for gentlemen)

  • Steaks, calamari

Dinner

• $-tier

• Evel Pie

• Pizzaria

• 508 Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV, 89101 

• http://www.evelpie.com/

• Casual

• Pizza, rattlesnake sausage

• $$-tier

  • Oyster Bar at Palace Station

  • Seafood

  • 2411 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV

  • http://palacestation.sclv.com/Dining/The-Oyster-Bar.aspx

  • Smart casual (collared shirts and long pants recommended for gentlemen)

  • Oysters, bouillabaisse, etouffee

• $$$-tier

  • Le Cirque **Reservations Recommended**

  • French

  • 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV, 89109

  • https://www.bellagio.com/en/restaurants/le-cirque.html

  • Dressy (collared shirts and long pants required for gentlemen, jacket recommended)

  • Foie gras, degustation menu

Other (Food Trucks, Late Night Bites, Ice Cream Shops, etc.)

• Food Trucks: Stripchezze (sandwiches - https://www.stripchezze.com/), Fukuburger (burgers - http://www.fukuburger.com/), Dazzling Bistro (French bistro - https://twitter.com/dazzling_bistro), Truck-N-Yaki (Japanese - https://truknyaki.com/)

• Desserts: Bellagio Patisserie (https://www.bellagio.com/en/restaurants/bellagio-patisserie.html), Bouchon Bakery (https://www.thomaskeller.com/bouchonbakerylasvegas), Freed’s Bakery (https://freedsbakery.com/)

Top things to See and Do

• Part stage show, part circus, part modern dance, part acrobatic – Cirque du Soleil is like no other show on earth. Choose from several different shows, including The Beatles LOVE, Michael Jackson ONE, and Zumanity (not for children). ($49+ - https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/las-vegas)

• Jump inside a half-million-dollar sports car and take it for a few laps at Speedvegas ($39+ - https://speedvegas.com/en/), the Richard Petty Driving Experience ($109+ - https://www.drivepetty.com/race-tracks/las-vegas-motor-speedway/), or Dream Racing ($199+ - http://www.dreamracing.com/).

• Grab the controls of a real stunt plane at (with the guidance of an instructor) at Sky Combat Ace ($249+ - https://www.skycombatace.com/).

• Visit the Stratosphere tower for some of the world’s most intense thrill rides, including the appropriately-named Big Shot, X-Scream, and Insanity ($35+ - https://www.stratospherehotel.com/ThrillRides).

• For a breath of fresh air, visit Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area for rock climbing, hiking, and mountain biking. (Prices vary)

• On the more exotic side, take dance classes (clothing required, don’t worry) at Stripper 101. Billed as ‘pole dancing lessons for housewives,’ you’ll experience strobe lights, cocktails, and feather boas, and leave with a certificate guaranteeing that you’re a ‘genuine Las Vegas stripper’. (Women only, $40+ - https://www.stripper101.com/)

• Las Vegas is also known for its exciting shows. Grab a seat in a plush theater and experience exciting productions like Blue Man Group at the Monte Carlo Resort and Penn & Teller at the Rio, or sit down for a once-in-a-lifetime concert by artists-in-residence including Elton John, Celine Deon, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Boyz II Men, and the Backstreet Boys. (Prices vary)

Festivals/Parades

• Vegas Uncork’d (April - http://vegasuncorked.com/)

• A food festival hosted by top chefs, including wine tastings, amazing dinners, and cooking demonstrations.

• Viva Las Vegas (April - http://www.vivalasvegas.net/)

  • A return to Vegas’ rockabilly heyday. Expect pool parties, live music, dancing, and classic car shows.

• Electric Daisy Carnival (June - https://lasvegas.electricdaisycarnival.com/)

  • The self-described “largest EDM festival in the world” brings over 350,000 enthusiasts to Vegas for three nights of wild partying and hot music.

• World Series of Poker (May – July - http://www.wsop.com/)

  • High-stakes professional players, famous celebrities, and even casino employees compete against each other in over 40 tournaments, with the total purse numbering in the millions.

• Rise Festival (June – July - https://risefestival.com/)

  • A celebration of life, the earth, and humanity, Rise Festival is a unique gathering which ends with every attendee releasing a floating lantern up to the black desert sky.

Nightlife

Nightclubs and “Pool Clubs” (think pool parties on steroids, with cocktails and music) are what you do at night in Vegas if you aren’t otherwise disposed dining, gambling, or seeing a show. 

Nightclubs: Chateau at Paris (http://chateaunights.com/), Hyde Ballagio at Bellagio (https://www.bellagio.com/en/nightlife/hyde.html), Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay (https://www.mandalaybay.com/en/nightlife/foundation-room.html), Voodoo Rooftop Nightclub at the Rio (https://www.caesars.com/rio-las-vegas/things-to-do/voodoo-rooftop-nightclub)

Pool Clubs: Moorea Beach Club at Mandalay Bay (https://www.mandalaybay.com/en/amenities/moorea-beach-club.html), Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel (http://www.rehablv.com/), Palms Pool at the Palms (http://www.palms.com/palms-place-pool.html), The Tank Pool at Golden Nugget (https://www.goldennugget.com/las-vegas/amenities/h2o-pool/)

Where do the locals hang? All over – but in a city built on entertaining guests, this is one of the few times we recommend staying in the tourist areas to have the most fun.

Hidden Gems

• Visit the bullet-riddled wall, which is all that remains of the bloody (and infamous) St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. (https://themobmuseum.org/exhibits/massacre-wall/)

• See the second-largest gold nugget in existence, called the Hand of Faith, at the Golden Nugget casino. (https://www.goldennugget.com/las-vegas/casino/hand-of-faith/)

• Vegas is famous for its neon sign-lined streets, but there are far more than will meet your eyes. Take a tour of the Neon Boneyard, the resting place of over 150 vintage Las Vegas neon signs, including the famed Silver Slipper and Binion’s Horseshoe. (http://www.neonmuseum.org/)

• Take a step back to the Cold War and visit the National Atomic Testing Museum. (http://nationalatomictestingmuseum.org/)