Places to visit in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Airport (LAS) is a major gateway to the city of Las Vegas in the United States of America. More than half of the city’s visitors arrive at the airport. It is therefore one of the largest and busiest airports in the world, and considered as a very modern and well-equipped facility. Las Vegas Airport is otherwise known as the McCarran International Airport. Las Vegas attractions are world-famous, in particular its spectacular array of enormous hotel and casino complexes, where thousands gamble the night away. Unconventional weddings are part of the Las Vegas world as well. Families with children will find plenty of attractions to entertain their little ones, and the city is well known for its interesting landmarks and museums.

Las Vegas is located in Clark County, Nevada, to the northeast of Los Angeles, California. The main artery of the city is referred to as the Las Vegas Strip, and here the most famous of casinos and hotel casinos can be found. Ten of the largest hotels in the world are found in Las Vegas, and there are more than 150 casinos and hotel casinos which are considered as amongst the best in the world. All the casinos have a large variety of games, including roulette wheels, blackjack tables, slot machines, keno games, Caribbean stud tables, craps tables, baccarat tables and race books. There is said to be more than 200,000 slot machines in Las Vegas, and over 3,500 blackjack tables. Visitors of the casinos can join a slot club, and will then receive a card that can be used at the gaming machines. Winnings are recorded in points on the card, and are redeemable for cash at the hotel casinos. Gamblers can have their play rated as well, and receive complimentary items, for example, breakfasts, lunches, discounted show tickets and more.

Novice gamblers and first-time Las Vegas visitors will find the free instruction guides to be very useful, however, most Las Vegas dealers are willing to explain the game. Las Vegas is said to produce more instant millionaires than any other city in the world – you never know your luck! Some of the most popular hotels include the Excalibur Hotel Casino of a medieval castle theme complete with a drawbridge, a fire-breathing dragon and a castle moat, the Flamingo Hilton Hotel Casino, the Fremont Hotel Casino (once the tallest building in Las Vegas), the Golden Nugget Hotel Casino, Imperial Palace, the Monte Carlo Hotel Casino and the Tropicana Hotel Casino, with a large water park.

Two major attractions in Las Vegas include Caesars Palace and the Las Vegas Circus Circus Adventuredome Theme Park. Caesars Palace is a huge and legendary hotel complex on the Las Vegas Strip, with one of the largest and most important casinos in the city. The hotel’s casino is about 45,000 square feet in size, with the latest gaming facilities, nine restaurants and a movie theatre. There are also swimming pools and a few live entertainment lounges. Caesars Palace features a large statue of Caesar and eighteen large fountains. The ‘Forum Shops at Caesars Palace’ are an exclusive shopping mall and entertainment complex, built in a style that resembles an ancient Roman street, and has around 100 shops, restaurants and cafés. Attractions at Caesars Palace also include the Cleopatra’s Barge Lounge, the Garden of the God’s pool area and Caesar’s Magical Empire. The Magical Empire is a maze of tunnels, grottos, theatres and dining rooms which are also symbolic of ancient Rome. Individual magic shows and further entertainment is provided to the guests of the Caesar’s Magical Empire, and free guided tours are available.

The Circus Circus Adventuredome Theme Park is found at 2880 Las Vegas Boulevard South, and is one of the major Las Vegas attractions for families. This exciting complex of casinos, hotels and theme park activities began in 1968, and creates an unmistakable circus-like atmosphere with a huge pink-and-white big top and a large clown-shaped marquee. The casino is also tent-shaped. Visitors of Circus Circus thoroughly enjoy the old-fashioned carnival games, large arcades with the latest video games and a traditional circus that is free to watch, with clowns, magicians, acrobats and animals of all kinds. The Adventuredome is the amusement park area of the complex, featuring the only indoor double-loop, double corkscrew roller coaster in the country, a swinging pirate ship, a Ferris wheel and many other thrilling rides.

Further Las Vegas attractions include the Planetarium, the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, the Speed Roller Coaster, the Star Trek Experience, the Motor Speedway and the Mini Grand Prix. The Planetarium is found at 3200 East Cheyenne Avenue to the north of Las Vegas, and has several powerful telescopes and an observatory, and the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat is located at 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South, and is a tropical paradise with animals from around the world and friendly dolphins who love to entertain the crowds. White tigers and panthers are some of the precious animals at the habitat. The Speed Roller Coaster runs along its track at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, and when it reaches the end, it goes backwards the length of the course, at the same high speeds. It is found at the Cyber Speedway at the Sahara Hotel. The Star Trek Experience is a must-see for all Star Trek enthusiasts, with its own museum, and there are many spectacular races held at the Motor Speedway. A driving school is found here as well. The Mini Grand Prix is fun for adults and children, and features go-karts, kiddie-carts and four different tracks.

In Las Vegas, children will also love the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay and the Mystic Falls Park, with sparkling waterfalls, various kinds of wildlife (even a bear) and a light show. The Shark Reef Aquarium is a particularly fascinating outing, with an enormous display tank that contains marine creatures of all varieties. There are sharks, stingrays, giant turtles and alligators, and a Komodo Dragon that lives in the Jungle Temple exhibit. Children under the age of five may enter for free.

Famous Las Vegas landmarks and monuments include the Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower, the Bellagio Fountains and the Stratosphere Hotel Casino, one of North America’s highest freestanding landmarks, and Las Vegas museums to look out for include the King Tut’s Tomb and Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Elvis-A-Rama Museum, the Guinness World of Records Museum and the Madame Tussaud’s Waxwork Museum.

Information regarding Las Vegas attractions can be found at the Las Vegas International Airport, or from the Tourist Information Centre on Paradise Road.