Las Vegas, the self acclaimed entertainment capital of the world, offer attractions to satisfy just about every taste, whether it is the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip, the glitzy casino-hotels, theme parks, museums or even the more sedate atmosphere of the national parks.
Bellagio Fountains
The Bellagio hotel and casino, boasts the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, its Conservatory and botanical gardens, but most famous of all is the spectacular Fountains of Bellagio.
With the water soaring up to 460 feet, the fountains can be viewed from multiple locations on the Strip and offer the best free show in Las Vegas. The spectacular water show set to light and music is perfectly choreographed, with each show having its own unique interpretation.
It must also be the most romantic attraction, so no surprise that it is a prime destination for proposals and weddings.
Performances take place every half hour in the afternoon and early evening and every 15 minutes from 8pm until midnight.
Stratosphere Tower
This landmark hotel-casino and its tower stand at 1,149 feet above the city. It is not only the tallest observation tower in the US, but also the ninth tallest freestanding structure.
While the hotel has multiple attractions, the real action for those who love extreme starts at 900 feet. Apart from a couple of observation decks and the ‘Top of the World’ revolving restaurant, it is the four rides that attract the thrill seekers. The rides are the Big Shot, Sky Jump Las Vegas, X-Scream and the most thrilling of all, Insanity.
Insanity dangles riders 64 feet over the edge of the tower and then spins them at speeds of close to 40 miles per hour and at angles of almost 70 degrees, providing a terrifying but spectacular view of Las Vegas 900 feet below.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
A visit to Las Vegas would not be complete without experiencing the natural beauty of the countryside. The 200,000 acre Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, 15 miles west of the city, is visited annually by more than a million visitors.
The large red rock formations and sandstone peaks, with walls of up to 3,000 feet, make the area perfect for hikers and rock climbers, with the highest point reaching over 8,100 feet.
Apart from hiking and rock climbing, activities that attract visitors in such large numbers include biking, horse-back riding, camping and for those preferring four wheels, local automobile clubs have group drives along a spectacular 13 mile scenic road.
Eiffel Tower – Paris Las Vegas
When in Rome do as the Romans, well Las Vegas may well be a long way from Paris, France, but the theme of the Paris Las Vegas hotel casino is themed on the city of Paris.
It boasts a two-thirds replica of the Arc de Triomphe, a replica of La Fontaine des Mers, and a 1,200 seat theatre called Le Théâtre des Arts. The front of the hotel suggests the Paris Opera House and the Louvre; however the stand out feature of the hotel is a half scale replica of the famous Eiffel Tower.
Visitors can ascend to the top of the Eiffel Tower and enjoy a panoramic view of the valley below.
A unique architectural aspect of Paris Las Vegas is that the back legs of its Eiffel Tower actually come down through the ceiling into the casino floor.
Fremont Street, download Las Vegas
A visit wouldn’t be complete without enjoying the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas. While less famous than the Las Vegas Strip, it is one of the best free attractions in the city.
With free nightly shows featuring 12.5 million lights and 550,000 watts of amazing sound, it will have your body shaking. There are free concerts and special events throughout the year and it’s worth a visit to the Neon Museum which houses some of the old hotel neon signs.
About The Author
Michael Goldstone is a travel writer whose favourite destination is the bright lights of Las Vegas. When he cannot be on holiday he likes to recreate the atmosphere at a top online casino.