Stroke of good luck played a part in the Las Vegas
It is somehow fitting that a stroke of good luck played a part in the Las Vegas’ evolution from arid wasteland to international tourist mecca. In the early 19th century, a group of
Mexican traders deviated off-course from the Old Spanish Trail, a trade route established decades earlier by Spanish missionaries and nomadic Native tribes. The traders would have faced certain death in the blistering heat typical to the region, if not for the fortuitous discovery of an artesian spring and lush wetlands nearby.
That very discovery accelerated the settlement of the American West. The city would eventually be named for the life-saving oasis (“las vegas” means “the meadows” in Spanish). The advent of the railroad and the construction of the Hoover Dam kick-started Las Vegas’ rise to prominence in the West; the establishment of legalized gambling promoted it to the
status of “icon.”
Las Vegas hotels, casinos and other attractions are concentrated in two primary areas: Las Vegas Boulevard, commonly known as the “Strip” and Downtown, also known as “Fremont Street.” Millions of travelers from around the world visit Las Vegas annually. As a result, traffic tends to be congested 24 hours a day. Try to drive as little as possible once you get to your hotel.
The Las Vegas Strip is a fun place to walk. The interiors of the different hotels and casinos on the Strip will transport you from Paris to New York to Egypt to Monte Carlo to medieval England all in the space of a few miles. It’s even more spectacular at night when all the hotels light up their world-famous neon signs. Downtown, the Fremont Street Experience was also designed to be pedestrian-friendly, with hotels, casinos, shops and restaurants all enclosed by an overhead canopy that projects videos at night.
Public transportation can be easily obtained in Las Vegas. Taxis can be called from most hotels (if they’re not waiting out front already). Many hotels also offer shuttle service, especially those situated off-strip. The CAT (Citizens’ Area Transit) bus line covers the Las Vegas Metro area, with the double decker “Deuce” Bus serving the route from the Strip to Downtown. $2.00 per ride; day use passes are available for $5.00 each.
The Las Vegas Monorail is another quick and efficient way to get to many Strip attractions. Beginning at the MGM Grand, the Monorail goes to Bally’s, the Flamingo, Harrah’s, the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Las Vegas Hilton and the Sahara. $5.00 for one ride, day passes $15.00, 3-day passes are $40.00.
Of course there’s more to Las Vegas than just Las Vegas. Outside of the city limits lies a whole different world. Scenic attractions like Lake Mead, Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, Mt. Charleston, and Eldorado Canyon, just might make you forget that you’re in the other city that never sleeps!
Those with the time to spare should also take advantage of the opportunity to visit the many National Parks surrounding Las Vegas. Death Valley, Zion Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell, the Grand Staircase, and more are all located mere hours from the lights of the city. And if you’ve come as far as Las Vegas, you’ve come too far not to see the grandest attraction of them all – the Grand Canyon.
Nevada Tours an Vacation
There are so many exciting things to do in Nevada, that when planning your vacation, you may consider taking one of the many Nevada tours. How do you decide what type of tour to take? What’s your pleasure? There are Nevada tours for all tastes and all budgets.
If you are an independent traveler, you might choose one of the self guided Nevada tours. However, if you want the guidance of an expert on the area, you may want to consider one of the guided group Nevada tours. Another thing to consider is the type of vehicle you want to use when touring Nevada. You can explore by car, horseback, and bicycle or even by foot. If you want to travel back in time, some companies offer horse and buggy Nevada tours.
What is it about Nevada that you find interesting? Many people come for the landscape and unique desert geology. Others are drawn to the lure of the casinos. However, if you have always harbored a fascination for nuclear energy, you may want to check out the Nevada test site tour. The Nevada test site is a United States Department of Energy reservation. When it was established on January 11, 1951, it was known as the Nevada Proving Grounds. Located in Nye County, Nevada the Nevada test site is composed of close to 1,350 square miles of desert and mountains. Between the years 1951 and 1992, there were a total of 925 tests that were conducted at the Nevada test site. Throughout the 1950s, the mushroom clouds that occurred because of these tests could be seen for 100 miles in either direction of the test site. Ironically, the clouds themselves became major tourist attractions.
Today, it is possible to take a Nevada test site tour. If you are interested in the history of nuclear testing, this can well be the highlight of your Nevada vacation. The Nevada test site tour usually begins at the Atomic Testing Museum. The tour is conducted on a rest room equipped chartered bus. Keep in mind that you entering a restricted access government reservation. So you will need to apply in advance for your Nevada test site tour. You will need to supply your social security number, date and place of birth, hone address, employer and citizenship. Cell phones, cameras, firearms and laptops are not permitted during the Nevada test site tour.
If the Nevada test site tour sounds a bit too intellectual for a Nevada vacation, you may want to consider one of the exciting Las Vegas tours. Why would anyone be interested in Las Vegas tours? There are so many clubs, hotels and shows in Las Vegas, that it’s sometimes difficult to figure out which ones are worth visiting. Perhaps you are excited about the Vegas club life, but not too excited about the lines at the clubs. There are some Las Vegas tours that feature VIP hosts who will walk you past the lines!
Since you are close enough to Arizona, you should think about taking an exciting Las Vegas Grand Canyon tour. Some of these tours even include the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. You can take a Las Vegas Grand Canyon tour by helicopter, hummer or bus.
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