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 Vacation Destination
Nevada Vacation Spots #1:Nevada vacation spots for you NASCAR racing fans must include a stop at the Neon Garage. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway has built the Neon Garage as a new way for fans to enjoy the sport. In the center of the LVMS infield are four buildings where the NASCAR Nextel Cup teams come to prep their cars.
The Winner’s Circle is also located here. In the center of it all is an area that is open to all you race fans so you can get a view of racing that you could never get before. You can also watch the on-track action, on the big screen TVs at the sports bar. Sounds like a great way to rev up your next vacation.
Nevada Vacation Spots #2:Enjoy a first-class air show at The National Championship Air Races and Air Show just outside Reno, Nevada. Besides the air show, this annual event features multiple classes of air races such as Unlimited, Sport, T-6, Formula One, Biplane, and Jet. You can also see a variety of other civil and military aircraft on display.
Nevada Vacation Ideas #3:A must see if you are in Nevada is the Hoover Dam the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. You can drive across the dam. Take a guided tour or a self-guided tour. This National Historic Landmark is one of the greatest engineering feats ever. Just below the dam is a site where you can launch your personal paddle craft for a trip down the river.
Nevada Vacation Ideas#4:Death Valley National Park is the hottest place in North America. You can also find spectacular wildflower displays, snow covered peaks, beautiful sand dunes, abandoned mines and a number of ghost towns. Despite the extreme environment there is ample opportunity for hiking, biking, backpacking, and camping. As long as you are properly prepared the park can be a wonderful experience.
Nevada Vacation Spots #5:Go back to 1849 Virginia City, Nevada. Share the rush of excitement that drove tens of thousands of people to Comstock Lode’s $400 million cache of gold and silver. There are lots of historical sites like the underground mines at the Chollar Mine, the Bucket of Blood Saloon, The Fourth Ward School Museum or the Virginia & Truckee Railroad.
Nevada Vacation Spots #6:The Truckee River, in Nevada, is a great place to enjoy white water rafting on your next vacation. It is located near Reno and North Lake Tahoe. White Water Tours will guide you on an exhilarating rafting trip down 7 miles of river white water. There are many Class 2-3 rapids and one exciting Class 3+ rapids. With their expert guides and some instruction this makes an excellent vacation activity for the whole family.
Nevada Vacation Spots #7:Take the family for a ranch vacation at Cottonwood Ranch in Elko County, Nevada. This is a working ranch where you can signup to help out and have fun. How much you do is up to you but there are cattle to round up and horses to drive along the trail to pasture. The big push comes in June with the six day horse drive. But its a fun experience and kids as young as 8 can participate. Along with the work there is the beautiful Nevada countryside and fresh air. And don’t forget about the hayrides, cookouts and sing-alongs.
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