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 economy and tourism
Leisure and hospitality are the largest economic sectors in Nevada, accounting for 27 percent of the state’s workforce. In 2006, Las Vegas hosted almost 39.5 million tourists who spent $41.62 billion. The full affects of climate change on this sector are not yet fully known, but examples for outdoor recreation are presented below.
It is likely that outdoor recreational activities will be hardest hit by the effects of climate change. Outdoor activities in Nevada include fishing, bird hunting, wild life watching, hiking, water activities and golfing. Warmer temperatures and drought could negatively affect most of these activities. Local Las Vegas golf courses—used by three of every 10 tourists and others who spend $1.1 billion annually on the sport—require significant water. Limited water resources could reduce golf course irrigation, resulting in a larger amount of brown grass, which could decrease tourists’ desire to choose Nevada as a vacation destination. Nearly $200 million and more than 1,100 jobs could be lost if climate change resulted in such impacts. Efforts are under way at some courses, however, to limit water demand by planting drought tolerant grass and native vegetation. Such changes have their own economic costs. You can reach Nevada by any International flights . You might choose singapore airlines as your way to go to Nevada. cheap flights are avilable on the internet and you may find it here.

