Everyone should visit Las Vegas at least once. For many, it will be the beginning of a life-long love for this unique city. There’s so much to see and do, you have to be selective. Here, we run through some of the essentials that you just can’t miss.
Hit the casinos
Even if you’ve never placed a bet in your life, you can’t visit Vegas without exploring the legendary casinos on The Strip. Note that the legal gambling age in Nevada is 21. Each of the major casino complexes has its own theme, so be ready to spend plenty of time on your feet taking in the sheer scale of the Venetian, Paris and so on. Take some time to watch the incredible fountain show at the Bellagio, too, there’s nothing like it on earth.
As for the casino games themselves, you don’t have to spend a fortune. In fact, they still have the old fashioned 1c slots, which are a lot of fun. Try your luck at a table game like blackjack or roulette, too, though, the interaction with the dealer and other players is all part of the magic.
Catch a show
Try to see at least one show during your visit. On any given day, there are likely to be several legends from the entertainment world playing at Vegas, so what you see is up to you.
Just by way of example, over the next few months, the choices include legendary musicians like Sting, Morrissey, Barry Manilow and Diana Ross, contemporary stars like Usher and Alicia Keys, comedians Bill Maher and John Mulaney and, of course, Penn and Tellar’s legendary magic show, a residency that has been running for more than 20 years!
Take a walk down Fremont Street
The Strip is what it is, but for sheer atmosphere, “Old Vegas,” which is basically Fremont Street, knocks it into a cocked hat. Take an evening walk there, it really starts to come alive at about 9PM, and when the zip liners fly overhead and the street musicians get active, there’s a carnival feel every night.
Have a little gambling money with you, too, as casinos like the Golden Nugget provide a glimpse of the real heart of Las Vegas ,and should not be missed.
Buy a monorail pass
The Las Vegas monorail is a fabulous invention, although taxi and Uber drivers might disagree. There’s a shuttle every four minutes and the seven stops cover everywhere you’re likely to want to go. A one-day pass is $13 and as the name implies, you can use it all day, as many times as you like. 2-day to 7-day passes are also available and save you even more money.
It’s simple to navigate, and wherever you are in Vegas, you can’t walk 50 yards without seeing a sign to the nearest monorail stop, so it makes it really hard to get lost.
Have fun on your first trip to Sin City, it’s like nowhere else on earth!
