Las Vegas trips and vacations

It wouldn’t be a trip to Sin City without a roll of the dice. Swing by one of Las Vegas’ mega-casinos and enter a world of slot machines and roulette wheels. Hours can slip into days inside these windowless caverns. A cheaper way to pass the time? The world-class art collections displayed around resorts like Encore at Wynn, Bellagio and The Cosmopolitan are a sure bet.

A Las Vegas vacation is all about the spectacle. Whether U2 is playing at Sphere or Christina Aguilera is stealing the show at The Venetian, the performances in Vegas are legendary. Beyond the big-name artists in residence, there is further drama to be found in Bellagio’s dancing fountains and gravity-defying Cirque du Soleil acts.

There’s no need to wait for the sun to set to party in Vegas. The city’s epic pool parties continue from day to night, often to a soundtrack of world-class DJs. On your trip to Las Vegas, try to catch a party at MGM Grand’s Wet Republic Ultra Pool or Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace.

With the international airport and many of the top hotels located here, Paradise is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Las Vegas. Take a selfie at the iconic ‘Welcome to Las Vegas’ sign, then stroll along the Strip for an intro to Vegas extravagance. A half-size Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and replica Egyptian pyramids at the Luxor are just a few highlights.

Good for: Nightlife, hotels, entertainment

The original gambling district, Downtown Vegas is peppered with old-school casinos, such as Golden Nugget and El Cortez. Fremont Street, illuminated by antique neon signs, has the city’s oldest bar, Atomic Liquors (established 1952). The art-splashed Container Park is packed with art, pop-ups and food stalls. If your Las Vegas vacation falls on the First Friday festival, don’t miss the huge street party.

Good for: Nightlife, festivals, street food

Beyond the casinos and the bright lights of the Strip are residential neighborhoods rich in community. The Arts District is one of the best areas to stay in Las Vegas for a slice of local life. Spend a morning browsing its funky boutiques and vintage stores, but don’t leave hungry. This neighborhood houses some of the best independent restaurants in the city.

Good for: Culture, shopping, breweries

Las Vegas has a jackpot of family-friendly things to do. For indoor entertainment, there are arcade games at the Fun Dungeon, interactive exhibits at DISCOVERY Children’s Museum and five acres of activities at Adventuredome theme park. Not afraid of heights? Scope out the city from the world’s second-largest Ferris wheel, the High Roller.

For casino winners looking to splurge, shopping in Las Vegas starts in the Grand Canal Shoppes. Here you can pick up designer clothes, jewelry or even a first edition at Bauman Rare Books. For more affordable pickings, head to Fergusons Downtown for locally made clothes, art and crafts. Or hit the Las Vegas Premium Outlets for discounted brand names.

When you think of Vegas holidays, museums aren’t the first things that spring to mind. But the city has some cool stops that you shouldn’t miss. Stop by the Neon Museum downtown to see vintage signs from Sin City’s heyday. At the Mob Museum, housed in a former federal courthouse, learn how New York City gangsters shaped the city into the tourism hub it is today.

Las Vegas tops the polls of epic dance-party destinations in the United States. The city is almost a second home for super-DJs like Calvin Harris, Tiesto and Steve Aoki, who perform frequently here. Among the best clubs in Las Vegas are Hakkasan and Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub. Then there are the hundreds of shows — from magic to musicals — that make this city the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Vegas abounds with celebrity chef restaurants, such as CUT by Wolfgang Puck and Thomas Keller’s Bouchon. For late-night restaurants, Las Vegas’ Chinatown on Spring Mountain Road is your best bet. Standouts include Raku and Honey Pig. On the Strip Famous Foods Street Eats is a market hall serving everything from fried chicken to Southeast Asian noodles.

Las Vegas might be known for luxury hotels and expensive restaurants, but Sin City isn’t just for the wealthy. Free things to do in Las Vegas include Bellagio’s Fountains and the Fremont Street Experience light show. Aria’s free exhibition features art by Jenny Holzer, Henry Moore and Maya Lin. Outdoorsy types can hike among the pink-streaked hills at Red Rock Canyon.