Nevada Travel Guide
For the millions passing through on their way to California,
their image of Nevada is of long, empty roads and dusty ghost
towns, often little more than a gas station and 24-hour store with
a few slot machines in the corner. Lacking any natural assets, it
is fortunate that 'Lady Luck' descended on this state to give
hundreds of thousands of people a man-made reason for visiting.
This is casino country, centred on the capital of kitsch, Las
Vegas, and the other smaller towns where the main income earner is
gambling.Carson, the sleepy state capital, has tree-lined streets and
some handsome old buildings and hosts the Nevada State Museum,
which covers the geology and natural history of the Great Basin
desert: enough distraction for a few hours - but not much more.
Reno is a smaller and less glitzy version of Las Vegas, packed with
casinos and pawnshops, and has easy access to Lake Tahoe, over the
border in California.Situated east of California, Nevada is split up into territories
such as Cowboy Country, Pioneer Territory and Pony Express
Territory. This is the great American marketing machine putting a
gloss on the fact that the majority of the state is a fairly
desolate desert only capable of supporting snakes, lizards and
cacti. The better land is used for grazing hardy cattle, while the
least forgiving is used by the military for testing nefarious
weapons like stealth fighter bombers and atomic bombs.The state does have a few scenic attractions of interest to
visitors. Around Las Vegas, Lake Mead is popular with fishermen and
water sports enthusiasts, while both the Red Rock Canyon and the
Valley of Fire State Park have magnificent desert scenery, which
has been used as the backdrop for many famous movies including
Star Trek - The Next Generation. The sandstone has been
eroded into wonderful shapes over millions of years and at sunset
these great natural monuments turn every shade of red.
Nevada Travel Guide
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Time:
GMT -8 (GMT -7 from March to November).
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Nevada Travel Guide
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Description:
No expense was spared building the Venetian Hotel, which aimed
to recreate the city of Venice in the Nevada Desert and the result
is fairly spectacular. Guests can travel around the hotel in a
gondola - real canals run through the hotel - and a replica of St
Mark's Square and the Basilica turns from night to day every three
hours; visitors have to look carefully to notice that the sky is
actually a vast fresco. The only things missing are the pigeons and
the backpackers. The casino itself is massive, featuring 2,500 slot
machines and 125 gaming tables. For guests taking a break from the
tables, there are five swimming pools, a fitness centre, and 17
restaurants - mostly pizzerias. One of the main attractions is
Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, a wax museum presenting some of the
world's biggest icons including stars, politicians, record-breaking
athletes and legends.
Address:
3355 Las Vegas Boulevard
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 414 1000
Email:
Website:
www.venetian.com
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Description:
The Bellagio is one of Las Vegas' most opulent hotels and most
popular casinos. With an Italian theme, the great bulk of the
Bellagio sits in its own vast garden. It has over 3,000 rooms and
hundreds of slot machines and gaming tables, however its best-known
attraction is its amazing water show - a breathtaking union of
water, music and light. Between 3pm and midnight (from 12pm on
weekends) the Bellagio's world-famous fountains 'dance' to opera,
classical or whimsical music with carefully choreographed
movements. Beyond the Bellagio's gracious lobby lies the
Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, a magnificent garden
abounding in fragrance, texture and colour. The hotel also has a
new fine arts gallery that hosts contemporary art exhibits.
Address:
3600 S. Las Vegas Boulevard
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 693 7111
Email:
Website:
www.bellagiolasvegas.com
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Description:
Another MGM mega-casino, the showpiece at the Mirage is a
Volcano that shoots flames 100 feet (30m) into the night sky every
15 minutes (6pm to midnight), spewing smoke and transforming a
tranquil waterfall into spectacular streams of molten lava. As
you'd expect of Las Vegas, it's all quite naff, but great
entertainment. Siegfried & Roy's White Tigers used to be one of
the Mirage's signature attractions, but the show was cancelled in
2003 after Roy Horn was attacked by one of the tigers during a
show. A popular attraction is the aquarium located behind the Front
Desk. This 20,000-gallon saltwater aquarium is home to angelfish,
puffer fish, tangs, sharks and other exotic sea creatures.
Address:
3400 S. Las Vegas Boulevard
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 791 7111
Email:
Website:
www.mirage.com
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Description:
The Valley of Fire State Park is Nevada's oldest park, and is so
named because of its red sandstone formations which appear to be on
fire when the sun reflects off them. The rocks were shaped over
150-milllion years ago when dinosaurs roamed the area. Apart from
the rugged beauty of the surrounding Mojave Desert, the main
attraction in the park are the well preserved petroglyphs that
adorn many of the red sandstone structures, left there by the
ancient Pueblo people, also known as the Anasazi. This rock art
dates variously from 300 BC to 1150 AD. Visitors should head to
Atlatl Rock for some of the finest examples of ancient Indian rock
art or petroglyphs, including a depiction of the atlatl, which was
a notched stick used to propel spears, a predecessor to the bow and
arrow. Other activities here include hiking, camping and
picnicking.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 397 2088
Email:
Website:
parks.nv.gov/vf.htm
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Description:
The Luxor is themed on ancient Egypt and is one of the most
prominent sights on the Las Vegas Strip. It is a massive
black-glass pyramid containing 36 floors of hotel rooms, and
shining through it up into the night sky is the world's most
powerful light beam, which they claim can be seen by planes
circling Los Angeles. The ground floor of the hotel is given over
to a massive casino, which stands beneath a recreation of King
Tut's Tomb. Other than gambling, entertainment at the hotel
includes an IMAX theatre, gyms, swimming pools and exhilarating
shows by comedians, dancers and singers.
Address:
3900 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 262 4444
Email:
Website:
www.luxor.com
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Description:
One of the most famous casinos in Las Vegas, the MGM Grand was
the largest hotel in the world when it opened in 1993 with more
than 5,000 rooms; the complex also houses 19 restaurants, many
shops and nightclubs, a convention centre, and a spa. The MGM
Grand's most famous attraction was for many years the glass-sided
lion habitat, however the casino closed this in early 2012 as part
of an extensive renovation. Today, the MGM Grand is home to the
Cirque du Soleil production, Kà, the Crazy Horse Paris nude ballet,
and the interactive attraction CSI: The Experience.
Address:
3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.mgmgrand.com
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Description:
The 44-story Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is among the largest
on the Las Vegas Strip with more than 3,000 hotel rooms and a
135,000 square foot (12,500 m2) casino. The tropical-themed resort
has a number of popular family attractions, including the Shark
Reef saltwater aquarium and large-scale stage shows ranging from
Broadway musicals to Cirque du Soleil productions. The most popular
attraction at Mandalay Bay however, is Mandalay Beach, an
11-acrepool area featuring three heated pools, a wave pool, lazy
river, and children's pool. Voted Best Pool of Las Vegas many times
by Las Vegas Review Journal readers, Mandalay Beach has its own bar
and two restaurants.
Address:
3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.mandalaybay.com
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Description:
With over 250 classic antique cars on display (all available for
purchase), the Imperial Palace Auto Collection is an absolute must
for car enthusiasts. It is actually part of a larger collection and
cars are rotated in and out of the showroom on a regular basis;
once a car is sold it is replaced by another. Exhibited are rare
models, racecars, muscle cars, touring roadsters and dozens of
vehicles once owned by the rich and famous.
Address:
Imperial Palace Casino, 3535 South Las Vegas
Boulevard
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 794 3174
Email:
info@autocollections.com
Website:
www.autocollections.com
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Description:
The downtown area of Las Vegas is where it all began and the
Fremont Street Experience aims to celebrate this heritage. The
street is also known as 'Glitter Gulch' for the bright neon signs
and thousands of flashing lights that line the streets - this is
where you'll find Vegas Vic and Sassy Sal, two of the nations
best-known neon icons. Some of the city's most famous vintage
casinos are found here, including the Golden Nugget and the Gold
Spike, as are most of its strip clubs and stage shows. Most
entertainment is on, or just off, the Freemont Street Experience
Mall.
Address:
425 Fremont Street, Downtown Las Vegas
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.vegasexperience.com
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Description:
Unlikely as it may seem, Las Vegas is one of the world's top
rollercoaster destinations, with some of the fastest, biggest, and
most innovative rides.Some of the best are atop the 1,149-foot (350m) Stratosphere
Tower, the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United
States and the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.
Thrill seekers can enjoy excitement over 100 stories above the
ground on four exciting rides: Sky Jump, Big Shot Insanity and the
X-Scream. The latter should be experienced only by veteran
rollercoaster fanatics or those wearing adult-size diapers. There
is also a revolving restaurant at the top of the Stratosphere,
which offers great views but pretty average food. Best ride first,
then eat.The Sahara Casino and Hotel is home the Speed Ride, while Circus
Circus's Adventuredome has the Canyon Blaster - the only indoor
double-loop and double-corkscrew rollercoaster in the world - and
Chaos, a ride designed to offer a different experience each time.
New York, New York Hotel and Casino has the Manhattan Express,
another high quality ride that gets rave reviews from rollercoaster
connoisseurs.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
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Description:
A mile deep, 277 miles (446km) long and up to 18 miles (29km)
wide the breathtaking grandeur of the Grand Canyon is so impressive
that pictures or words simply cannot do it justice. One of the
great natural wonders of the world, it was formed by the cutting
action of the Colorado River over millions of years, the harder
rock formations remaining as great cliffs, pinnacles and buttes,
and the different layers of rock possessing colours that range from
purple, fiery red and pastel pink, to yellow, brown, grey and soft
tones of blue.Whether by foot or on horseback, from a plane or helicopter,
aboard a raft down the mighty Colorado River or by merely gazing in
awe from the rim, the canyon's seemingly infinite depths can be
experienced in a variety of ways and is a landscape not to be
missed, however one chooses to see it. The park receives hoards of
visitors from around the world, who cannot fail to be transfixed by
the sculpted rock shapes, the shifting colours that change with the
light and a tiny glimpse of the Colorado River far below. The Grand
Canyon National Park comprises two separate areas, the South Rim
and the more remote North Rim. Separated by the 10-mile (16km)
width of the canyon, it is a 215-mile (346km) drive from one
visitor centre to the other and the South Rim, being the most
accessible and possessing more facilities, sees over 90 percent of
the park visitors.The North Rim is higher in elevation and wetter, with thicker
surrounding forests; it is further to get to and is usually closed
by snow from October to May, but many people prefer the comparative
peacefulness of its less crowded lookouts. At both rims there are
several drives and walkways along the edge with numerous lookout
points for views from different angles, as well as a few hikes down
into the canyon where one can overnight at Phantom Ranch on the
canyon floor. The impact of over four million visitors a year to
the South Rim, especially during the busy summer months, has its
negative influences on the park, with overcrowding and traffic
congestion, but despite the hoards it is a positively memorable
experience to have visited one of the most spectacular examples of
erosion in the world.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(928) 638 7888
Email:
info@grandcanyonchamber.org
Website:
www.nps.gov/grca
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Description:
Stretching 1,247 feet (380m) across the Colorado River, the
Hoover Dam holds back the waters of Lake Mead and is a fine example
of the engineering of its time. One of the world's most famous
dams, the Hoover Dam was built during the Great Depression in the
1930s - one of many vast public projects commissioned by the US
Government to get people back to work. The dam employed thousands
of men from all over the country, and its hydroelectric power
generator supplies Nevada and its neighbouring states with
electricity. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is popular with
water sports enthusiasts as well as those just after a bit of sun
and relaxation.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 293 8906
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/lame
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Description:
Red Rock Canyon is a dramatic valley ten miles (16km) west of
Las Vegas and is a good excursion to escape the neon lights and
jangle of the slot machines. Its defining feature is the steep Red
Rock escarpment, which rises 3,000 feet (914m) on its western edge.
Today the dramatic landscape is peppered with cacti and Joshua
trees and is a good spot for walking, rock climbing, cycling or
simply a scenic drive. The Mojave Desert is not barren as you might
think; it teems with life and beauty that is rare and unique -
waterfalls cascade into the canyons and high above red tailed hawks
search for their next meal.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 515 5350
Email:
Website:
www.redrockcanyonlv.org
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Description:
The glass-encased theme park of Adventuredome is the perfect
attraction for thrill-seeking kids on holiday in Las Vegas - its
loop roller-coaster and other gut-wrenching rides are not to be
missed! If this adrenalin rush is a bit too excessive, there are
also shows by the likes of magicians and jugglers on offer, as well
as plenty of decadent treats like ice-cream, popcorn, candy...
Address:
Circus Circus Hotel, 2880 South Las Vegas
Boulevard
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 794 3939
Email:
Website:
www.adventuredome.com
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Description:
When the Las Vegas summer heat gets too much for the kids head
to the Doolittle Pool complex, which has a great swimming pool and
pool toys for kids to enjoy. Other features of this attraction
include a water slide and playground, as well as sports fields and
a picnic area.
Address:
1950 North J Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 229 6398
Email:
Website:
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Description:
The Buffalo Bill's amusement park is an excellent holiday
attraction for children, offering everything from earth-plunging
rides that defy gravity or end with a huge splash, to log rides on
a fantasy lake. Kids also love the Frog Hopper experience, bouncing
around the park on the back of Buffalo Bill's life-like
amphibian.
Address:
31900 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 679 7433
Email:
Website:
www.primmvalleyresorts.com
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Description:
An entertaining attraction for children (and their parents) in
Las Vegas is a show by the Blue Man Group. Three 'mute' performers,
painted blue and wearing bald caps, keep kids on the edge of their
seats with a combination of humorous theatrics, music and comedy.
Ponchos are handed out to the first few rows, as paint can
occasionally go flying.
Address:
Blue Man Theater, Venetian Casino Resort, 3355 Las Vegas
Boulevard South
Postcode:
Telephone:
(702) 414 1000 or (702) 414 9000
Email:
Website:
www.blueman.com/tickets/las-vegas
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Description:
Kids will revel in the exciting experience of flying through the
Grand Canyon in a helicopter and landing at the Grand Canyon West
Ranch. Once at the ranch, children are enthralled by horse-drawn
wagon rides and the cowboys putting on a show. The western-style
meal served at the Ranch House also goes down a treat.
Address:
3750 E. Diamond Bar Ranch Rd, Meadview, Arizona
Postcode:
Telephone:
Grand Canyon West Ranch, (702) 736 8787; Heli USA, (702)
736 8727
Email:
Website:
www.grandcanyonranch.com
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Description:
No longer the family-friendly pirate hangout it once was,
Treasure Island has revamped itself as an adult-oriented
contemporary resort. The free Sirens of TI show is a special
effects-laden production is a must-see on the Las Vegas Strip, with
music, explosions, bussaneers, and beautiful women. Treasure Island
is also home to the Cirque du Soleil show Mystère, and offers a
number of restaurants and nightclubs.
Address:
3300 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.treasureisland.com
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Description:
A dream come true for many, Dig This is a wildly popular
attraction in Las Vegas that allows you to operate enormous
vehicles like bulldozers and excavators under the supervision of
trained instructors. While the price tag is high (starting at $210
for 90 minutes), the experience is unforgettable as you team up
with other participants to complete tasks. You must be at least 14
to operate the machines.
Address:
3012 South Rancho Drive
Postcode:
Telephone:
(888) 344-8447
Email:
Website:
www.digthis.info
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