Things to do in  Las Vegas

The Hoover Dam (originally the Boulder Dam) is one of the United States’ most celebrated engineering icons. Construction began during the Great Depression, and it was the largest project of its kind in the world at the time. Travelers have flocked to the dam—situated on the Nevada and Arizona border—for decades. Today, it receives more than 7 million annual visitors.

Lined with Sin City’s top hotels and largest casinos, the glittering 4.2-mile (6.8-kilometer) Las Vegas Strip is the main entertainment drag and the place to be if you want to try your luck at slot machines and table games. This neon-lit boulevard is known for its over-the-top architecture, wild nightclubs, and many performance venues where you can see everything from Cirque du Soleil to comedy shows and live music.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk—a horseshoe-shaped, glass-bottomed walkway that juts out 70 feet (20 meters) above one of America’s most scenic sites—is not for the faint-hearted. Situated 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) above the Grand Canyon, the Skywalk offers unreal panoramic views of the West Rim and Colorado River, plus natural wonders such as Eagle Rock Formation and the Princess and the Horse shadow.

The Grand Canyon’s West Rim, located just outside Grand Canyon National Park, is home to the vast Hualapai Indian Reservation and includes 108 miles (173 kilometers) of picturesque canyon views. The closest section of the canyon to Las Vegas, the West Rim is famous for the lofty Grand Canyon Skywalk, Guano Point, and Eagle Point.

The Colorado River winds through red-rock canyons and desert landscapes, offering some of the Southwest’s best opportunities for outdoor adventures. Kayak through calm waters, soak in riverside hot springs, or take a rafting trip through dramatic scenery and past geological wonders. Whether visiting from Las Vegas or venturing deeper into canyon country, the Colorado River delivers a refreshing change of pace, surrounded by spectacular natural scenes.

Spanning five city blocks, the Fremont Street Experience is a massive outdoor shopping and entertainment district and home to Las Vegas’ very first freestanding casino building. Visitors come here for its 10 casinos, plenty of restaurants, and daily free concerts and live entertainment. It’s also notable for the famous Viva Vision canopy, a nightly music and light show projected onto a huge overhead canopy screen.

Carved over time by the Virgin River, Zion National Park is a remarkable 148,000-acre (59,900-hectare) stretch of white, pink, and red rock formations in southern Utah’s canyon country. The state’s first national park draws hikers, birders, and nature lovers with its slot canyon walls and diversity of wildlife.

Towering high above the Grand Canyon, the South Rim offers fantastic views of the natural wonder and is one of the most convenient spots to start exploring the national park. You can get your bearings (and pick up maps) at the South Rim Visitor Center, take in vistas from different viewpoints, or hike along the popular Rim Trail or challenging Hermit Trail.

Nothing says “Las Vegas” quite like the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign’s retro red star, glowing neon bulbs, and bold lettering. Decades after the sign was created in 1959, it’s as much a part of the city as high rollers and Elvis impersonators; it’s even on the US National Register of Historic Places. It remains a landmark that draws visitors from around the globe—and one that you won’t want to miss.

The Fountains of Bellagio in front of the Bellagio Las Vegas are like many Sin City attractions: an over-the-top spectacle, but in a good way. The waterworks synchronize with music and are illuminated for extra effect. The water, which spouts from a manmade lake inspired by Lake Como in Italy, can shoot as high as 460 feet (140 meters) into the air.

The 195,819-acre (79,245-hectare) Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada comprises a network of narrow canyons, seasonal waterfalls, rock art sites, and surreal rock formations. It offers ample opportunities for hiking, biking, rock climbing, and desert wildlife watching. And the fact that it’s a short drive from Las Vegas makes it an ideal nature escape from the city.

While Lake Mead may be the most famous landmark in the scenic Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the sprawling 1.5 million-acre (607,000-hectare) landscape features desert canyons, reservoirs, and mountains. Just driving through offers fabulous views, but the recreation area is also a hub for outdoor activities, such as kayaking, hiking, and off-roading. It’s all within day-tripping distance of Las Vegas, making adventures here accessible for anyone on shorter trips.

The 550-foot (168-meter) rotating observation wheel at the heart of The LINQ in Las Vegas is far from your normal Ferris wheel. Climb aboard the glass-enclosed pods—home to music and video displays, as well as thousands of LED lights—and admire the view from one of the world’s largest observation wheels as it completes a full 30-minute rotation.

Rugged, desert scenery draws off-road enthusiasts to Hidden Valley—a recreation area in the town of Jean, Nevada. While it’s just 30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, Hidden Valley has miles of trails to explore, including routes leading to overlooks with soaring views of the McCullough Range and Primm Valley. Natural beauty enriches the high-powered adventures on offer here.

Downtown Las Vegas thrived as the city’s gambling district until the middle of the 20th century, when new resort-casino complexes, such as the Flamingo, began to pull crowds away from the area toward The Strip. After a period of neglect, Downtown has seen revitalization over the past few years, transforming it into a Las Vegas cultural and entertainment hub in its own right.