In the words of the Elvis Presley song — Viva Las Vegas! From our first-hand experiences during Stop #10 of our big “Let’s Go America! Tour” at the Wynn/Encore, we can share that Las Vegas is indeed mostly back, wide open, buzzing with excitement, sans pandemic restrictions, and engaging travelers again in all things quintessential Las Vegas.
Anyone who hasn’t visited Las Vegas within the past decade is in for a surprise. The continued development of new hotels/resorts, casinos, restaurants, retail stores, convention space, not to mention the influx of the high tech industry sector, has enhanced the area in many positive ways. There’s also the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and NHL’s Las Vegas Golden Knights to engage you as well! Known as a city for top entertainment and high stakes fun, Las Vegas is now one of the fastest growing American cities.
In addition to a growing population and housing market, the food scene has seen a fairly dramatic transformation in Sin City — Classic Vegas buffets that are easy on the wallet remain, but blend seamlessly with top tier fine dining establishments, including several Michelin starred restaurants. We enjoyed and can highly recommend Casa de Playa, Mizumi, Delilah’s and Lakeland restaurants at the Wynn/Encore resorts. We also enjoyed Ferraro’s for authentic Italian food just minutes from the strip. There are a number of popular restaurants aligned with Celebrity Chefs as well.
If you want to break away from the hustle of downtown to enjoy some Nevada sunshine and outdoor activities, we recommend venturing southeast to Hoover Dam built in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River — just a 45 minute drive from Vegas and well worth either a self-guided or guided tour. Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon are also high on our list for quick day trips to unwind and enjoy the desert landscape. You can hike, rock climb or just enjoy a scenic drive as you traverse the area. If you have extended time, various helicopter companies offer day trips to the Grand Canyon that include lunch and other amenities.
A hidden gem at the south end of The Strip is The Las Vegas Golf Experience. Reasonably priced and packed with fun, you can hit the driving range or make a tee time for their popular lighted par 3 nine-hole course. Enjoy food, cocktails and live music afterwards at their new Rock Star Bar.
We mentioned the Raiders and Golden Knights, and their homes, Allegiant Stadium and the T-Mobile Arena, also attract world class music and entertainment year round. And the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, about a 20 minute drive from The Strip is home to an array of racing events, plus there are companies like Dream Racing that allow you to drive Lamborghinis, Aston-Martins, Ferraris, Corvettes and other exotic cars on the track!
Business travel and the convention sector of Las Vegas still have a ways to go until it feels like “old times,” but if you’re traveling with family, there’s the Area 15 Arts and Entertainment district, offering an array of entertainment options for all ages, including immersive art experiences, amusement rides, food, axe throwing, a distillery and so much more… The downtown Mob Museum is yet another way to spend a few hours in Vegas exploring 100 years of the history of organized crime.
Is Vegas still a glitzy, all night party town? Yes, and of course, there are plenty of casinos to test your luck — The Bellagio, Venetian, Caesar’s, Wynn and Encore, all-new Resorts World are just a few. Top performers and live entertainment options, along with wedding chapels are all still part of the Vegas experience, but the city really has grown into a destination that appeals to and attracts a much wider variety of travelers than ever before these days.
If you decide to visit Las Vegas sometime soon, we’d love to hear about your experiences. You can easily connect with us anytime @ www.RMWorldTravel.com/Contact. Until the next time, safe and happy travels … Let’s Go America!
Robert & Mary Carey, Hosts
America’s #1 Travel Radio Show
DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT: LAS VEGAS
