Las Vegas is a city in the United States of America.
Time is irrelevant in this Sin City. There are no clocks inside casinos, just never-ending buffets, ever-flowing drinks and adrenaline-fueled gaming tables. Almost any desire can be gratified instantly, since the USA's fastest-growing metropolis and its luxe mega-resorts stand ready to cater to your every whim 24/7. Emptying your wallet never felt so damn good.
The landscape is a constantly shifting paradox. It's a volatile cocktail of dueling forces: sophistication and smut, risk and reward, boom and bust. That's all part of its charm. Head downtown to explore Vegas' nostalgic beginnings and its cultural renaissance of vintage shops and cocktail bars where local culture thrives, then detour off the Strip to find intriguing museums celebrating Vegas' neon, atomic-fueled past.
America's dirty little secret or dream factory? Vegas is both and remains a bastion of hangover weekends for people from all walks of life. You can reinvent yourself a hundred times over or hide out with your lover in a hotel room for days. It doesn't matter if you play the penny slots or drop a bankroll every night, you'll probably leave town convinced you've had the time of your life.
Some of the latest sights to hit the Strip include a new competitive video game arena at Luxor and a virtual reality attraction at the Neon Museum. The city's pro hockey team, the Golden Knights, are predicted to make the playoffs this year, too, which means their home ice at the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard will be in the national spotlight for much of the spring.
'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada' sign
The iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada" sign serves as Sin City's unofficial welcome mat. This neon beacon has greeted visitors at the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard since 1959, when commercial artist and prolific sign designer Betty Willis designed it as a gift to the city. Because Willis never trademarked her work, merchandising companies have been able to replicate it on t-shirts, mugs and other tchotchkes. The sign was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, and it's one of the most popular selfie spots in town. It also served as the site of a makeshift memorial after the mass shooting at a country music concert in October 2017.
Public art at City Center
While Las Vegas isn't known for its art scene, MGM Resorts has invested $40 million over the last 10 years in public art at the 67-acre City Center complex. Notables include Maya Lin's "Silver River," which hangs behind the registration desk at Aria Las Vegas and depicts the course of the Colorado River; and Glacia, a piece on the ground floor of The Shops at Crystals composed of 15-foot-tall ice columns rising anew each morning and melting in different patterns throughout the day.
Fall of Atlantis show
Drama is in full effect at this free animatronic spectacle inside the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. The 11-minute show tells the story of the Lost City of Atlantis, and what happens when the ailing King Atlas must decide which of his children should rule. Audiences are treated to video screen supplements, fireballs, a 20-foot winged dragon and props by set designers who worked on "Thor" and "Pirates of the Caribbean." There are even fish tanks with real, live fish. The show debuted in 1997 and was updated in 2013. Shows start every hour between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Adventuredome
The main attraction at family-friendly Circus Circus Hotel & Casino is the Adventuredome-a glass-enclosed big-top with five acres of diversions. Rides include two roller coasters (including one that drops at 1.5 vertical-G), a half-dozen spinning rides, virtual reality experiences and a carousel. The Adventuredome also sports a carnival midway with more than 40 games, an arcade, mini-golf, bowling and clown shows. The best value is a per-person discounted all-day wristband.
Chinatown
Like most large cities, Las Vegas has its own Chinatown. Unlike most large cities, the name is misleading. Business are run by Japanese/Thai/Vietnamese/Korean/Mexican people as they are by Chinese locals. The area is made up of shopping centers where the traditional unattractive strip mall architecture is sometimes embellished with Asian touches, but make no mistake, good eats abound.
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