Las Vegas Things to Do

If you find yourself in Las Vegas and indulging in some of its pleasantries, you might not stop to think about its sordid past. But if you stop for a moment and catch yourself thinking about the history of these gilded walls, you might inadvertently stumble into one of the highlights of any trip to Vegas: a trip down memory lane. And while the rumors of Las Vegas’ early mob roots are many, the true stories therein are much darker and more impressive than even Hollywood can do justice to. Find out how the darker side of America built this city of sin at the new Mob Museum in the heart of Las Vegas.

What better way to explore Nevada’s famous Red Rock Canyon than under the wing of an experienced local guide? It stands to reason that the uninitiated would do well to seek assistance when unlocking the wonders (and avoiding the dangers) of the Mohave Valley, and those who do are justly rewarded.

Does Las Vegas have room for any more lights? It does on Christmas, apparently, and as far as interesting Christmas destinations go, Las Vegas has plenty going for it. Vegas makes for a good Christmas vacation because the casinos turn the lights and festivities up to 11, like the Griswolds but ostensibly with more taste. Probably one of the best cases is the Bellagio, whose famous fountains dance to a Christmas score. Caesar’s is known for its huge tree, too. If you plan on taking a Vegas sightseeing tour during the holidays, be sure to do it at night.

My favorite sightseeing casinos are the Bellagio and the Luxor. If you’ve never been, the former is where those dancing fountains at the end of Ocean’s Eleven are. As this is one of the top luxury hotels in the country, let alone Vegas, it’s pretty opulent, and you might even see some celebrities.

If you know Las Vegas from TV or movies, you’ll probably expect a lot of glitz, glamour and white tigers. While Vegas has those in spades (at least the glitz and glamour, anyway), there’s more to do than roll craps and nurse hangovers.