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The Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel
is one of the many sights you'll see along the Las Vegas Strip.
(Photo by Steve Cheski)
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So many sights, so little time.
Las Vegas is a feast for the eyes and we're
not just talking about the showgirls.
The hotels along the Strip seem to be in a
perpetual contest to outdo each other with exploding volcanoes, dancing
fountains, pirate battles and replicas of the New York skyline and the
Eiffel Tower designed to draw sightseers to their properties.
You can get a good view of many of the
sights of Las Vegas by car, but most should be experienced on foot.
That means you'll be doing a lot of walking
which makes planning your sightseeing excursions vital.
Here are some of the best free Las Vegas
sights, grouped together so that they're within walking distance of each
other. Allow 2-3 hours for each group and be sure to wear comfortable shoes
and clothing and bring water and a camera.
- Paris - Bellagio - Caesars Palace: If
you're driving, park in the Paris garage then walk through the shopping
area which is designed to replicate the streets of Paris. Go through the
casino and outside is a 540-foot-tall replica of the Eiffel Tower (you can
pay to
The fountains in front of the Bellagio put on a show throughout the
day and night. |
take an elevator to the top of the tower). Cross the Strip to the Bellagio where the fountains in front put on a spectacular light and music
show throughout the day and night. A walkway near the Bellagio's front
entrance leads to Caesars Palace. Be sure to go to Caesars' Forum shops
which are designed to replicate the streets of Rome. There's also a free
show that promotes Caesars' Race for Atlantis simulator ride. Spend some
time walking around Caesars and the Bellagio to take in their grandness.
- Mirage - Treasure Island - Venetian:
Start out in front of the Venetian where you'll see a replica of the
canals of Venice complete with singing gondoliers. Cross the Strip to The
Mirage and go inside the front entrance to see one or more of Siegfried
and Roy's white tigers in a habitat with a swimming pool. Continue on to
the hotel front desk which has a massive aquarium behind it. The exploding
volcano is in front of The Mirage and the pirate battle takes place in
front of Treasure Island. You'll need to wait until it's dark to see both.
The Wynn Las Vegas logo glides up and down the electronic sign in
front of the hotel.
(Photo by Steve Cheski) |
- Fashion Show Mall - Wynn Las Vegas:
Two of the best examples of conspicuous consumption on the Strip are
across from each other. The mall is full of upscale stores like Neiman
Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's and Nordstrom. Towering over the mall is
an 8-million-pound, all-steel, flying-saucer-shaped structure called
the Cloud. It provides shade over a large plaza during the day and becomes
a giant projection surface at night. Wynn Las Vegas must be seen to be
believed. At the entrance, a
140-foot-high mountain, forested with 60-foot pine trees, shields what's
called the Lake of Dreams. The Wynn's interior is indescribably luxurious
and is well worth a walk-through. Watch for the circular escalator among
other sights.
- New York New York - MGM Grand: A
roller coaster weaves its way through a replica of the New York skyline in
front of New York New York. Across the Strip, a giant gold lion dominates
the MGM Grand's exterior.
- Mandalay Bay - Luxor - Excalibur: The
Luxor's onyx-hued pyramid rises 350 feet above the Strip. Excalibur is
designed to replicate the days of King Arthur. The massive Mandalay Bay is
the southernmost hotel on the Strip. It's worth walking through Mandalay
Bay to see its impressive interior design and 11-acre tropical beach. If
you continue south on the Strip past Mandalay Bay, you'll see the famous
Welcome to Las Vegas sign.
- Stratosphere: The 1,149-foot
Stratosphere Tower dominates the northernmost end of the Strip. You can
pay to go to the top of the tower where there's a roller coaster and other
thrill rides. If you're driving away from the Strip, the tower becomes an
excellent landmark to help you find your way back.
- Downtown: This is where you can
see the old Las Vegas. Duck inside the Horseshoe for an example of an
old-style, low-ceilinged Vegas casino. The renovated Golden Nugget is a
good example of an attempt to revive downtown as is the Fremont Street
Experience, a covered pedestrian mall with nightly light and sound shows.
- Everywhere: Another free sight to
see in Las Vegas is people. You may pass Elvis walking down the Strip or
sit next to a celebrity at a blackjack table. And you'll always see a lot of
people behaving outrageously and having fun.
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