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Your First Time in Las Vegas

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Las Vegas is known world-wide for one five-mile stretch of road, the Strip. On your first visit to Las Vegas, you'll want to see its erupting volcanoes, pirate battles, and elaborately designed hotel casinos. Walking is the easiest way to see the sights inside and outside the hotels. Regular bus service is available along the Strip from Downtown to the southern portion of Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip's official name), and the Las Vegas Monorail will give you traffic-free transportation just off the Strip. Beyond the non-stop activity of the Strip, you'll find quirky museums, the historic Hoover Dam, and spectacular desert scenery. To see the sights away from the Las Vegas Strip, you'll need to rent a car. No matter where you are in Las Vegas, you can gamble. Check into the player's club cards at any casino to find out what kind of discounts and special deals come with membership. . --Photo by Brett Mathews--

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Author: Terrisa Meeks

Day 1 - Las Vegas

Start your exploration of Las Vegas with the Strip's free curb-side shows, beginning with the dancing waters of the Bellagio's fountains. After the show, explore the inside of the hotel. Be sure to walk through the Conservatory to see what's on display. In the lobby by the front desk, look up to see a Dale Chihuly glass sculpture on the ceiling. Travel north on the Strip to watch the volcano erupt at the Mirage and the pirates and sirens battle at the Treasure Island. Inside the Venetian, you can ride on a gondola. Take a trip Downtown to see the Fremont Street Experience's light show, and don't forget to take a look at the vintage Vegas neon signs of the Neon Museum. A trip to the top of the Stratosphere will give you the highest view of the city outside an airplane, and if you're daring you can try one of the rides. Away from the Strip, experience another side of Southern Nevada with a drive to historic Hoover Dam or to the sandstone cliffs of Red Rock Canyon.

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Fountains at Bellagio

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3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Bellagio Hotel Casino
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

+1 702 693 7111

Bellagio

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Location:

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3600 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

+1 702 693 7111 / +1 888 987 6667

Sirens of TI at the Treasure Island

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Location:

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3300 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

(800) 288-7206

Volcano At The Mirage

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Location:

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3400 Las Vegas Blvd S
The Mirage
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

702.791.7111

Neon Museum & Boneyard

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Location:

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821 Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89101

Phone:

+1 702 387 6366

Stratosphere Tower

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Location:

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2000 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Stratosphere Hotel
Las Vegas, NV 89104

Phone:

+1 702 380 7777 / +1 800 998 6937

Gondola Rides at the Venetian

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Location:

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3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Venetian Hotel
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

+1 702 414 4500

Fremont Street Experience

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Location:

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Fremont Street
Fremont St. (between Main St. and Las Vegas Blvd.), Downtown
Las Vegas, NV 89101

Phone:

+1 702 229 6551

Red Rock Canyon Scenic Byway

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Off Nevada State Route 159
Las Vegas, NV 89124

Phone:

702-515-5000

Day 2 - Las Vegas

Restaurants in Las Vegas have undergone a change in recent years. Inexpensive food was once a staple of the Strip, but new gourmet restaurants have changed that. One thing remains the same: No trip to Las Vegas is complete without visiting a buffet. The Strip's newer buffets pride themselves on originality, quality, and variety, and the Mirage's Cravings Buffet is a good place to see this philosophy at work. Celebrity chefs operate several Las Vegas restaurants, and Bouchon at the Venetian is run by chef Thomas Keller. This French bistro is open for breakfast and dinner. Off the Strip, Rosemary's has received critical acclaim as one of the city's best restaurants. For more casual dining, the Border Grill at Mandalay Bay features Mexican food with a twist (and a terrific view of the pool area). If you're looking for an Old Vegas restaurant, the Golden Steer is the place for you. Open since 1958, its decor and menu have retained their original Vegas ambiance.

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Bouchon

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Location:

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3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S
In The Venetian
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

702/414-6200

Rosemary's Restaurant

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Location:

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8125 W. Sahara
Las Vegas, NV 89117

Phone:

702/869-2251

Mirage Cravings Buffet

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Location:

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3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S
In The Mirage
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

702/791-7111

Border Grill

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Location:

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3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S
In Mandalay Bay
Las Vegas, NV 89115

Phone:

702/632-7403

Golden Steer Steakhouse

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308 West Sahara
Las Vegas, NV 89102

Phone:

702 384 4470

Day 3 - Las Vegas

Las Vegas is synonymous with nightlife. You'll never hear a last call. Shows range from headline acts to Cirque shows, and celebrity-watching is a popular activity at the clubs and casinos. XS at Encore is considered one of Las Vegas' best nightclubs. At the Venetian, Tao doubles as a restaurant and nightclub. At ghostbar, on top of the Palms, you can have a drink and enjoy the view of Las Vegas. If you like a smaller crowd, Blush at the Wynn offers a more intimate atmosphere. Cirque du Soleil has several shows in town, but "O" at the Bellagio remains one of the troupe's most popular Las Vegas shows.

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XS

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3121 Las Vegas Blvd
At Encore Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

(702)770-0097

Tao Nightclub

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Location:

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3355 Las Vegas Boulevard
The Venetian
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

+1 702 388 8338

ghostbar

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Location:

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4321 West Flamingo Road
The Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas, NV 89103

Phone:

+1 702 942 6832

Blush Boutique Nightclub

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Location:

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3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

(702) 770-3633

"O" (Bellagio)

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Location:

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3600 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Phone:

+1 888 488 7111 / +1 702 693 7722

Day 4 - Las Vegas

Las Vegas may be best known as the home of the Strip, but venturing off the beaten path reveals the city's quirky, kitschy roots. Downtown, the classic El Cortez is a great example of what most Las Vegas casinos looked like before volcanoes and pirates arrived. Not far from the El Cortez, the Arts Factory is the epicenter of Las Vegas' emerging Arts District, and you'll find a good dose of Vegas-inspired art work. For a look at Las Vegas history, visit the Atomic Testing Museum. At one time in Las Vegas, watching atomic mushroom clouds was considered very entertaining. Entertainment history is on display at the Liberace Museum, which showcases the sequins and pianos of an early Mr. Vegas. To enjoy Las Vegas' sunny weather, why not try a round of golf? Angel Park, on the west side of the valley, will get you outside and show you what the city looks like away from the Strip.

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