No other city does excess quite like Las Vegas. Sin City’s famous Strip is its dynamic heart, where everything is big and bright – behemoth hotels, shopping malls and replicas of famous world landmarks are wedged between the neon lights of glitzy casinos that beckon travellers to put everything on the table.
Things to do
Be sure to check out the Bellagio Fountains light show and get bang for your buck at one of the many casino buffet restaurants. It’s a great place to make friends over some very reasonably priced margaritas.
Fancy yourself a nostalgia buff? Head to the Neon Museum – a collection of more than 150 neon signs that have been retired from iconic casinos such as the Sahara, Stardust, Riviera and the Golden Nugget, ranging from the 1930s to the present.
Behind most signs is a unique story about the person who created it, where and when it was made and its role in Vegas’s colourful history. The museum is only accessible via a guided tour – pick the night-time one to see the signs all lit up.
Be a high roller in more ways than one, inside your own private glass capsule on the High Roller – the world’s tallest observation wheel. Spinning 168 metres above the Vegas skyline, this landmark is connected to The LINQ’s outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment promenade. Hire a private capsule for your party of 40 or just you and your one someone special, complete with open bar and 360-degree views over the city.
Dining
At Serendipity 3 ice creamery at Caesar’s Palace, lash out and order the Golden Opulence Sundae, made with rare ice cream and chocolate, topped with edible 23-carat gold leaf. At US$1000 a pop, it was listed in the Guinness World Records as the most expensive sundae in the world in 2007.
Wellness
While outrageous decadence and mischievous adventures are certainly the norm, there’s balance offered here too, with some great day spa, detox clinics, healthy cafes and workout spaces to be found. This multifaceted city is actually rife in health and wellness. If you’re seeking a brief respite from the exhilarating chaos or have always been keen to travel here but thought it wasn’t for you, there are plenty of alternative forms of fun that come without the hangover aftermath.
