Places to Visit & Things to Do in Las Vegas
A luminous up-all-night playground where the world’s most iconic sights in replica sit shoulder to shoulder with legendary casinos and daredevil amusement rides, Vegas is packed with plenty to see and do – much of which can be found on the four-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard known as the Strip.
Sights & Attractions in Las Vegas
The bright lights of Las Vegas’ Strip are an attraction in their own right, so it’s only right to start at the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign to take them in. Then forget international flights: in Las Vegas, you can take an international tour in an hour – visit the half-scale Eiffel Tower, the New York skyline and the Venetian waterways. The landmarks are supersized too, take in the Bellagio Water Show, the High Roller, Vegas’s 550-feet-tall Ferris wheel, and the STRAT hotel, the tallest freestanding observation tower in the US – complete with thrilling rides. If you love dizzying heights, get your adrenaline pumping with a SlotZilla zipline down the Fremont Street Experience. Or, if you’re after a traditional Las Vegas experience, get your bets ready and visit one of the grand hotel casinos at ARIA, Caesars Palace, or Bellagio.
Art & Culture in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is brimming with performance and spectacle. Start with the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art featuring a rotating cast of artists, previously exhibiting the likes of Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. Next, stroll along the strip to find ARIA Fine Art Collection which offers plentiful opportunity to visit famous artworks, sculptures and site-specific installations within the hotel. When it comes to entertainment, there’s a staggering six shows on offer by the spectacular Cirque du Soleil with performances taking place in hotels and casinos across the city. Or, catch the latest Broadway shows, Nevada Ballet Theatre performances and Las Vegas Philharmonic concerts at the Art-Deco inspired Smith Centre for the Performing Arts. A more intimate venue, the Brooklyn Bowl, hosts artists of all sizes, and the T-Mobile Arena is equipped for boxing, hockey and basketball, as well as international music tours.
Shopping in Las Vegas
For a unique Las Vegas shopping experience, window shop via gondola at the Grand Canal Shoppes in The Venetian Resort. Then discover speciality dining alongside boutiques and luxury brands in The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and Fashion Show Mall. When it comes to outlet shopping, you’ll be spoilt for choice at both the north and south ends of the Strip, find brands like Prada, Versace, and the New York Diamond Exchange for a fraction of their retail price. For the finest luxury brands, visit The Shops at Crystals, with brands like Cartier, Bulgari and Valentino. Or, for a taste of local life, try out the Downtown Container Park, the farmers’ market at Downtown Summerlin, or Town Square, a retail park that combines child-friendly activities with shopping and public parks. Town Square.
Food & Drink in Las Vegas
Celebrity chefs and fine-dining enthusiasts have flocked to Las Vegas in recent years. Emeril Lagasse, Michael Mina, Wolfgang Puck and Gordon Ramsay all have restaurants in the heart of the city, meaning there is no shortage of quality dishes. The MGM Grand has arguably the highest-rated restaurant in Las Vegas, serving French cuisine under the capable instruction of Joël Robuchon – there’s no accolade he hasn’t received.
Consider making a reservation at Lago at the Bellagio, or Carbone at ARIA, both of which take an elevated approach to Italian food. Las Vegas’s rising stars, though, can be found Downtown. VegeNation, Hugo’s Cellar and Saltgrass Steakhouse are among the highest recommended in the area. Come nightfall, visit the talented mixologists at Skyfall Lounge in Delano at Madalay Bay for a cocktail with a view, or Skybar at Waldorf Astoria, both of which are known for their speciality hand-crafted cocktails and dramatic interiors.
Unique to Las Vegas
There’s a lot of glitz and glamour in Las Vegas, but the city also provides an educational background to the unique and often formative aspects of the city. If you started your visit with a trip to the Welcome sign, it only makes sense to visit the Neon Boneyard, a museum dedicated to preserving the history of sign design. Take a trip one evening to see them illuminated in all their former glory.
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The Hotel Collection (THC): The Hotel Collection (THC) benefits are available for new bookings of two consecutive nights or more, with participating properties, made through Platinum Travel Service, Centurion Travel Service or American Express Travel Online (americanexpress.com.au/travel or americanexpress.com.au/thc; Online bookings currently only available to Primary Card Members. Bookings are valid only for eligible Card Members of the following American Express Cards: American Express® Rewards Advantage Card, American Express® Explorer Credit Card, American Express® Platinum Reserve Credit Card, American Express® Gold Card, American Express® Gold Business Card, American Express® Business Gold Plus Card, American Express® Platinum Card, American Express® Platinum Business Card and American Express® Centurion Card. Excludes Gold Credit Card Members who are not also Australian Rewards Advantage, Gold or Platinum Charge Card Members. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express® Card, in the eligible Card Member's name, and that Card Member must be travelling on the itinerary booked to be eligible for benefits described. Noon check-in, late check-out and the room upgrade are subject to availability; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The type of US$100 credit and additional amenity (if applicable) varies by property; the US$100 credit will be applied to eligible charges up to US$100. To receive the US$100 credit, the eligible spend must be charged to your hotel room. The US$100 credit will be applied at check-out. Advance reservations are recommended for certain credits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay). Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional THC benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke the THC benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your THC benefits. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in US Dollars or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and amenities at those properties are subject to change. To be eligible for THC program benefits, your eligible Card Account must not be cancelled. For additional information, call the number on the back of your Card.
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