The neon Strip in the Mojave Desert
Las Vegas is pure spectacle: a four-mile Strip of themed casino resorts, from the fountains of the Bellagio to the Venetian's indoor canals and the pyramid of the Luxor. Evenings are for residency shows, Cirque du Soleil productions and restaurants run by famous chefs, while downtown's Fremont Street keeps the older neon of the city's early days. Beyond the lights, Red Rock Canyon and the Hoover Dam are short drives away, and the city makes a practical starting point for road trips to Zion and the Grand Canyon.