best vacation spot in the usa - las vegas - travel and ledger

Why The Best Vacation Spot In The USA Is Las Vegas

If you are having a hard time deciding where to go on vacation, stop scrolling, I have the answer for you right here. The best vacation spot in the USA is…

VEGAS BABY!

Las Vegas, Nevada is the spot for anybody, yes anybody

Las Vegas has a reputation for being a spot “just for gamblers” and it even has the nickname of “the city of sin.” But, Las Vegas has come a long way since those mobster days. Now, it’s more of an adult Disney World!

Before…

VS

Now…

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There’s things to do for adults as well as children. It’s one of the best family reunion spots, best bachelorette/bachelor party locations, best spring break spots, best birthday celebration spots, best convention locations, best family road trips, best adventure vacation, and the list goes on and on.

Here’s the break down of Vegas by its perks. By the end, I think you will be taking a gamble after Covid and finding yourself on a Vegas getaway.

 

This is the main perk that makes Vegas the best vacation spot in the USA. Everyone can find something to do there.

elvis impersonator las vegas best vacation spot in the usa

THE STRIP TRIP – This is what everyone comes for. The glitz and the glamour of The Strip. You can go into a pyramid, a castle, New York City, Paris, Ceasar’s Palace, etc. The tourist traps are endless.

The major casino chains (Caesars and MGM) are located here and lead from one right into the other. They are hugeeee. The next casino may look like it’s right there in front of you, but that is an optical illusion. It is a walk. I’d even say it’s impossible to do the whole Strip in one day. If you are walking it, I’d say it will take you three days minimum to see all the casinos that are there.

Each casino has its own theme. Most of them transport you to another place or time period. You can spend hours in one and not get bored. There’s so many different kinds of casinos here, everyone in your group will be awestruck by something.

They have trams, a monorail, and moving walkways (travelators) that make the commute between casinos a bit easier. Otherwise, wear comfortable shoes because you will definitely be getting your steps in on this part of Vegas.

(You can rent scooters if you don’t feel like walking!)

The locals will tell you that they stay far away from this part of Las Vegas. However, I love all the tourists. Everyone is on vacation and in a good mood. It’s also fun to watch as the different shifts from different countries arrive into town. One part of the day you will hear all American accents, then you notice everyone is speaking with a British or Irish accent, then you will see a wave of Asians etc, I just love the diversity that this city attracts.

My favorite part of The Strip changes every time I go. Generally speaking, my favorite part would have to be the fact that I can walk from Egypt, to New York, to Italy. I love all the different themes and vibes each casino emanates. You can always find one that fits your mood. For example, The Linq is a party casino so there’s always loud cheers erupting from wins or beer pong while The Mirage is calming and serene with lots of plants and flowers around scenting the air.

Plus, if you know what the casinos don’t want you to know, you can save even more money. Check out the article here.

OLD DOWNTOWN TRIP – This is where the locals hang out when they “go downtown.” Fremont street is covered by a canopy that has a light show going 24/7. The casinos are right next to each other and are much smaller than The Strip’s. You can easily see all of Old Downtown in a day. Where Caesars and MGM are mostly linked together on The Strip (with MGM on the bottom and Caesars towards the top of The Strip), most of the casinos downtown are not associated with each other and have their own loyalty cards. The more the loyalty cards, the more the free play money!

It’s cheaper down here to eat and drink, I mean way cheaper, especially as you wander away from the main part of Fremont Street. Most of the bars and restaurants have been there for years. If only their walls could talk. Some of them are a bit seedy, but they are full of history with old photos of the past. You are definitely walking in some legendary old footsteps down here.

Downtown is THE spot to find a hidden speakeasy. This area has stuff hidden everywhere. Just remember to ask a local first before you start going down every dark alley you see. Just like The Strip, it gets shady when you start going off the beaten path. 

It’s cheaper to gamble down here as well. The table minimums are less, for example there may be $5 blackjack down here, where on The Strip, the minimums are $10 plus depending on the casino.

I like Old Downtown because of all the characters it attracts. It’s all tattoos and street performers down here. Ever wanted to see a man dressed as Marilyn Monroe? Ever not wanted to? This is the spot he will probably show up. There’s a lot of street performers, live bands, and cheap souvenirs all within a few blocks of each other. It’s the perfect spot to stay if you want to be constantly entertained. 

My Favorite part of Old Downtown is Container Park. It’s very futuristic and green friendly, assembled from steel-framed cubes that can easily form a variety of portable configurations. The containers will never end up in a landfill because they can be disassembled and used as other structures. Besides the general environmentally friendly vibe of the open aired park, they also have really cool wall art! The 40 foot tall crazy fire breathing praying mantis that greets you before you enter at night is something I show everyone I bring with me to Vegas. In the middle of the restaurants and boutiques, you’ll find an adult playground, literally. They have jumbo games to play and you can check their schedule for the next free concert.

las vegas club

FAMOUS DJS TRIP – If you want to see your favorite DJ up close, Vegas is the spot! There are multiple new DJs and Special Guests daily! Besides them, you never know who they are going to show up with! Let’s just say there’s few DJs or performers that go to Vegas solo.

My favorite club, Omnia, is set up so that you can get up close and personal with your favorite celebs. Every view in the house is a good one. Their light effects are amazing and they have a huge light chandelier that gives you a crazy experience when you maneuver yourself underneath it and look up. You feel like you are launching into a wormhole into another dimension.  The bottle girls make quite the entrance here and let’s just say it’s always fun to watch.

I have never been to a bad club in Vegas yet, (knock on wood) but I’m sure there are some out there. To avoid this, meet promoters and they will steer you towards the better ones best suited for you. It’s easy to find promoters on social media. Otherwise, once you are in Las Vegas they are usually walking around handing out their business cards. How to find a promoter

Meet as many as you can and find out which clubs they promote at. Check out electronic vegas to see who will be at which venue. Just be careful not to ask two promoters at the same venue to put your name on their guest lists. Vegas is a small town and it won’t go over well. 

local spots las vegas best vacation spot in the usa
Atomic Liquors

LOCAL’S SPOTS TRIP – Maybe you are looking to see what the locals of Las Vegas are all about. Most locals can be found a bit farther from the airport at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa. It’s a beautiful area that overlooks the mountains. Every time I head to Vegas, every local I meet always asks me if I’ve made it out there yet. 

It’s only a 20 minute ride from the airport and it seems that everyone who gambles locally usually tries their luck there. Staying here and sparking up a conversation with locals will give you all the hot spots and old school spots that they love to go to. Rumor has it the payouts are better and the prices are much lower here as well. It’s been explained to me that they get more daily traffic so the machines pay off more often. (Again, It’s a local rumor I’ve heard, but I’ve heard it a number of times so just figured I’d share.) 

buffet food las vegas
Wicked Spoon - Cosmopolitan

FOOD TRIP – When I tell you that Vegas is the spot for food, trust me when I say Vegas is THE SPOT for food no matter what kind of palate you have. The best part is that there’s new restaurants popping up all the time. 

You can have ramen one meal, a buffet for the next, Burger King the next meal, sushi the next meal, porterhouse steak the next meal, foie gras cotton candy the next, and end the day with an egg sandwich. You can find everything you could possibly have a taste for, whenever you have a taste for it.

Just take a look at this list. I can go on for days about food, so I’ll just let you fall down that rabbit hole yourself.

m&m store las vegas

FAMILY TRIP – Vegas isn’t just for adults! There’s a number of things to do with the kids besides just walking around. There’s the M&M Store where you can get any color of M&M you want. Ever wanted to get a family picture on an M&M? You can do it here! There’s a number of candy stores in Vegas that will be sure to keep both parents and kiddos happy.

There’s a number of rides and experiences you can do together. The roller coaster on top of New York New York and the rides on top of The Stratosphere are my favorites. There’s nothing more thrilling than going around on a ride stories up in the air. Have you seen how high up The Stratosphere is? There’s also enough 4-D experiences and other interactive experiences to keep you busy for weeks.

Kid friendly shows have become a thing. Vegas is no longer just topless reviews. You can find any number of shows from magicians to Cirque Du Soleil that kids will enjoy.

Just off the top of my head, I can name 30 museums in Las Vegas! Spend a day checking out museums like Madam Tussauds, the Titanic Exhibit, and the Neon Museum. And let’s not forget the animal exhibits (Flamingos are at The Flamingo, there’s an aquarium in Caesars and Mandalay Bay, Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden, etc.)

stop las vegas

WORK TRIPS – The convention centers are state of the art in Vegas. They offer great group rates and your employees will always be happy to take a trip to Vegas. I found this article to give you an example of what they have to offer. 

There’s plenty of places to use your food per diem credit. Vegas is great for big group seatings too. Groups can easily get together and combine their credits and have an amazing meal. 

It’s easy to get around and Vegas rooms and resorts are very business friendly. There’s electrical outlets and desks scattered throughout the convention level floors.

There is something for everyone in Vegas as well so you won’t have to worry about entertaining your employees.

elvis las vegas
Elvis At The Westgate

MUSEUM & HISTORY TRIP – Las Vegas is scattered with museums and casino memorials! Here’s some of the most popular ones. There’s the Mob Museum,The Atomic Testing Museum, old Vegas celebrity homes, The Discovery Museum, chocolate factories, Bodies The Exhibition, honestly there’s almost a museum for everything. There’s a museum almost everywhere you turn. Make your trip an educational trip and learn all about what Nevada has to offer. There is so much history here that’s more than just The Strip.

high roller the linq las vegas
Highroller - The Linq

ADVENTURE TRIP – Driving out to the Seven Magic Mountains, taking a helicopter ride to the Hoover Dam, taking a group tour of the Grand Canyon, and white water rafting are just a few of the adventures that await you in Las Vegas. 

If you aren’t up for driving that far, there is no end to your options. You can check out the first friday of every month where local artists get together and sell their crafts. You can go to the gun range. Take a hot air balloon ride. Drive a super fast or exotic car. Have a drink in a frozen tundra at the Minus 5 Experience.

So much to do! Even writing this, I forgot about half these things until I sat down and started thinking about it! 

nobu robe las vegas
Nobu Hotel

RELAXATION TRIP The spas are crazy in Vegas. They range from spots like Nobu Hotel within Caesars (which is an all around spa experience from the moment you walk in) to Paris (who just has a spa within it.) There’s all kinds of ways to pamper yourself in Vegas. Multiple resorts offer you robes, so you can even just chill in a robe all day.

Remember that you don’t have to be staying at the resort to use their spa. Set up appointments and spend your day somewhere different each day if you want.

Nobu takes their spa experience seriously. There is even a dress code while staying there. Their rooms are calm and serene with plush beds, large spa-like bathrooms, and rain showers. Meanwhile, their Qua Spa has so many options, they’d take up the whole page to list. 

The Voie Spa & Salon in Paris offers facials, masks, microdermabrasion, body treatments, massages, spray tanning, hair and nail care, etc.

pool party las vegas

POOL PARTY TRIP – Maybe you want to party hard with a celebrity DJ, maybe you just want to lay out and relax, there is a casino for that. Do your research and find out which casino fits best for you. (Ex – Mandalay Bay has a beach, an adult only pool, heated pools, 3 main pools, a lazy river, AND a wave pool on their property, while The Linq has one small intimate pool.)

If you are looking for a crazy party, you will want to stay at MGM. They even had a reality tv show about their pool parties. 

If you are looking to just lay out and tan, maybe you want to stay at Excalibur or another smaller casino that has more of a chill vibe.

Either way, most casinos that have a party area, have a separate area for guest lounging so you will be safe from the spring breakers.

Did you find a kind of Las Vegas vacation that caught your eye? I thought so. Trust me, it’s the best vacation spot!

And those are only the kinds of vacations. Wait until you read what else Vegas has to offer!

Las Vegas is the budget friendly location of your dreams. It’s generally cheap to fly to and the packages are generally pretty affordable. When you sign up for the loyalty cards it gets even better. You can get free play money, free buffets, comped rooms and cheap hotel rates.

You can almost always get a tan in Vegas. It does get really hot in the summer, but otherwise it’s really comfortable. Even though it may be hot outside, all the casinos are air conditioned and most of them are connected to each other. The amount of time you spend outside doesn’t have to be a lot. 

The trams are air conditioned, as are the walkways. Yes, the walkways are air conditioned too! The casinos pump air conditioning out onto the sidewalk to keep people cool. Water misters are all over the place. Even at the pool.

If you aren’t into the heat, there are some cooler months like December where it stays cooler.

As I said, you will be able to find whatever you have a taste for. Fun fact, Did you know alcohol is free when you’re gambling?

BUFFETS – It’s hard to find a bad buffet in Vegas because there is a lot of competition between casinos. 

This is the go-to food destination to please everyone in your group. Picky eaters and gourmet eaters alike will all find something to eat at a buffet.

My favorite buffets are The Wynn & The Wicked Spoon 

The Buffet at Wynn – has an awesome floral display which makes you feel like you’re in Alice’s Wonderland. At any moment a Mad Hatter could come running through with his tea kettles.

the wynn buffet las vegas
Buffet At The Wynn

The food goes on forever. The menu is constantly changing but this is the go to spot for meat and seafood lovers alike. Generally you can expect a salad bar, charcuterie board, soups, pizza, sushi and fish, pasta, meats, seafood, dessert (including a crepe station), etc. 

The most memorable things I saw were plates piled high with crab legs and at least 6 fresh cuts of meat to choose from like filet, italian sausage, prime rib, and pork belly.

The Wicked Spoon – is filled with unique food artwork. It has a chic design that matches the artistic quality of the casino it’s located in, The Cosmopolitan. 

This spot is for the foodie of foodies. The majority of things are served in individual portions as complete dishes! Have you ever wanted to try squid ink pasta, bone marrow, or truffle fries? This is the spot. Their menu is constantly changing and every time I have gone I have never been disappointed. 

Generally you can expect individualized items like gourmet salads, sushi rolls, gourmet homemade pastas, gourmet seafood dishes, desserts (including a gourmet sorbet station) in addition to a salad bar, charcuterie board, soups, pizza, sushi and fish, pasta, meats, seafood, dessert, etc. 

The most memorable things I saw besides all the gourmet options were the presentations of chicken wings in mini fryer baskets and rice in Asian paper to go boxes! 

My biggest buffet tip is to go towards the last hour of lunch. This way you get in for the lunch price but get to have lunch and dinner options! 

CELEBRITY CHEF RESTAURANTS – Celebrity Chef Restaurants are popping up all over Vegas. There’s new one’s every time I go. The chances are, your favorite chef has a spot out there. 

My favorite celebrity chef out there is Guy Fieri. I try to get one of his burgers every time I’m in town! His restaurants all just scream Vegas Baby!  

guy fieri las vegas
Guy Fieri's

RESTAURANT SCENE – Romantic spots, Wine and Cheese spots, Fast food spots, Burger joints, Party spots, Family spots, Dinner theater, Strip Clubs, etc, whatever scene you can think of, they have it out there.

Other cities are starting to bring their brands to Vegas as well. You can have a New York City steak at Smith and Wollensky or a West Hollywood fish dish at Catch.

parasol down the wynn las vegas
Parasol Down - The Wynn

COFFEE CHAINS – Don’t worry caffeine addicts! Coffee is everywhere! My favorite, Starbucks, is in almost every casino on The Strip! There’s also a number of pop up coffee shops and espresso bars that will fill any kind of coffee cravings. The free coffee the casinos offer is pretty darn good as well. Don’t be shy, ask for a mocha!

las vegas coffee

QUICK BITES – These are everywhere. Fast food chains are all over the place. They even have a White Castle in the middle of The Strip! Generally, every casino has its own version of a quick bite cafe.

24/7 FOOD OPTIONS – Been gambling all day and you realize it’s already 11pm? Don’t worry, somewhere is open. You may need to walk over to a neighboring cafe, but something is open. Most of the 24/7 spots serve breakfast all day also!

Head to the Coca Cola Store  and do a tasting of Coca Cola from all over the world. There is a number of whiskey and wine tastings you can do that change on the daily. Go for a chocolate tasting at Ethel M. Cannabis tastings could be your thing. Head for a scooter food tasting tour. New experiences are popping up all the time. 

Everyone should add a Vegas show to their bucket-list. The level of creativity and artistics is unparalleled. With shows like Blue Man Group, magic shows, topless reviews, and comedians, you will be able to find a show for any kind of vacation.

beatles cirque due soleil

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL – These shows are a must see. They take the word “circus” to a whole other level. This is not your average juggler or acrobat. This show is impossible to put into words. They invoke a feeling, and emotion, that you will never forget.

las vegas magazines

CELEBRITY SINGERS AND IMPERSONATORS – Celebrity singers are showing up in Vegas now more than ever. The venues are not these big stadium spots or festivals that you may be used to. They are more intimate theaters where every seat in the house is a good one! You may get lucky and even catch on just performing out on the street.

big elvis las vegas

FREE SHOWS – You don’t have to pay to watch a show. You may not know this, but most casinos have a free show or photo opportunity. For Example, The Golden Nugget has the Hand Of Faith golden nugget (which was the second largest gold nugget to be found) which you can take a picture with at the casino. The Venetian has a number of street performers who sing classic opera. Caesars has the Fall Of Atlantis show with 9 foot statues that perform with fire and water animatronics. There’s also a number of live bands playing in casino bars and outside amphitheaters. Fremont Street is all bars with bands. Etc.

million dollar picture las vegas

There’s plenty of things to do for the gym rat. Most casinos have a fitness center that is included with your resort fee. If you get tired of the gym, there’s still a number of things to do all around Las Vegas. You can go rock climbing, do yoga with dolphins, visit another casino’s fitness center, or even go for a hike. 

It’s easy to catch a cab or Uber here. They each have designated areas which makes it easy to find them. Generally the cabs are in the front of the casino and the Ubers are in the back. With all the escalators and moving sidewalks, you may not even need to catch a cab. There’s multiple shuttles between casinos, as well as a tram you can pay to take. If buses are your thing, there’s a bus that goes up and down The Strip and some of them are open aired so you can take in all the views while you travel.

If you do get tired of walking. There’s multiple motorized vehicles you can rent. There are constantly new ones popping up so take a look at what is the latest gizmo before you go. My favorite is the motorized scooters that you see all over Vegas with the driver sporting a fancy drink cup. 

SO, did I convince you that Las Vegas is the best vacation spot in the USA????

It’s the kind of place you can go for three days and go so hard that you are utterly exhausted, or you can go for ten days and feel like you should have booked for longer because you were so relaxed the whole time. 

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The Bellagio

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