Must-See Attractions in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — shiny and sultry in the desert of Nevada, there is no other city that can compare to Las Vegas. Known for its elaborate casinos, huge name entertainment and giant experiences, it's a place where there's always excitement to be had. The action takes place on the notoriously debauched Las Vegas Strip, but there's more to the city than gambling and night life. Here's what to understand about some of the vital differences that do make Sin City one.

1. Las Vegas Strip

If you don’t plan to walk on the Las Vegas Strip, your Las Vegas trip will be not complete. The Las Vegas Strip is a 4-mile long road which has a lot of hotels, casinos and breathtaking attractions along side. A lot of famous hotels of long histories are there, including Bellagio with charming fountain performances, Caesars Palace with Romanesque style. Theatrics include a volcanic eruption show at the Mirage, it's an evolving adult theme park.

2. Fremont Street

For a different kind of rush, visitors can hang out beneath the retrofitted LED canopy of the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas. This pedestrian-only space is shaded by an enormous LED canopy, under which nightly shows fuse light and sound to turn the zone into a psychedelic wonderland. Free concerts, taking off over the crowd in a zip line and vintage casinos such as the Golden Nugget contribute to the old-school Vegas feel. It is a grittier, less cosmopolitan counterpart to the groomed Strip.

3. Natural Scenes

And beyond the glitz and glam, nature lovers will have their breath taken away by the stunning landscapes that are just a short hop outside the city. Two hours northeast, Red Rock Canyon's spectacular bluff sandstone cliffs and hiking trails are a paradoxical geometric foil to the urbane hyperbole. At the same time, the Hoover Dam, as an architectural miracle above the Colorado River, offers you a fascinating traveling experience. The travelers can pay a visit to the interior space of the Hoover Dam. If you want to experience an extraordinary atmosphere, why not go to the Valley of Fire State Park where you can see the scarlet rock formations.

3. Eating Experiences

And, naturally, Las Vegas is a foodie's dream. From modernist celebrity chef spots (Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen) to all you-can-eat at Bacchanal (Caesars Palace), dining options here are events in their own right. For something wacky, visit the Heart Attack Grill, which serves calorie-laden food in a hospital environment with waitstaff clad in nurse outfits.

4. Entertaining Shows

Vegas is a kingdom of entertainment and its shows are unparalleled. Cirque du Soleil's “O” at Bellagio (a water-based wonder) and Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay are visual spectaculars, and when it comes to music, residencies from stars like Adele and Bruno Mars keep things electric. Those who like risqué comedy will not want to miss Absinthe, a raunchy, circus-like show that has developed something of a cult following.

5. The High Roller

If you’re itching for a bird’s-eye of all that neon jungle, take a spin on the High Roller, which was 550 feet high and the tallest observation wheel in the world. At night, the city sparkles below you in a sea of neon, yet another throbbing reminder that it really is true what they say about there being no such thing as night time in this town.

Be it for a high-stakes game of chance, a spectacle of a show, a natural wonder or the simple relief of being a long, long way from wherever you're from, there's no way to have a boring time in Las Vegas. It is criminal to feel like this city where reality bends and every moment has the structure of the scene of a film. So ante up, raise a glass and get in on the action — Vegas, we are on our way.