Las Vegas

On our way from Grand Canyon we stopped at the famous Hoover Dam, and from there it was just a short drive to Las Vegas! I was really excited about spending a few days here as I had already been to Vegas four years earlier. A few things had actually changed; a couple of hotels were no longer there and it was a lot warmer this time. July is a very hot month in the desert and from my personal experiences, I would probably say that May/June is the perfect months to visit Las Vegas.

The major attractions to find in this city are hotels and casinos. The most famous hotel casinos are located on Las Vegas Boulevard, also known as the Las Vegas Strip. As this is the place to stay then of course we had to as well, and while we were in San Diego we booked two hotel rooms at Sahara Hotel and Casino. We had a GPS in our rented car and had no problems finding the hotel and it was so nice to think that we were just going to relax by the pool for the next few days. One thing I have to mention about this hotel is the location. It is located fairly far down on the Strip and it is therefore quite a track to walk up to the more famous hotels, which is where everything is happening. So if you are going to Vegas, just think about where your hotel is located, because it took a while to walk up the Strip in 45 degrees Celsius.

The hotels down the Strip are known for more than just their casinos. It is actually very entertaining to walk the Strip as the hotels have shows that you can witness from the streets. Bellagio has a great fountain show every night with a combination of music, water and light. It is absolutely spectacular and the show is every 15 minutes so you can’t miss it. The Mirage hotel is another entertainment hotel which is famous for its volcano. You can feel the heat as the lava is coming out of the volcano. This show is amazing and starts on the hour.

These were just a couple of examples of what to see down the Strip, but it is so much more. Vegas have an atmosphere like nowhere else and a city everyone should visit during their lifetime. You can relax during the day and party, gamble or see a show in the evening. The shopping possibilities are also very good. This is another city in America that never sleeps.

We were spending 4^th of July in Las Vegas and because this is Americas Independence Day, we decided we should celebrate as well. We then ended up seeing The Magic and Tigers of Rick Thomas at Sahara hotel. I had never seen a magician before and I really liked the show.

When the show was finished, Kjell Steinar and I decided to take a trip to downtown Las Vegas. It was just a short bus ride away where we passed several drive thru wedding chapels. The downtown area was the focal point of the city’s gaming industry in its early days. Downtown is centered on Freemont Street and several films have been shot here. Freemont Street is also now famous for its state-of-the-art sound system, and we got to experience We will Rock You with Queen while we were there. I would definitely recommend visiting downtown while in Las Vegas.

I had a great time in Vegas and after a few days there it was time for our last stop in America, and on our around the world trip. There is a lot to do in Vegas, but I would say that the most important thing to remember if you’re visiting Vegas during the summer is sunscreen and a lot of water. 

All of the pictures are my own.