Paradise

When people talk about a "vacation in Las Vegas," they usually actually mean Paradise: the famous Strip with its mega-resorts, the airport, and the Sphere all lie almost entirely in this unincorporated area just south of the city limits. A trip to Paradise means shows, casinos, top restaurants, and nights that never quite get dark. For a city break with excursions into the desert of the Southwest, the Strip is the classic starting point.

Why the Strip Isn't in Las Vegas

In the 1940s and 1950s, entrepreneurs deliberately built their casino hotels outside the Las Vegas city limits to avoid the city's taxes and regulations. When Las Vegas wanted to annex the area, the hotel owners established the "town" of Paradise in 1950 as an unincorporated area administered by Clark County. This is how Las Vegas Boulevard South grew into the Strip: from the Flamingo, opened by the gangster Bugsy Siegel, through the era of Frank Sinatra, to the themed resorts of the 1990s.

Sights on the Strip

The fountain show in front of the Bellagio dances to music in the evenings, while inside, a conservatory with seasonally changing displays is in bloom. The Venetian with its canals and gondolas, Paris with its replica Eiffel Tower, Caesars Palace with its Roman statues, and the pyramid-shaped Luxor show off the imagination of the builders. The Sphere, a giant LED globe, has been a landmark since 2023 and hosts concerts and immersive films. The High Roller, one of the tallest Ferris wheels in the world, offers views over the Strip, and the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign at the south end is a must-have photo. Shows by Cirque du Soleil, magicians, and major music stars fill the evenings.

Eating and Going Out

The restaurants in Paradise are among the most diverse in the US: celebrity chefs from around the world run steakhouses and fine-dining restaurants in the resorts, and the huge buffets are legendary as well. Nightclubs with star DJs, pool parties in summer, and cocktail bars with views over the lights define the nightlife. Away from the Strip, neighborhoods such as Winchester, with its residential areas and the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as the area around Spring Mountain Road with Chinatown and Filipino Town, offer a more authentic picture with Asian restaurants, bakeries, and karaoke bars.

Beyond the Casinos

Paradise has quieter places too. The UNLV campus is home to the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, and Clark County Wetlands Park to the east offers hiking trails and bird-watching in the desert. Families relax at Sunset Park, with its pond and picnic areas. If you love art, you'll find galleries and installations in the big resorts, such as the light art in the hotels along the Strip or the Botanical Garden at the Bellagio, which is redesigned five times a year.

Getting Around, When to Go, and Day Trips

Harry Reid International Airport lies directly east of the Strip and can be reached in just a few minutes. The Monorail runs behind the hotels, and the Deuce bus connects the Strip with Downtown around the clock; many walks between resorts are long despite looking close. The best times to visit are spring and fall; in summer, temperatures climb above 100°F. The Raiders play at Allegiant Stadium, and since 2023 Formula 1 has raced down the Strip. Day trips lead to Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire, and the Grand Canyon.