Set in the Nevada desert, the city of Las Vegas claims to be The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous for its casino resorts with fantastic entertainment including performances from major stars and shows. It boasts some the best restaurants, from great value huge fantastic buffets to the very best in fine dining.
This really is the party capital of the area, open 24 hours a day, for those who can keep up the pace and it is not just restricted to gambling.
It also has plenty of attractions and shows for families too. From Adventure dome, America's largest indoor themed park, to the aquarium or the natural history museum, there is plenty to keep the family entertained.
Its great place to explore sites such as the world famous hoover dam, drive through red rock canyon or take a scenic breath taking flight over the Grand Canyon.
Established in 1905, Las Vegas officially became a city in 1911. The city's tolerance for various forms of adult entertainment (mainly gambling) earned it the title of Sin City, and this image has made Las Vegas a popular setting for films and television programs. There are numerous displays of this on Fremont Street as well as other areas in the city.
Unlike most other parts of the USA, car hire is not a must, but it is worth hiring one to explore the surrounding area at your pace, rather than the pace of a tour group.
To get the best of Las Vegas we suggest you stay in a named hotel on the Las Vegas strip, so you are a walk away from most entertainment. For the more budget conscious, some hotels away from the strip do offer better value.
Las Vegas is situated in Clark County in the Nevada desert surrounded by mountains. The Spring Mountains lie to the west. Most of the landscape is rocky and dusty and the environment is dominated by desert vegetation and some wildlife. The city has a total area of 135.86 sqmi (351.9 km2), of which 131.81 sqmi (341.4 km2) is land and 0.05 sqmi (0.13 km2) (0.03%) is water.
Normally in the summer months of June through to September are hot and mostly dry, with average daytime highs of 94 to 104 °F (34 to 40 °C) and night-time lows of 69–78 °F (21–26 °C). Normally humidity is very low, often under 10%.
Normally winters are of short and the season is generally mild, with daytime highs near 60 °F (16Â °C) and nighttime lows around 40 °F (4Â °C).
Yes it does rain very occasionally in Las Vegas, mainly in the winter. Expect annually around 4.5Â in (110Â mm) rain, which on average occurs roughly around 29 days per year.
