Las Vegas, Nevada
The allure of Las Vegas was built on the thrill of cashing in, beginning with the mining boom of the 1800s and continuing with a wave of casinos that shaped the local gambling industry. While some of the neon marquees were replaced by giant LED video screens and others are preserved at the Neon Museum, Vegas remains a place where anything can happen. Go home up a jackpot—or have fun trying.
Yet Sin City isn’t quite as naughty as it used to be. It’s grown at a rapid pace and evolved into a place families live as well as visit. The NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights opened the door to the community becoming a major-league sports town (once believed to be incompatible with betting) and the NFL’s Raiders followed suit with Allegiant Stadium, which has already hosted one Super Bowl and has another on the way (in 2029).
World-Class Dining
You don’t see buffets and shrimp cocktail as often these days, but Vegas restaurants compete with the very best in the world, prompting the Michelin guide to make a long-awaited return in 2026. The Strip’s indulgent dining lineup (featuring the likes of boldface names such as Gordon Ramsay, José Andrés, and Lisa Vanderpump) is equal parts sizzle and spectacle, but Las Vegas also has one of the most underrated Chinatowns in the country, while the up-and-coming Downtown Arts District is full of independent bars and restaurants with cool cred.
If you can’t decide, book a night with Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, a walking restaurant crawl that serves up signature dishes with a little history mixed in.
Rooms with a View
The views are incredible, especially from elevated vantage points, including the Legacy Club cocktail lounge on the 60th floor of the Circa hotel tower and The LINQ High Roller observation wheel on the Strip. But the city’s inescapable glow might be best enjoyed with a stroll down the Fremont Street Experience, which includes the energy and lights of historic casinos, such as the Four Queens and Golden Gate. Balance out that urban exploring with an outdoor adventure to the Valley of Fire’s colorful sandstone peaks or the waters of Lake Mead, created by the Hoover Dam. Or visit ghost towns in Rhyolite and Nelson for a full-circle moment to relive where that 1800s mining boom began.
