Discovering Las Vegas with iBestTravel
The perennial adult playground of the USA, Las Vegas is famous for its bright lights, dice, and indulgences. However, there is more to this gem in the Nevada desert than just glitz and slot machines.
Moreover, locals have created individual neighborhoods that provide cultural offerings beyond the typical Las Vegas tropes. Therefore, take your time to explore each one rather than rush through at a hectic pace. Las Vegas’s neighborhoods are worth your time, offering diverse experiences.
Downtown
Best Neighborhood for Vintage Vegas
With retro casinos, the vibrant Arts and Fremont East Entertainment districts, cool museums, and free entertainment galore, a visit or stay in Downtown is the perfect antidote for all Strip-related maladies. It is a great place to base yourself if the Strip does not appeal to you. The area’s collection of old-school casinos usually offers good-quality rooms at ridiculously low rates that will make you never want to stay in a hostel again.
Walking west on Fremont takes you along the Fremont Street Experience; you can’t miss Slotzilla greeting you upon arrival. South of here is the loosely organized Arts District, and walking east brings you into the Fremont Street East Entertainment Precinct, filled with interesting bars, restaurants, and community galleries. If you’re a fan of vintage shopping, you will find racks of bowling shirts and neon signs on the myriad shops on Main St. A must-visit is the Mob Museum – Las Vegas’s old federal courthouse repurposed to house a cutting-edge collection of mob memorabilia and the history of organized crime in early America.
However, steer clear of the area east of the Container Park and north of the Interstate, as instances of street crime can be more common at night. By sticking to well-lit tourist areas, you should be just fine.
Summerlin
Best Neighborhood for Outdoor Adventures
If you’re enthralled by Las Vegas, but the Strip makes you a little anxious, Summerlin is the place for you. Consider making the Red Rock Casino or the area around Downtown Summerlin your base, which is less than a 10-minute drive from the stunning Red Rock Canyon, the crown jewel of the Las Vegas Valley.
This part of town boasts a selection of comfortable accommodations and a wealth of excellent restaurants spanning a variety of genres and tastes, from casual alfresco dining to high-end country club experiences.
Summerlin might not be your go-to for your entire stay in Vegas, but it is definitely worth considering spending a night here, especially when the rowdiness of the Strip begins to wear you down and you need a break filled with nature or a meal that does not come with an exorbitant price tag. If comfort is what you seek without the hype, Summerlin doesn’t skimp on fine dining, quality accommodations, or natural beauty.
The Strip
The Best Neighborhood for Sensory Overload
The Strip serves as Vegas’ entertainment central—a hub in a vortex of limitless potential where almost anything goes, and time feels elastic. It can be dizzying with endless sales pitches: some guests get lucky, while many end up having such a good time they scarcely mind losing some cash. Magic radiates from this 4.2-mile stretch of earthly delights, but finding yours can be tricky due to the ceaseless distractions.
Vegas is notorious for its audacious recreations of global landmarks: Egyptian pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, Venetian canals—you can travel the world without changing time zones or leaving the Strip. Start at the iconic Caesars Palace, and you will quickly realize you’re in Vegas. Take time to enjoy the atmosphere of Ancient Rome, then make your way to the LINQ Promenade, where you can take a breather with various dining options before deciding between venturing north towards Venice or south to Mandalay Bay.
If luck is on your side, treat yourself to some retail therapy. Shopping here varies from the sublime to the ridiculous, featuring various human luxuries. If you didn’t hit it big, explore excellent discount merchandise at Las Vegas Premium Outlets North and South.
East of the Strip
The Best Neighborhood for a Local Experience
Discovering the areas east rewards eager explorers with profound insights into what makes Vegas tick. Here, you won’t find many stereotypical Vegas sights; instead, you’ll encounter collections of vintage pinball machines and rock-and-roll memorabilia, alongside glimpses into the city’s intriguing atomic past. Moreover, you’ll discover affordable eats, bars where locals mix, and a vibrant LGBTIQ+ scene.
This neighborhood encapsulates the essence of locals’ Vegas—theirs is a world apart from the ‘anything goes’ mentality that dominates the Strip.
While the Pinball Hall of Fame and the National Atomic Testing Museum are notable attractions, sights here are otherwise few. This is where you come to grasp ‘real-life’ Las Vegas—the lives of the majority of its inhabitants. Keep an open mind and a friendly demeanor to truly appreciate what’s on offer.
West of the Strip
The Best Neighborhood for Oases in the Desert
This zone west of the Strip may be somewhat challenging to define, but you can get a good feel for it by visiting the Rio during the day and heading to the patio of the VooDoo Rooftop Nightclub for spectacular views of the Strip and the Las Vegas Valley.
A great starting point is the famous Palms Casino, recently revitalized with upgraded rooms, the hot new Kaos nightclub and pool venue, as well as excellent celebrity-chef-driven restaurants. With a sky-high zipline, and the unique offerings of Chinatown Plaza, this neighborhood is poised to rival the Strip.
Avoid walking between attractions, as they are often not close to each other. When the casino buzz becomes overwhelming, take a stroll through the beautiful desert gardens at the Springs Preserve. These meticulously maintained botanical gardens offer a tranquil escape from the neon chaos.
