Las Vegas

Eco-friendly travel guide to Las Vegas advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America.

Air quality: 3 / 5

Exploring by foot: 4 / 5

Exploring by bicycle: 4 / 5

Public transportation: 3.9 / 5

Parks: 4.5 / 5

Outdoor activities: 4.7 / 5

Locals' English level: 5 / 5

Safety: 3.65 / 5

Accommodation: US$30 - $800

Budget per day: US$90 - $1,000

Responsible Travel

Fondly referred to as the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas is the largest city in the state of Nevada in the United States of America, and it's primarily known all over the world for its nightlife, entertainment, fine dining, shopping, and gambling. Hearts get pumped and endorphins flow with joy and excitement when the idea of a trip to Las Vegas comes to a positive prospect because Las Vegas is a city where boredom is far dunked in the oblivion. Offering everything from gourmet restaurants and an epic club scene to jaw-dropping architecture and around-the-clock gambling, Las Vegas marks its recognition of being "America's Playground", and as well one of the most iconic, exciting, and famous cities all over the world. Sin City, as it's called by many, provides any kind of vacation you can think of as it boasts being an internationally renowned major resort city, and eco-friendly visitors who'll be coming to have a taste of what this Nevada's hotspot offers would find it pertinent to fill-up themselves with a couple of things that will help them travel responsibly.

Avoid Strip traffic by using alternate routes: Traffic on the Strip can be mind-boggling. If you'll be driving, it's advisable that you use alternative routes to escape the Strip traffic because there's often congestion from the Fashion Show Mall to Mandalay Bay; Las Vegas Boulevard from Spring Mountain to Russell. You can take the Industrial Road aka Dean Martin Drive on the west side and Paradise or Koval on the east side of the Strip. Dino’s way boasts easy access to Mandalay Bay, Excalibur, Cosmopolitan, the T-Mobile Arena, and Caesars Palace, and Koval has direct entrances into the MGM, the Linq, Harrah’s, and Venetian.
Use the Public Transportation: It's a great option to avoid the traffic around the Strip. 24 hours a day from the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard to Downtown, the double-decker Deuce buses run, and the Strip is well-served by public transportation. However, you should take note that the ceilings are low and you should be careful to watch your head if you're trying to catch a glimpse of the great view offered at the top level. With a detour to the Las Vegas Convention Center and running along the Strip from Sahara to Tropicana, be informed that the Las Vegas Monorail is likely the fastest means of travel.
Give Room for Waiting Time for Cabs: Allow waiting time for cabs, especially if you'll be going to an important occasion or a popular show in town. At least, 30 minutes, you should put that into consideration if you'll be waiting for a cab, especially you're planning to go to an event that draws thousands of people, a concert, or a convention.
You can’t hail a taxi on the street: Be informed that picking up and dropping off passengers in designated areas is what ride-sharing services and taxis are allowed to do – according to the city's law, and it's considered to be a rookie mistake if you're trying to hail a cab on the street in the city. And, this simply means that to get anywhere in the city, you'll have no choice but to join an often incredibly long queue of riders. With this, you'll find it more glaring why you should always give waiting room for cabs as we explained above, especially if you're leaving after a show just finished, or you're out trying to get somewhere during peak dinner times.
Don’t get long-hauled: In Las Vegas, it's a usual thing to get long hauled by cab drivers who want to make odd money from newbies in the city and what they usually do is to increase the fare is by taking a longer route than necessary. So, once you're in a cab and the driver pops the question "is this is your first visit to Vegas?", be aware that he has the tendency of using that long hauling trick on you, and without you stressing over the response "yes" or "no", just keep yourself in au courant by being versed with the route you want the driver to take, and for this, you should have mapped your destination before you get in the cab. Most times, cab drivers play this trick when they pick up visitors from the airport and instead of them taking the more scenic shorter route with local streets, they'll get you to spend an additional $10 by taking the longer route which gets on the highway.
Use Ride Share Service: It's a very good option to opt-in for if you're going somewhere and you want to get there as fast as you can. More so, they tend to be cheap and offer convenient transport to places like Downtown Express (SDX), the Strip, and downtown.
Stay hydrated and use your sunscreen: If you don't want to pay $4 for a bottle from the minibar, learn to keep a bottle of water on your hotel nightstand because you're likely to wake up thirsty if you don't drink or sweat for this is the desert. Keeping your fluids up is quite important, especially if you'll be going on an excursion because you’ll get dehydrated on even a short walk around, and one thing you definitely don't want to do is to be without a bottle of water and sunscreen. The sun shines here come fall or winter - more reason why you should put your sunscreen to use.

Air Quality and Pollution

Las Vegas's air is reported to be among the worst in the United States of America and this is contained in an annual air quality report released by the American Lung Association (ALA). For ozone pollution, the city ranked 13th most polluted city in the nation, and further reports state that the city's air quality worsened for ozone, particle pollution. The backdrop to the unhealthy air quality in Las Vegas is set by the fast-growing population, minimal precipitation, and high temperatures. More so, ozone precursor pollutants and harmful levels of PM2.5 are emitted into the city's air by direct culprits such as industrial emissions, construction, and transportation. One can as well relate the city's poor air quality to the climatic condition; rainfall is often scarce in Las Vegas and if it hadn't been so, there's a probability that the weather effects like rain and wind would be tamping down pollution dispersed into the atmosphere.

Respect the Culture

Once you step into this city, get ready for nonstop entertainment and pure, American-style debauchery. Las Vegas is a place for escapists; what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and it does keep to its promise of keeping your vacation secrets whilst it receives high traffic from people who have the urge to release their inhibitions. Las Vegas is a city where fun is brimming at almost all corners and one of the ways you can respect the culture and customs of this city is not to "burn the locals." Some people tend to see Las Vegas as a tissue to be used and tossed away and the locals, as flunkies or a sitcom audience. This is not good at all and you shouldn't be found playing along with other tourists who take pleasure in doing this.

Most times, good behavior gets overlooked, and while we all know this is a town where people come to blast through a wild weekend, there's nothing; nothing at all, stopping you from minding your manners and being nice to the locals. With genuinely warm greeting, relate well with people around you, and do well to drop a tip every now and then. In this light, it's important that you keep an open mind if you'll be coming to Las Vegas - just breathe and go with the flow because everyone already knows Las Vegas to be an unadulterated adult paradise. However, this necessarily doesn't mean you should do what you don't want to do. And, you should as well keep yourself composed, smart, well-dressed, and well-behaved because no matter how wild things may go, good behavior is expectant of people who patronize the club or casinos, and you'll be gladly thrown out if you behave badly.

Top 10 Places to Visit

Offering a lot of things to see and do, Las Vegas is like a big playground, and it's a cosmopolitan city that's second to none. Travelers and residents will be appeased with the kinds of possibilities, fun, and entertainment this city in the desert dishes. Las Vegas is a great place to visit year-round, it's home to all kinds of recreational opportunities, it's a short helicopter ride away from the Grand Canyon, and it's famous for its resort-lined street; the Strip, which glisters with recreated glamorous sites and sparkles with lights. There are tons of nice attractions to see in Las Vegas and here are some of the top, famous spots you should check out;

The Strip: It's recommended to stay on the Strip, preferably at one of the major resorts, if it's in your interest to truly experience Las Vegas better. It runs from the Mandalay Bay Hotel to Treasure Island Hotel, generally, and it's a place where people love to come to take in the sights and walk along. The Strip is particularly impressive at night and it's teeming with features like fine dining, luxury hotel rooms, performance venues, defining theme, and it's as well lined with huge entertainment palaces. Las Vegas Strip runs through the city from northeast to southwest.
Helicopter Rides over Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon: It's actually pretty cool if you can indulge yourself in a Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour. If you have a full day for exploring, you'll really enjoy it. With this ride, you'll be captivated with awe-inspiring impressive and famous natural attractions in the country and get to see more beyond just Las Vegas. There are several companies providing helicopter tours and taking a helicopter ride to catch an awesome view of the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas is something you shouldn't miss out on.
The Secret Garden: Here is a place where you can practice yoga with the animals, swim, or paint. It's home to lions, panthers, white tigers, dolphins, and it was founded by the famous magician duo Siegfried and Roy. In its 27-year history, it has attracted millions of visitors, and it's nestled inside The Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip.
Fremont Street Experience: It boasts an experience which you can't find on the Strip. Every night, the sidewalks of Fremont Street are lined with musicians, artists, vendors, and a cast of street performers. With its giant canopy stretching about 1,500 feet over the boulevard, it secures more popularity for itself, and it houses some of the city's older hotels and casinos. After the Las Vegas Strip, it's the city's second-most popular street.
Stratosphere: Guests can enjoy being active here by dangling over the edge of the 1,149-foot tower or skydiving from the top of the tower with Sky Jump Las Vegas. This tower never stops attracting adventure seekers of all types with its four thrill rides. It was designed by the designer of the famous Singapore Flyer and it's reputed to be the country's tallest freestanding towers and the tallest building in Las Vegas. It was built between 1992 and 1995 and it's the pinnacle of the Las Vegas skyline.
The High Roller at The LINQ: Weddings, private parties, and yoga classes are also offered here, and this is just to get visitors to enjoy and experience more beyond riding the Ferris wheel. Visitors can make the most of their experience here and catch an unencumbered, bird’s-eye view of the city. Reaching a height of 550 feet, this amusement park was also a product of the same company that constructed the Singapore Flyer, and it has grown to be one of the city's most recognizable figures.
Hoover Dam: Through its arched structure, it provides power to California, Arizona, and Nevada. It's extremely functional and visually striking as well. There are different prices for different tours offered here for visitors who desire to tour both the dam and the power plant. This dam was constructed during the Great Depression and all thanks to it, Las Vegas is made sustainable.
The “Welcome to Las Vegas” Sign: We all love to do it for the gram; if not all the time, at least once in a while, and this is a place where you can enjoy taking beautiful selfies. The sign is a must-see and it was designed by late local artist Betty Willis. Since 1959, it has been gracing Las Vegas Boulevard, and this famous sign is situated close to the Little Church of the West and Mandalay Bay on the south end of the Strip. It's one of Las Vegas's easily top attractions and it costs you nothing to check it out.
Lee Canyon, Mount Charleston: In the spring and summer months, it evolves to a popular place for couples - all thanks to its scenic appearance. Come here to enjoy hiking in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Howbeit, this ski resort is about an hour outside of Las Vegas but it's worth checking out for adventure lovers.
Shark Reef Aquarium: Through its program Dive With Sharks, you can get an intimate look at the aquarium, but take note that it comes at an additional fee. It gets extremely busy during the summer months and it's a great place to visit with your kids. It houses 15 species of sharks, stingrays, eels, piranhas, and turtles, and it's next to the convention center; inside the Mandalay Bay.

Night Panorama of the Las Vegas Strip

Explore

Shall we speak of the Hoover Dam which is accessible by a bus tour, a helicopter tour, or made more fun with a quick road trip; the Red Rock Canyon one can visit to stretch one's legs, the presence of places like Neon Museum and Mob Museum where interesting history lesson are served to guests, or the Fremont Street Experience's lightshow? There are tons of must-see attractions in Las Vegas and you can make the most out of your vacation by taking your time to explore some of these fine places. With adventures brimming on virtually every corner in the city, blending with the wide array of casinos, shops, restaurants, and intriguing spots that engulf the city, you can never get bored in a place like Las Vegas, and here are some of the top attractions in the city you should try to check out:

Caesars Palace
Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Fountains of Bellagio'
MGM Grand
The Venetian
Wynn Las Vegas
Eiffel Tower
The Mirage
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas
Mandalay Bay
Fashion Show Mall
Smith Center for the Performing Arts

Caesars Palace

City Parks

Las Vegas is not just known for gambling and nightlife, it's also home to countless beautiful parks;

Ansan Sister City Park: This park is one of the most beautiful parks you'll find around. It has a playground for kids and lovely green spaces. It has a modest grassy field for activities, it's a nice park for walking, and it's situated north of Alta Drive on Ducharme and west of Buffalo Drive. It has a jogging path, it's well maintained, and it blossoms with lots of green grass.
Jaycee Park: During the summer, its water park area is open for guests, but it has one problem - a lot of homeless people tend to come here often. If you're into skateboarding, you can enjoy doing that at the skateboarding area behind the soccer field. It has a dog area and welcomes people to bring their dogs and it boasts three playgrounds. It as well features a walking path, a huge covered picnic area, and picnic tables.
Floyd Lamb Park: You can be one of those who will grab the opportunity of learning about the traditional working ranch and early Las Vegas lifestyle provided for visitors by the historic Tule Springs Ranch which is tucked inside. It has views of the Sheep and Spring Mountain Ranges, lakes, lush vegetation, and wildlife. This 680-acre park at Tule Springs is a welcome oasis.

National Parks

From national parks within a few hours drive to state parks and smaller city parks, Las Vegas has many parks to offer if you're itching to go outdoors, and here are some of the best national parks you'll find around Las Vegas within a few hours drive;

Zion National Park: It usually gets heavily populated but it does get a little less crowded during the winter months. It's famous for its Narrows and Angels Landing, plenty of opportunities for hiking, canyons, steep red cliffs, and it's about two and the half hours from Las Vegas. It did enjoy the accolade of being accorded to be the 6th most-visited national park in the country recently.
Mt. Charleston/Spring Mountain National Recreation Area: The snow and all the accompanying fun are some of the things that get the locals drawn to it in the winter. You can take part in its summer activities if you venture over to Lee Canyon. There are many hikes in the area and it takes up to an hour or so to get to this place from Las Vegas.
The Grand Canyon: You can be assisted with the rangers, videos, and lectures offered at the visitors center at the Grand Canyon Village if you would like to get oriented within the National Park. This national park can be enjoyed from either the south or the north rims and the area was massively reshaped thousands of years ago. It consists of 277 miles of the Colorado River and it receives about 5 million people every year.

The magnificent Zion National Park

Beaches

Although there are no natural beaches in Las Vegas, there are lots of man-made beaches in the city where you can enjoy having a fun, beach time;

Mandalay Bay Beach: When visiting Las Vegas, a visit to this beach is worth it if you don't mind upgrading to a VIP experience. Come here if you seek the best experience but be aware that this beach can get very crowded for it's very popular and there's an opportunity for visitors to enjoy gaming at the beach casino. There are beach bungalows, day beds, and cabanas available for rent here. It has a wave machine that sends a big swell just like a natural beach and it's surrounded by sandy “beach”. It's the ultimate Las Vegas resort pool complex.
VooDoo Beach: The crowd at the poolside gets entertained by go-go dancers and the DJ and who spins lively music. This European-style area has a particular area that's strictly for those who are 21 years old and above and you can get in to the beach if you're a guest of its hotel. While you relax in the desert sun, you can treat yourself to a poolside massage. This beach is engulfed by nearby hot tubs, waterfalls, four swimming pools, and consists of real sand. It's situated just off the Las Vegas Strip.
Lake Las Vegas: Feel free to explore this place just like a real beach as there are boats, paddleboards, and kayaks available for those who want to hire. However, take note that the cost of spending the night over there can be wallet-breaking but it's all dependent on the kind of room you order for. If you have the cash, you can spend your sweat vacations here because of its plentiful facilities which include a snack bar, a lounge, cabanas, an outdoor pool, and a swim zone.
HRH Beach Club: Make sure to show your room key to get priority access to the club if you're a guest of the hotel. You can take part in a blackjack game as a guest and you can make reservations for cabanas too. It recreates the look of a real beach with the zero entry slopes and real sand that surround the pool and it keeps drawing a lot of people with its consistent event. It houses the famous pool party known as Rehab and it's one of Vegas's hottest pool complexes.

Lake Las Vegas

Landmarks

Las Vegas is so much more than slot machines, even though its mob history and gambling may make it popular as the “Sin City” it's known to be; for it boasts magnificent landmarks that are worth experiencing;

Eiffel Tower Experience: From sunset to midnight on the hour and half-hour, it provides a free continuous light show every 30 minutes. It's a replica of the popular landmark in Paris and it's up 46 floors. It offers amazing views and it's one of the biggest attractions in the city. Visitors can enjoy a tour beginning at just $50. It has more than 800 white strobe lights and around 300 color washing light fixtures on its exterior.
The Bellagio Fountains: Blasting 460 feet of water streams into the air with its thousands of jets, this lake of 8.5 acres has over thirty distinct songs that are choreographed to. It's one of the most popular attractions in Vegas and with its mix of light, water, music, and majestic fountains, it offers a magnificent audiovisual experience for all, and the water here could fill 2,000 pools.
Discovery Children's Museum: Free parking is available and it offers complimentary admission for children below 13 years old. It's capable of hosting momentous exhibits from leading museums around the country with its displays in the 5,000 square foot gallery it boasts. Not less than 2 million children and adults have paid a visit to this museum who charges itself with the goal of providing an enjoyable and lively atmosphere via its programs and exhibitions. Complete with nine immersive display galleries, it's a 3-story building with 58,000 square feet - a nonprofit educational organization that was established in 1984.

The Bellagio Fountains

Museums

In this beautiful city of Las Vegas, you can find a museum dedicated to almost every aspect of life from desert fauna to organized crime – Vegas does house several off-beat and unique museums. Las Vegas offers way beyond its nightclubs, gambling, and hotels that ring its popularity worldwide, and if you like museums but aren’t sure where to begin, here are some of the best museums in Las Vegas you could try and check out;

The Mob Museum: The bloodstained wall left behind from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre is the centerpiece of the museum. You can listen to actual wiretaps or use an actual Tommy gun in a simulation display here as a visitor. This museum narrates the organized crime’s influence in Las Vegas and in the United States at large and it's a good place to be if you'll love to catch up with the long, complicated history of organized crime in the city and the country.
The Neon Museum: If you'll be coming here, take note that it has the tendency of selling out quickly and its daily tours are limited. More so, make sure you come with enough water too because the temperature seems to be quite high often. This museum tells the story of the city through neon, compared to the Mob Museum that narrates the linkage between organized crimes and Las Vegas. It pays homage to the neon-colored history of last Vegas, it's one of the more unique museums to visit, and it's also referred to as Neon Graveyard.
The Hollywood Car Museum: Kids below 16 years old can get in free with a paid adult and general admission for adults starts at $20. The Dukes of Hazzard’s General Lee, the Delorean from Back to the Future, Knight Rider, and the Bugs Bunny Rabbit car are some of the best-known cars on display here. From stunt cars to hot tub limos, it has a massive collection on display in its showroom and it's convenient for anyone staying on the Strip as it's situated on the other side of Interstate 15. Action movie aficionados and auto enthusiasts would love this museum.
The Pinball Hall of Fame: Entrance to this museum is free and you can always stop by here for a fun night. It hosts more than 100 pinball machines from the 1940s up to 2009 and it pays tribute to the classic arcade game. It's situated just minutes away from the Strip and it's one of the city's plentiful, thrilling offbeat museums.

The Hollywood Car Museum

Eat

The food scene in Las Vegas is top-notch. From gourmet restaurants and simple cafes to omnipresent buffet, there's a variety of dining options offered by the large casinos in the city. While visitors and locals can as well enjoy cheap hot dogs and pizza slices sold at the cafeteria-style joints in the city, all-you-can-eat buffets are still alive and well in Las Vegas. As a matter of fact, Las Vegas is popular for its buffets which are loved and enjoyed by both residents and visitors but take note that you could be spending at least $30 for a weekend dinner if you want the best buffets. Howbeit, you should as well be conscious of the custom of tipping your buffet waiter 10-15%.

Since buffets are extremely popular in Las Vegas and the city's got plenty of them, here are some of the best places to grab some;

Le Village Buffet
Spice Market
Village Seafood Buffet at Rio
The Buffet at Wynn
The Buffet at Bellagio

Traditional Local Restaurants

Traditional local restaurants are plentiful in Las Vegas and here are some of the best ones you'll find around;

The Egg & I: Offering American homestyle faves for breakfast and lunch and serving plenty of egg dishes, this welcoming spot is the right place you need to be if you're an egg lover. But, the options you'll be faced with here may be quite overwhelming. However, if you're feeling indecisive about what you want to have for breakfast, you can trust the good wait staff to help you make the right decision. The atmosphere here is super nice and this spot is a cool place to have your breakfast.
Wo Fat Chinese Restaurant: Dishing generous plates of traditional Chinese fare, this cozy, unassuming eatery never relents in luring locals with the delicious meals it serves. It has good quality and selection, great prices and portions, and its service is pretty nice. If you're here, make sure you try out its hearty bowl of wonton soup and crunchy fried shrimp to refresh yourself. This restaurant serves fresh, delicious, and hot meals, and it's loved by many for its flavor combinations.
My Mother's House Italian Restaurant: With its outdoor seating, eclectic interiors, and generally casual setting, it serves its patrons its traditional menu of Italian classics. It's a very unique place with awesome service and huge portions. It has a friendly staff and its food gets ready quickly plus it tastes great as well. This family-owned restaurant is a gem and reservation is a must if you want to drop by so, do well to call ahead. There's as well live entertainment offered here.

Vegetarian and Vegan

Grand hotels, slot machines, bright lights, culinary delights, extravagant casinos, and 24-hour entertainment are the usual picture that comes to comes to mind when one thinks of Las Vegas, and it's surely not vegan and vegetarian food. However, Las Vegas is quite veg-friendly with nearly two dozen plant-based and there's no need for vegans and vegetarians to be scared of being left behind as there's plenty of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the city;

VegeNation: Veggie sushi, tacos, spaghetti, potato wedges, and burger are some of its sample items. It offers daily breakfast, weekend brunch, and it serves globally inspired street food. It has a bright array of pro-vegan art on the walls and an upscale ambiance. From salads and ethnic dishes to comfort foods, it offers a solid, diverse menu of vegan dishes.
Chef Kenny's Asian Vegan Cuisine: It's situated in a plaza with parking and it serves vegan desserts, bento meals, vegetable dishes, tofu, noodles, veggie meats, veggie fish, and sizzling plates. It as well has vegan sushi rolls and a menu of Chinese and Thai dishes too. The former chef/partner of Veggie House founded this restaurant in 2018.
NoButcher: It offers everything from drive-through and take away to dine-in. It has salads, sides, and sandwiches. There are juicy handmade vegan mock meats to be enjoyed here so, do well to drop by if you're around.
Tacotarian: Concha loca ice cream sandwich, ice cream, and churros are some of the desserts you'll find here. Quesadilla, enchiladas, two burritos, and flautas are other items you'll find on its menu aside from the tacos with a variety of vegan fillings like no carne asada, chorizo, mushroom asada, and jackfruit barbacoa this plant-based Mexican eatery offers.

Street Food

To enjoy a food truck bonanza in Las Vegas, the Freemont Street is where you should head over to because this is where you'll get to enjoy quality street food experience and replenish yourself with sweet ice cream, spicy Mexican must-try, and smokey BBQ.

There's a wide array of street food in Las Vegas and a popular one is the Chicken wings. Fresh and slathered in the most amazing sauces available, these famous wings are well-packaged and served when you order them and they're enjoyable with macaroni salad or crispy, crinkle-cut fries. The numerous food trucks operating throughout the Las Vegas area deliver the most mouthwatering wing.

Pork sandwich is another street food in Las Vegas' that's worth the attention it gets. And, a few other street food options you can try out in Las Vegas include:

Brisket
Tacos
Ice Cream
Hot Dogs
Burgers
Crack Fries

As earlier mentioned, there are good trucks around the area you can hit up to have a taste of these sumptuous dishes, and these food trucks know how to make them better than most other places, plus they've got a very interesting and lively vibe that further adds to the experience.

Gyro tacos (lamb, tzatziki, feta, tomato) at Carson Kitchen in Las Vegas

Drink

While Las Vegas does not seem to have a particular drink it loves drinking the most, it's a city where the residents drink happily and enjoy themselves to the fullest. In Las Vegas, you can save money on drinks by going to gamble at the table games or slots of any denomination where you can get free drinks. This is usually used as a strategy to keep gamblers gambling but even so, it's expected of you to tip the waitress at least $1 per drink and if you refuse to do that, she would focus more on those who are tipping her and would visit you less often. Las Vegas is a city where alcohol consumption in public areas is a norm and this includes the public sidewalks within the limits of the city. However, the city strongly frowns on disorderly conduct and over-intoxication.

Tap-water

Las Vegas tap water is some of the safest to drink in the country. The Las Vegas Valley Water District delivers reliable water quality and the city's tap water passes state and international water standards. You shouldn't be bothered about drinking tap water in Las Vegas because it's safe but then, a number of the locals in this city prefer drinking bottled water which is quite expensive. While the reason for this is not clear, this may be related to the fact that Las Vegas has some of the hardest water in the country, of which it poses no risk whatsoever. About ninety percent of the water in Southern Nevada flows from the Rockies to Lake Mead and as a visitor, feel relaxed to drink water straight out of the tap, and save your money for it's safe to drink.

Organic Cafés

There are lots of nice organic cafes in Las Vegas and here are some of them:

Go Raw Cafe: Cookies, crackers, tortillas, muffins, sprouted organic bread, and other snack products are some of what is sold at its on-site bakery. With eco-friendly napkins and silverware and biodegradable containers, it serves its fresh and cool food and offers a diverse menu of fruits, nuts, vegetables, soups and smoothies, salads, appetizers, and entrees. It specializes in raw, vegan organic foods and it has two locations in the city.
Canyon Ranch Cafe: With spirits and several organic items, it boasts a more expansive menu for its Canyon Ranch Grille which is right at the same location. It also operates with the Canyon Ranch Spa that offers guests special programs for diabetics and as well helps in creating a lifelong healthy eating plan, pinpointing personal nutrition issues, and a registered dietitian to attend to those who need one. In its soothing, spa environment, it serves organic treats and smoothies. It's situated in the Venetian Hotel at the Canyon Ranch Spa Club.
Bradley Ogden: Serving from an impressive dinner, dessert, and cocktail menu, it has the reputation of having appeared on the Today Show and Good Morning America when it was honored by the Culinary Institute of America. Organic cheeses and fresh organic produce paired with grass-fed beef and chicken is what it takes delight in serving. It has a passion for local and organic and its prix-fixe tasting menu changes every season. It's situated in Caesar's Palace.

Breweries

Nevada beers are an overlooked gem. If you're in town for local beers and good, chill fun, there's a bevy of breweries here in Las Vegas you can trust to deliver;

Big Dog's Brewing Company: The dining room is non-smoking and you can smoke at the bar if you want to and there's a large portion of classic bar food served here. It has big barn doors up in the dining room, a wood-beamed ceiling, and a neighborly, midwestern vibe. At the 2017 Great American Beer Festival, its Belgian-style Tripel, Tripel Dog Dare, won a gold, and you should try it out if you're here. Red Hydrant Brown Ale is one of its classic beers you can also try out. The owners of this brewery have the reputation of opening the first brewery in the city in 1992.
Chicago Brewing Company: During happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. every day, it has $5 pints and great deals on food. You can purchase a selection of premium cigars at its cigar lounge upstairs if you're feeling classy. It serves breakfast 24 hours, it's open 24 hours as well, and it does keep with the city's all-hours vibe. The three-time Great American Beer Festival winner, a light golden ale; the All Nighter, is worth trying out. You should also have a taste of the Chicago deep-dish pizza alongside it. It's situated close to the sprawling Summerlin planned community in a stately brick building and it's the most westerly brewery in Las Vegas.
Hop Nuts Brewing: You can drop by here for its daily happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. for $4 pints. There's a roasty, chocolate brew here you can check out; the Harry Porter, and you may prefer its fragrant, boozy and extra hoppy Green Mamba double IPA. It has 5 guest beers on tap with 15 of its own beers. It has a dog-friendly shady front patio that's perfect for catching a breeze and it takes pride in being the Arts District's premier microbrewery. It's situated amidst other bustling shops, eateries, and bars on Main Street.

Activities

Whenever the great Las Vegas outdoors are calling, then you know it's high time you packed your sunscreen, bathing suits, and hiking shoes. There are lots of ways to enjoy Las Vegas's nature and the different outdoor opportunities it offers from hiking and kayaking to ziplining. Thus, do well to add some outdoor activities to your itinerary when you're in Vegas and the weather starts to warm up because there are exciting outdoor adventures available to explore in the city which are valid proofs that there's more to the Sin City than flashing lights, hotels, and casinos. There's a place for the outdoor-inclined too in this city and some of the thrilling outdoor activities you can opt-in for in Las Vegas include;

Bike at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Head up to Mount Charleston for Some Hiking
Scenic Driving AT Red Rock National Conservation Area
Stand up Paddle Boarding at Lake Las Vegas
Soak in Hot Springs Near Hoover Dam
Kayak the Black Canyon
Ziplining in Bootleg Canyon

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Yoga and Retreats

Yoga and retreats are common in Las Vegas and here are some of the best places you can visit in Las Vegas if you need some:

Marijuasana
RYK Yoga and Meditation Center
Sin City Yoga Las Vegas
B.K.S Iyengar Yoga Center Of Las Vegas
OKU yoga
Zen City Yoga
Power Yoga + Pilates + Fitness
AquaHolic Journey - Yoga, Retreats, Wellness

Accommodation

Accommodation is quite easy to get in Las Vegas and this is because Las Vegas is a tourist destination that truly acknowledges itself as one and readily makes adequate preparations. Sounds good? Okay. Take note that $130 is the average price for one person for accommodation in the city and one interesting thing about Las Vegas is how cheap its hotels are. Unlike hotels in other parts of the country where hotel rooms are the primary source of income, shopping, shows, restaurants, and casinos are the in-house entertainment most of the hotels in this city make their primary income from, and it points to the reason why hotel rooms aren't as expensive as they could have been.

Airbnb can also come in handy in helping you find accommodation in this city and take note that the areas in the city have distinctive pleasure they ooze and you can as well put that into consideration before you conclude your accommodation plans;

The Strip — To Get the Best Sightseeing Offers
Downtown — For Gambling
The Strip and Chinatown — For Food & Restaurants
Henderson and Summerlin — For Families
The Strip and Mt. Charleston — The Most Romantic Neighborhood
Downtown — For a Local Vibe
The Strip — For First Timer
The Strip — For Walking
Safest Areas
- Henderson
- Summerlin
- Southern Highlands
- The Southwest Valley
- Downtown, particularly on Fremont Street

The strip in Las Vegas has so many accommodation options albeit not eco friendly ones

Green Hotels

Las Vegas is home to several eco-friendly hotels and here are some of them;

Vdara Hotel & Spa at ARIA Las Vegas: it makes use of sulfate-free hair products at its salon and all-natural products are used at its spa. Its major property highlights are the Spa and Salon and it does make for an ultimate space of retreat as it's a casino-free property. This hotel is adjacent to the exquisite Aria Hotel.
Las Vegas Marriott: It performs excellently well in contributing its bit to the environment and providing excellent hospitality as well for its guests. It got a LEED certification when it was renovated. It has an oil-recycling program in the kitchen, there are water-conserving shower heads in each room, and it makes use of energy-saving fluorescent lighting. Its eco-friendly endeavors are quite noticeable and applaudable.
DoubleTree by Hilton Las Vegas Airport: It boosts the local economy even while it serves its guests the best and freshest food with raw material sourced from local vendors. It ensures the reduction of the hotel’s carbon footprint and promotes judicious use with its equipped energy-efficient fittings. It has been certified by the Energy Star for Hospitality and it's a 190-room hotel.

Hostels and Guest Houses

You don't need to walk too far before you'll find nice hostels and guest hotels in Las Vegas as there are lots of nice ones you'll find around:

Hostel Cat
Sin City Hostel
BHostels Las Vegas
Las Vegas Hostel

Apartments

The prices of rent keep getting pushed down all over the city because of the consistent increment in the supply of houses and apartments. Las Vegas has overbuilt in proportion to its population and this is one of the reasons why it's quite cheap to live in Las Vegas. Nevertheless, renting an apartment in Las Vegas is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing because even though the overall rent is low, the part of the city you're living in is a strong determining factor on how much you'll be paying for rent. Las Vegas has lots of affordable apartments and the lack of high-paying jobs also contributes in keeping the city's monthly rent payments low. Those looking for an apartment in Las Vegas can easily ask the locals around who are always be eager to apprise friendly visitors with where to find nice, cheap apartments. There are as well several opportunities to find apartments in Las Vegas online.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is quite common in most major cities in the United States of America and you'll have a better chance of finding a host online.

Camping

Camping is an enjoyable outdoor activity and here are some of the best places for camping in Las Vegas:

Circus Circus RV Park: Here, without incurring any extra charge, you can request specific spaces, and it's a great option to consider for those who's got the whole family in tow. It's situated in a casino regarded to be one of the most kid-friendly casinos on the strip and it's home to a large theme park.
Clark County Shooting Park: It's just twenty minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and Fremont Street, it's conveniently situated close to several nature parks and golf courses, it's close to Highway 95, and it's north of downtown Las Vegas. You can get some nice drinks and food at its Road Kill Grill on-site and the activities you can enjoy here range from sporting clays and archery to shooting skeet, rifle.
Red Rock Canyon Campground: It has scenic views in every direction, its campsites are well-spaced, and it's surrounded by mountains and hills. The feeling here is remote and rugged for it offers no hint of city life. It's the closest wilderness style campground to Las Vegas; it's five minutes from the western edge of the city and 30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. If you'll coming around during peak season, make sure you make a reservation lest you risk getting a spot.

How to Get There

Depending on your proximity to Las Vegas, there are lots of options you can explore to get into the city.

Air

There are three major airports serving Las Vegas;

McCarran International Airport — It's physically adjacent to the south end of the Strip, it's 8th worldwide in terms of takeoffs and landings, and in terms of passengers, it's the 24th busiest airport in the world. It's the main airport serving the Las Vegas area.
Henderson Executive Airport — is an alternative to McCarran for private air travel, air taxi, and private flight. It has two runways.
North Las Vegas Airport — it's the third busiest airport in the state of Nevada and the second busiest airport in Vegas. It services general aviation and a lot of air tour operations.

Inside the McCarran International Airport

Bus

There are lots of bus service providers serving Las Vegas:

Greyhound Lines has buses it operates between Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Kingman, and Salt Lake City.
FlixBus offers bus service to Northern and Southern California
Starline Tours operates tour bus service to the Grand Canyon.
Megabus operates to/from Riverside and Los Angeles.

Tour bus in Las Vegas

Train

There are no direct rail services into Las Vegas per se. However, Amtrak operates two daily Thruway Motorcoaches to Las Vegas from Bakersfield, and there is Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach service to Las Vegas.

Hitchhiking

Although the legality of hitchhiking in Nevada is debatable, it's advisable to take precautions if you plan to hitchhike your way to Las Vegas.

Others

Although driving can be extremely dangerous with the stop-and-go traffic and congestion, people in Southern California do crowd Interstate 15 every weekend to get in and out of Las Vegas.

Moving Around

Taxis are the common form of moving around in Las Vegas. However, be conscious that you're to look for designated taxi stands and not to hail a cab, especially if you're on the Strip because it's considered to be illegal. RTC buses and monorail are another nice options of getting around the city. RTC buses have 39 different routes across Vegas and monorail runs between Sahara Avenue and the MGM Grand. You can as well use Lyft and Uber to move around the city conveniently.

Walk

Walking is a nice way to explore some parts of the city. However, take note that walking for long periods may be made uncomfortable by the heat during the daylight hours if you're visiting the city during the summer. But, you can always enjoy walking along Las Vegas Boulevard for hotel-casinos on the Strip are quite close to one another.

Bicycle

You should enjoy bicycling in Las Vegas and there are lots of places around where you can rent a bicycle.

Electronic Vehicles

Car rental is quite cheap in Las Vegas and you should be able to rent an electronic vehicle.

Public Bus

There are 49 bus routes throughout the valley operated by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC). These buses are air-conditioned. After a long and tiring walk on the Strip during those hot summer months, boarding one is a cool option to recuperate. if you'll be to-and-from downtown and traveling up-and-down the Strip, buses can be an inexpensive and convenient option for you.

Tram, Train and Subway

The Las Vegas Monorail costs $15 for a one-day pass, $9 for a return, and $5 for one-way. However, take note that it doesn't offer accessibility to downtown Las Vegas or the airport.

There are three trams currently in operation in Las Vegas:

The Mandalay Bay Tram
The Aria Express (aka. CityCenter Tram)
Mirage-Treasure Island Tram

The Mandalay Bay Tram

Sustainable Shopping

It's quite easy and convenient to shop sustainably in Las Vegas because the city is home to a wide variety of eco-friendly shops and spots. To start going green shopping in Las Vegas, you can visit any of these places;

Green Stitch Fashions
Whole Foods Market
IKEA
Free People
Downtown Container Park
Archer + Jane
REI
Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas
Best In The West Shopping Center
Las Vegas North Premium Outlets
Pacific Green
S A R A P !
Attic Salt

Food Markets

Food markets have become plentiful in Las Vegas since the demand for locally made and locally grown produce continues to expand!

Market in the Alley: Musical entertainment is present here and it has cozy workspaces, relaxing rooftop chill spots, chic cafes, and exceptional restaurants. Market in the Alley has got you covered; if you are into organic fares, and customers have specialties on exhibit from local merchants to try out. It houses an array of dining options, a plethora of retail businesses, and showcases a vibrant district. It's situated on Fremont Street.
The Downtown 3rd Farmers Market: It shares a close proximity to Fremont Street Experience, Smith Center, and The Mob Museum. Once you’re done shopping at the market, you may visit some of these places. It offers varying items such as fresh produce, bath salts, honey, and clothing for sale each week. It has been serving the public since March 2012 and it's situated in what used to be a transportation hub. It caters to the foodies looking for fresh produce in the city and it's a humble yet hip market.
Las Vegas Asian Night Market: You can enjoy hopping from one food stall to another and the live entertainment in the background makes your food escapade more enjoyable. Take note that it's an event, an event which is a paradise of gastronomic pleasures with Korean, Chinese, Japanese food, and more. It highlights local Asian food businesses in Las Vegas and this wonderful one-day event is not worthy to be missed.

Flea Markets

Some of the best flea markets in Las Vegas include:

Eastern Indoor Swapmeet
Charleston Indoor Swap Meet
Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet Las Vegas
Rancho Swap Meet

Second Hand Stores

Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet, Odds and Ends Thrift Store, and Retro Vegas are some of the nice second-hand stores you'll find in Las Vegas.

Eco-Fashion

With shops like Green Stitch Fashions, Free People, and Cariloha in the city, you'll agree that eco-fashion has been made easy in Las Vegas.

Recycling

Aluminum cans, cardboard, glass bottles, and jars are the usual recyclables in Las Vegas and there are local recycling coordinators serving different parts of the city.

Waste

Las Vegas is relatively clean because despite how busy it can be, the City of Las Vegas maintains the cleanliness of the city.

Work and Study Abroad

Las Vegas is a hotspot for fun and entertainment and it doesn't enjoy the reputation of being much noticed as a location for work and study abroad.

Exchange Student

Las Vegas is home to an array of prestigious universities and most of them do offer student exchange programs.

Au Pair

There are possible potentials of you finding opportunities as an au pair in Las Vegas. You can meet people around or even go online.

Volunteering

Volunteering opportunities abound in Las Vegas and there are several organizations in the city you can volunteer for.