Most people nowadays just call simply call it “Vegas.”  The 25^th-most populous city in the U.S., for the last several decades, Las Vegas has been internationally renowned for being a major resort city, primarily for its gambling, nightlife, fine dining, entertainment and shopping.

However, its image has changed drastically over the last couple of years.  The city has grown to become a major sports venue, and not just for online gambling and the sportsbooks.  Las Vegas has become the Sports Capital of the world with the Vegas Golden Nights winning the 2023 Stanley Cup Championships; the Las Vegas women’s WNBA basketball team winning back-to-back Championships for 2022 and 2023; the recent acquisition of the NFL football team, the Las Vegas Raiders; hosting the F1 Formula race in November 2023; hosting the 2024 Superbowl and most recently, acquring the Major League’s Oakland A’s baseball team.

Aside from sports, Las Vegas now has a new medical school, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine; the Elon Musk “Loop” (the underground tunnel to facilitate transportation); the “Sphere” (music and entertainment arena); completely revamped Downtown area Las Vegas called “The Freemont Street Experience; the “Link” (high roller); the Stratosphere (the tallest structure west of the Mississippi); and many new upgraded and exciting attractions at the casinos.

Out the outskirts of Las Vegas, visitors can experience many outdoor activities: the Red Rock Canyon National Park; the Valley of Fire State Park; Hoover Dam; Lake Mead Recreation Area; a wide variety of museums; parks and hiking areas; Spring Mountains Recreation Area and the nearby Grand Canyon.

Clark County, in which Las Vegas sits, serves as the leading financial, commercial and cultural center for the entire state of Nevada, for the present.

Las Vegas can be tricky to navigate; there are several freeways such as, I-15, US 93, US 95, Hwy 215, Hwy 515 and Hwy 11.  Three freeways, the US 93, Hwy 515 and Hwy 11 all connect and divide the infamous “Spaghetti Bowl.”

From Laughlin, take the 163 North to US 95/93 North for 97 miles

From Reno, take Hwy 95 South for 449 miles

From Mesquite, take Hwy 15 South for 82 miles

Do not rent a car if it’s your first visit to Las Vegas.

Plan your trip well ahead of time – make sure to allow plenty of time to fit everything on your itinerary.

Dress for the weather – it can get “hot”; however, you may need a light jacket or sweatshirt with air-conditioned indoor locations.

Be sure to charge your batteries for all electronic devices – you’ll have lots of photo ops.

Make reservations for all events ahead of time – including parks and other attractions.

No matter if you’re planning on gambling or just enjoying the wide variety of entertainment and attractions, plan a budget ahead of time.

In the 1920s, the Union Pacific Railroad advertised the entire Southwest in an attractive and systematic manner.  The state government took a closer look at its neglected southern towns.  The Nevada legislature opened the door to legalized gambling in 1931.  The same year, and more importantly, the nearby Colorado River was recognized as a regional resource and the construction of the Hoover Dam began.  This construction created more than 5,000 workers for the project in 1934; and the community of Boulder City was born providing housing for workers and creating a well-planned city.

By the 1940s, the Las Vegas valley grew from being famous for its gambling and entertainment to developing an urban identity by investing in substantial public and private buildings.  In 1960, Las Vegas overtook Reno in population.  By the time Nevada had celebrated its 100^th birthday of statehood in 1964, two-thirds of the state’s population resided in Las Vegas and Reno.  By the late 1980s, the urban dwellers outnumbered the rural Nevadans by approximately nine to one.

Las Vegas continues to grow today with a population of over 650,000 compared to Reno’s population of 270,000.  The entire state of Nevada has a current population of 3.2 million people. Today, Las Vegas is considered to many as “The Most Exciting City In The World.”