Las Vegas is like no other city in the world. It boasts more neon lights than any other city in the world, which in turn has led to its nickname of “Glitter Gulch. On the city’s main drag, The Strip, you can experience Egypt, New York, Rome, Greece, Venice, an exciting pirate ship battle, an erupting volcano and a spectacular laser light show all on the same street.
But the real reason millions flock to the "Entertainment Capital of The World," is for the casinos. No other city in the world offers more ways to help you part with your money than Vegas. The intoxicating sounds of coins hitting tin, the crackle of the crown & anchor wheels, sirens, bells and whistles beckon to you from every doorway.
In the early 1700s, Spanish explorers happened on a valley blessed with wild grasses and a small river and named it las vegas or 'the meadows.' Except for a few Paiute Indian villages, the valley remained unsettled until Brigham Young and 30 Mormon missionaries established a fort there in 1855. But, repeated Indian attacks forced the group to abandon it in 1857.
In 1885 the Nevada State Land Act offered farmers sections of land at $1.25 per acre and agriculture soon became the dominant industry. By 1905 the main Los Angeles to Salt Lake City railway line cut through the valley and the town became an important whistle stop. Officially founded on May 15, 1905, the city incorporated in 1911 with a permanent population of 800 and covering 19 square miles.
However, in the early 1930s two historic events would change the face of the dusty frontier town forever. The first event was the construction on the mighty Hoover Dam. With the nation locked in the grip of the Great Depression, the project brought thousands of workers and prosperity to the region. The influx of workers ushered in the second major event. In 1931 the Nevada State government legalized gambling and, as the old saying goes, 'the rest is history.'
But Vegas has much more to offer than glimmering neon. Only 10 miles west of the city limits on highway 159, is one of Nevada's best kept secrets, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The peaceful, serene beauty of the canyon provides a stark contrast to the city's glitter. Designated a National Conservation Area in 1990, the canyon gets it name from the tall reddishbrown, petrified sand dunes that dominate the park's landscape. Towering above the Mojave Desert these large sandstone formations conceal a labyrinth of narrow canyons offering hikers cascading waterfalls, Native American petroglyphs and a wide variety of flora and fauna.
The park offers 30 miles of established hiking trails, picnic areas, a visitor's centre complete with interpretive displays and a 13 mile scenic drive. Park rangers run guided walks and the one-way scenic drive is open daily from 6:00 a.m. The best time to visit the canyon is sunrise when the sun's warm rays dance across the sandstone formations turning them bright red. ($5 park fee, www.redrockcanyon.blm.gov).
A little further afield, about 30 miles southeast of Vegas along highway 93, stands one of America's great engineering marvels, Hoover Dam. Built during the Great Depression in the early 1930s, it played a major role in shaping the future of Las Vegas and stands as a testament to America's ability to mobilize a work force during hard times. Completed in 1935 the 727 foot high dam is 660 feet thick at its base and holds back the mighty Colorado River to form the nations largest manmade lake, Lake Mead.
Originally dubbed Boulder Dam it was later renamed in honour of Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of Commerce. The entire project cost about $165 million and took five years to complete. Discovery tours depart from the visitor's centre and take visitors deep into the interior of the dam.
Nearby stands Boulder City, built and run by the federal government as a base for the thousands of workers involved in the project. In order to keep the workers minds on the project, town officials banned gambling, but it did little to stem the weekly migration to the bright lights of Vegas. This quaint town has a fascinating museum and remains the only Nevada community where gaming is still illegal.
About 55 miles northeast of Vegas along Interstate 15 is Valley of Fire State Park. Dedicated in 1935 it is Nevada's largest and oldest state park. Similar to Red Rock Canyon the park gets its name from its red sandstone formations. Ancient trees in the form of petrified wood and 3,000 year old Indian petroglyphs are found throughout the park. The petroglyphs were left by the Paiute and the Anasazi Indians who occupied the region from 300 B.C. to 1150 A.D. The park has well-marked walking trails, picnic and camping areas and a visitor centre. (park fee $5, http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm).
So on your next trip to Las Vegas take some time to explore the region beyond the glitter and the games. And remember to heed the words of the late US screenwriter, Wilson Mizner, who once remarked that, "gambling is the sure fire way of getting nothing for something."
Side Bar.... Bits and Bites
Other must see and do things for your visit to Las Vegas:
Sunrise Champagne Breakfast Flamingo Hilton (6a.m. to 9a.m. $9)
All-You-Can-Eat Prime Rib Dinner Buffet - Fitzgerald's Holiday Inn (4 p.m.
to 10 p.m. $10).
The best, cheapest breakfast buffet on the Strip - Sahara ($7).
The best, most expensive lunch buffet on the Strip - Bally's Steakhouse ($85)
The Neon Boneyard Museum. The resting place for all the city's old neon signs (by
appointment only 702387NEON).
ElvisARama Museum. This $3.5million exhibit is a must for all Elvis fans (3401
Industrial Road, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, $12 adults; $10 seniors).
Liberace Museum where glitter is fashionable (1775 E. Tropicana Ave., daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $15 adults; $10 seniors).
The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum. Pop art at its best (The Venetian, daily 9:30 a.m to 8:30 p.m., $20 adults).
The Ethel M. Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Garden. The birthplace of Mars, Snickers and Milky Way bars (2 Cactus garden Drive, daily 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., free)
