Van City Guide: Viva Las Vegas
Vegas is more than just lights and slots. From your van window, you’ll catch surreal desert sunrises, distant mountain ridgelines, and when night falls the full blaze of the Strip lighting up the sky.
You brew coffee on your camp stove, rinse off with your solar shower, and hit the road windows down, music up, ready to trade dust trails for dazzle.
By midday, the Strip comes alive. Head to The Venetian for a gondola ride under blue-painted skies, or wander the lush atrium of the Bellagio before watching the fountains dance to Sinatra. When hunger strikes, treat yourself to Gordon Ramsay Burger, China Poblano, or for old-school glam, try Peppermill Fireside Lounge part diner, part time machine, and all Vegas.
Afternoon means choices: roll the dice at a blackjack table in the Wynn, take a spin through the vintage vibes of Fremont Street, or slow it down with a poolside cocktail at The Cosmopolitan or Stadium Swim. Vegas is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of town and you really can’t go wrong.
As evening falls, the city glows. Ride the High Roller for a golden sunset view or book a reservation at Top of the World for a rotating skyline dinner. If you’re chasing a thrill, take a zipline ride across Fremont or catch the last glimmer of daylight from Skyfall Lounge.
Now for the showstopper: Las Vegas shows are world-class. “O” by Cirque du Soleil stuns with water acrobatics, Absinthe mixes circus with comedy and chaos, and David Copperfield still brings the magic. If you’re lucky, a headline act might be in town — always check the calendar for big names like Adele, The Killers, or U2.
Late Night: One Last Round
Wind down (or turn up) at The Chandelier Bar, where you can sip cocktails wrapped in strands of light. Or take it downtown to Velveteen Rabbit, Commonwealth, or Frankie’s Tiki Room all local-favorite watering holes.
Quick fun facts 5 facts
1. Vegas Has Over 150,000 Hotel Rooms
It’s one of the cities with the highest hotel room counts in the world, enough to house an entire small city!
2. The Strip is About 4.2 Miles Long
The famous Las Vegas Strip stretches just over 4 miles, packed with casinos, hotels, and endless entertainment.
3. Around 300 Weddings Happen Every Day
Vegas is the wedding capital of the world, with quickie chapels offering everything from Elvis officiants to drive-thru “I do’s.”
4. The Ice in Your Drink Might Come from Hoover Dam Water
Much of Vegas’s water (including what ends up in your cocktail) comes from Lake Mead, created by the nearby Hoover Dam.
5. The Mafia Basically Built the Strip
Vegas was once run by the mob. Famous gangsters like Bugsy Siegel helped turn it into a gambling mecca and got whacked for it.
Trivia question Week 1:
Who was the first President of the United States?
