Las Vegas, Nevada is renowned for its big lights and big casinos - “Sin City” at its finest. The city got its nickname because it is the party capital of the world and the saying “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” is a very apt one. After World War II, many ritzy and glitzy hotels and casinos opened up their doors. Ever since then, tourism has become the premier industry in Las Vegas. Upwards of thirty-six million people visit there every year. People either love or hate Las Vegas – there is no middle ground. The haters complain of the heat - the typical high is about one hundred and four degrees Fahrenheit in the summer - excessive people and terrible traffic. Those who love the city are entranced from moment one and enjoy living in the area because there is never a shortage of attractions to see. Living there has the added bonus of the cost of living being near twenty percent below national average. Jobs are relatively scarce in Las Vegas because of the recession. There are jobs out there, though, especially in the service industries. Entertainment here is not just about the casinos. One famous attraction is Cirque du Soleil. They perform at multiple venues and casinos. There are also outdoor exhibits and hiking areas, like the Valley of the Fire State Park in Overton, which will entrance the visitor. Las Vegas, Nevada is a thoroughly Western community smack dab in the middle of one of the largest play places in the world.
Las Vegas, Nevada is a little hamlet in Southern Nevada that has become one of the most popular sights on Earth. In 2009, over 36 million people visited while there is only an estimated 610,000 people actually living within the city. The history of this little area, that has an area of only about 131 square miles, is extremely varied and fraught with changes.
Before it was Las Vegas, the Anasazi and other Native American Indian tribes lived along the Muddy and Virgin Rivers for upwards of 3,000 years. In 1829, the first European to lay eyes on the valley was Rafael Rivera. He named the valley “Las Vegas,” which means “The Meadows” in Spanish. Later, in 1864, Nevada was admitted as the 36th State into the Union.
The advent of World War II brought the military into the region. Nellis Air Force Base came along in the 1940's and is still in use today. In 1951, the first atomic bomb was detonated at the Nevada Test Site not far from Las Vegas. The tests continued, with residents going and watching in droves at each one, until about 1968 when the United States Government mandated that testing would commence underground. After World War II, the big, glitzy hotels and casinos began to spring up and gaming and tourism became king and took over as the largest employer in the valley. In 1959, the State of Nevada created the Nevada Gaming Commission, which is still overseeing all aspects of gaming to this day. From the 1960's all the way through the 1980's, it was an explosive growth time for the tourist trade in Las Vegas. Even today, tourists remain the mainstay of the economy of Las Vegas.
There are many mixed reviews about living in Las Vegas. They either love it or hate it. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground about Sin City. The ones that hate it think that Las Vegas is way too touristy, driving in traffic is a hassle, and that there are drunks. The people that love living in Las Vegas generally list one major advantage - there is never a lack of things to do. There is downtown nightlife, art galleries and plenty of restaurants. The locals also like to explore the desert and the mountains. Another wonderful benefit is there's no State Income Tax and the cost of living averages about 20% below national average. Apartments, of course depending on where you live generally range an average of $450 per month for a studio apartment, up to an average of $890 a month for a 3 bedroom apartment. Houses are expensive and inexpensive, just like everywhere else in the United States, depending on where you live. Gas prices are generally a little above national averages. As of August of 2010, gas was at $2.89 per gallon for regular. That's about $0.05 more than the national average of $2.84 per gallon.
The worst aspect that almost everyone can agree on is the heat. It may be a “dry heat” but it's still scorching six months out of the year with about 104 degrees being the average summer temperatures. The winter averages about 35 degrees. Also, there is hardly ever any rainfall. Rainfall in Las Vegas normally averages about 4 inches per year.
If you are looking for work, the best place to find it is in the casinos and hotels lining the Strip. The service industry is booming even in the 2010 economy of the United States. Be that as it may, the official unemployment rate within Las Vegas, as of July 2010, is 14.2%, unlike the national average of 9.7%. There are those few jobs available, if you're willing to do the work.
The predominant types of jobs out there are service oriented, show girls, dealers, hosts, chauffeurs and bouncers. There are also some regular jobs available because all of the support staff, accountants, doctor's offices and the like, needs employees. It may take a bit, just like anywhere else in the United States, but looking for a job is a full time job in itself. Since the cost of living is, on average, 20% lower than the rest of the United States, though, it doesn't take a high-paying job to be able to live there, if you do it right and don't spend all of your money in casinos; most residents primarily stay away from the casino scene, unless they have to work there.
How's the food in Las Vegas? Very different and very delicious. There is everything, and I mean everything, from American to Thai food available. Besides the national chains, McDonalds and such, the low-end sit-down meal costs between $20 and $50 per person. Every hotel and casino has some sort of restaurant that anyone can go to. You don't have to have a room there.
For a very expensive, but worth it, treat, try Joel Robuchon. It's a restaurant that is French-themed and offers 2 to 16 course meals in opulent style. Reservations are, of course, needed and each meal will cost above $100; this doesn't include drinks. If you want a mid-priced meal, for Las Vegas, that's still really good, try Shibuya. It is a Japanese restaurant that boasts a humungous marble sushi bar, a celebrated sake collection and a virtual aquarium. Shibuya has a 4 star rating and each meal usually costs between $50 and $75 dollars; again, not including drinks. A lower-priced meal that still has a 4 star rating is Diego Restaurant. It is a Mexican restaurant that offers very quality real Mexican food and, on the weekends, it turns into a late night Latin Dance club. Usually, the prices range from about $25 to $50 per meal.
The number one arts show that anyone who visits or lives in Las Vegas must go to is Cirque du Soleil. There are multiple venues that include the Treasure Island Casino that shows “Mystere” and “O,” which involves strange costumes and astonishing acrobatics, “Love” at the Mirage Hotel that sets imaginary scenes to Beatles' tracks recorded during the Abbey Road sessions, and the MGM Grand that hosts Cirque's various acrobatic acts and boasts a rotating stage that rises 70 feet into the air and can hang perpendicular to the stage. Cirque du Soleil has a show for everyone!
Getting away from the tourist scene, the East Las Vegas Community and Senior Center is a 40,500 square foot building designed with a burst of Latino heritage. The Center is shared by the Arts and Community Events Division and the Senior Citizens Programs Division. It has a ballroom, a loom room and many other different areas for different cultural events and programs. There are classes for children and adults in the cultural arts including ceramics, drawing, Latin Dance, Salsa and much more. If you're interested, call 702-229-1515 for a schedule of upcoming events and classes. Also, the Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Amphitheater is located within Lorenzi Park on Washington Avenue. Programs include seasonal activities and Community Festivals.
Besides the glitz, lights and glamour of the Strip, there are so many other things to see and do that it would take about a year to do them all. Yes, that is an exaggeration. One of the prettiest things to see on the Strip is the Bellagio Fountains. It is centrally located on the Strip and you'll probably end up passing by it multiple times on your visit. Every half-hour, there is a fountain display that is timed choreographically to music and lights. The show is short, just a few minutes, but it's awe-inspiring.
A site off the beaten path is the Valley of the Fire State Park which is outside of Las Vegas in Overton. The site boasts beet colored rock formations that offer some of Nevada's prettiest hiking. The area also has Native American Petroglyphs around dating to about a millennium ago. A touring company that specializes in offering the only fully guided small-group walking and Grand Canyon Sunset tours is Grand-Adventures, Inc. Its Grand Canyon tour is 15 hours long and it includes 3 to 4 hours of being inside the Grand Canyon National Park. The Tours are of a reasonable rate, considering the amount of time you are out, at $140 to $160 per person.
At night, nightlife is relegated into two sections in Las Vegas, the casinos and the nightclubs. Everyone knows about the casinos and all of the shows and the like that are offered. There are some nightclubs within and beyond the Strip, though. There is the Blush, which is on Las Vegas Boulevard. The Blush is the place to go if you want to avoid excessive cover charges and long lines. It fills the void between the big nightclubs and the lobby lounges of the casino hotels. The cover charge is usually $30 and it boasts a live DJ on weekends.
Another place is the Playboy Club & Moon. It occupies the top 2 floors of the Palms' Fantasy Tower. The Playboy Club marks the rebirth of Hef's old brand with hot women in bunny suits and caters to the older demographic. Moon, on the other hand, caters to the younger set and is a dance floor on the second floor of the club that is framed by massive windows overlooking the Strip.
The list just goes on and on. There are so many options available that anyone is sure to find somewhere to play on any given day of the week.
There are trendy places to shop, cheap places to shop and high-end monstrously expensive shops in Las Vegas. The best mini-mall type shopping experience is the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. It is a premiere retail, dining and entertainment destination that boasts 13 restaurants and 160 boutiques and stores.
The Forum Shops have held onto its position as the most successful shopping venue in the country because of its continual progress. If you want to have a shopping experience that is more expensive and designer-laden, go to the Shoppes at the Palazzo Resort Hotel and Casino. The place is glitzy and includes many high fashion labels, like Christian Louboutin. The Shoppes offer wine tastings by the glass as you are walking down the causeway. They also offer a vintage book store that seems to be so totally out of place at the Shoppes but it is still a thriving business. The cheaper places to go are off the beaten path and less touristy. The Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas offers over 100 designer outlets from clothing to home furnishings. The Fashion Outlet is a tourist attraction in its own right. They offer unbelievable savings on top of the line and designer merchandise.
Many of the casinos and hotels are directly billed as Spa Hotels. Many have pretty cheap rates even if you are not staying in the hotels. Of course, the costs for services are not included into the daily facility rate. One is the Spa Bellagio; it is a casino hotel that offers a $25 facility fee with services ranging from $35 for a facial up to a full spa package that costs about $300.
In Las Vegas, you wouldn't believe how many Cosmetics Trade Shows are available all year around. They are varied and unique and each one offers the latest solutions and technologies in beauty and health. There is usually a nominal fee to get in and there are a lot of items to test before you buy. If you are looking for a health club to work away your worries the top 5, patron reviewed, health clubs are, in order, the Apollo Spa and Health Club on East Sahara, Hawk's Gym also on East Sahara, Top Rank Gym on Business Lane, Golds Gym on East Flamingo Road and Anytime Fitness on East Windmill Road. Las Vegas is Sin City, yes, but there is so much to do, see and be that life in this little city in the desert is never boring. Whether you live there or are just visiting, Las Vegas is the place to be.
Las Vegas, Nevada is known for its lights, gambling, and over-the-top shows that tourists flock to every year to see at their famous casinos. There is an abundant amount of hotels to stay at in Las Vegas and most include free buffets and allow you to slip away at any time of the day or night and enjoy some gambling. The Standard MGM, Four Seasons, Bellagio Las Vegas (with its famous fountains out front), and the Pallazo Resort are all beautiful, luxurious hotels that offer swimming pools and spas with a various shows to entertain guests. You can visit the infamous White Chapel, watch a performance from an Elvis impersonator, or try your hand at blackjack. For those that want to see a different side of Vegas, then the Grand Adventure tours are something to try. The tour takes you on a hike to the Grand Canyon to watch the sunset. All tours are in small groups accompanied with a fully-trained guide. Take a Mystery Adventures Tour and bring out your inner sleuth. Visit the Pinball Hall of Fame, or the Neon Museum; take a Sundance Helicopter ride or go on Hike This! and include the Adventure Photo tour. Hotels off the Strip include The Desert Rose Inn and The Orleans. If you are looking for something to eat away from the main Las Vegas scene, then Off the Strip-Just Real Food Restaurant is the place to visit.
Perhaps the flashing lights, gambling, drinking and legalized prostitution is taking its toll on the school district in Las Vegas. This is only said due to the scores of the schools in the Clark County School District (CCSD) which is the provider of the primary and secondary schools in Las Vegas. This is likely not to be the case but there is a definite decline in the public schools in Las Vegas, which is concerning given the large number of students that it caters to and provides education for. The sheer number of students could be a definite factor in the dropping grades and overall decline. Not enough qualified teachers to go around properly servicing the thousands of students. It has always been a proven fact that there are not enough teachers to go around for the students and as such it is the students who suffer in the end.
Still there is hope in regards to the education in the city of Las Vegas. With several higher education institutes available for those who make it out of the public school system and still have hopes of making something of themselves, so they pursue a college degree. Such institutes as Phoenix University and ITT tech have campuses in Las, Vegas. These colleges are well known for schedules that make it easier for students, working individuals, who can't attend school on a normal school schedule. Online courses are available as well, but there is nothing that can really replace the experience of attending a college.
Such institutes that are accredited provide many a young working adults with the chance to obtain a degree on their own time which is convenient to them. Given the particular job market that is in Las Vegas such an educational opportunity is surely a hit.
With the large expanse of desert to contend with and its overall size, the city requires a fair amount of public transportation to get the many locals, tourists and vacationers to where they need to be both within and without the city. Several forms of busing is used to accomplish the goal and demands for the city. The RTC transit company for one provides public transportation not only for the city of Las Vegas, but also the outlying cities and towns such as Henderson, North Las Vegas and other suburban areas of the valley.
Recently there has been the launching of a brand new express bus line called the ACE Gold Line. The line runs from Downtown Las Vegas, the Strip, the Las Vegas Convention Center, and Town Square. As with most express lines the idea is to get to the targeted locations as fast as possible. This is why the line does not make as many stops as a traditional bus line would, though it is certainly running more often.
Busses are not the only means of public transportation that the city has to use for its populace and its transporting needs. There is also an international airport, the McCarran International Airport which not only handles the commercial flights but also the private flights and cargo flights. As with just about every major city there is a railway that runs through it on which passengers may board and use for personal transportation. In true Vegas charm there is even a train station in a casino, located in the Plaza Hotel. The gambling, the shows, the drinking and the overall sense of fun and excitement are surely to continue to attract people to its doors. Vegas appear to be more then able to handle that with its current transportation system.
The Las Vegas city government is set up to deal with outsiders; people from all over the world have property and permanent or temporary residences there. The natives are a rare bunch, but stand tall and require their voices be heard and respected. And the tourists and transient workers complicate everything further. The City Council and Courts are the main way the government can serve the people. The city of Las Vegas holds town meetings where residents get to hear directly from their particular city council representatives and general city officials. The meetings are held in the different electoral districts and allow for one-on-one discourse as well as lectures, status updates and Q & As. Individuals can find out who their representative is by going to the city's website http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Find/find_council.htm
City Council holds meetings the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. They meet at the Chambers on the Plaza Level of City Hall. Citizens are welcome to attend, ask to speak, or watch on TV on the city's channel where all sessions are aired. The Municipal Court has jurisdiction over traffic violations, municipal ordinance violations, and criminal misdemeanors. A judge is elected for each department. For questions on which location to go to for filings or responses, administration is located in the Regional Justice Center, 2nd floor. To avoid a wait, residents can pay parking tickets online at http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Pay/pay_tickets.htm
Las Vegas allows all citizens to participate in their own government and there are many boards and commissions that can be applied to quickly on their website. Boards and commissions taking applications (no required qualifications) include: Senior Citizens Advisory Board, Traffic and Parking Commission, Bus Bench/Shelter Construction and Maintenance, Animal Advisory Committee, Historic Preservation Commission and much more, almost 30 in all are open to voters here. http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/interestform1.pdf For other services, or daily municipal needs or complaints, the City Manager is available. The office is on the 8th floor of City Hall and is the place to go for problems with regular services, redevelopment, city department behavior, and liaison between national and state governments and the city.
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