Las Vegas is one of the top destinations for visitors coming to the American West. Although Phoenix is much closer for people whose final destination is the Grand Canyon, many travelers can't pass up the glitz and glamour of the Vegas lights. Once a sleepy Nevada town, mobsters from the eastern US made Las Vegas a gamblers Mecca and the party hasn't stopped since. Besides being the worlds' top stop for gaming aficionados, the New Las Vegas offers much more.
Modern day Las Vegas is run by large corporations who not only target party goers and newlyweds, but also increasingly cater to families. Although all the slot machines and high stakes poker games haven't gone anywhere, there are an increasing number of shows, entertainment and attractions for people of all ages and backgrounds. The Las Vegas International Airport is a transportation hub, and the city and surrounding areas offer a plethora of hotels and buffets at a reasonable price, especially outside of weekends and holidays. If you have money to burn don't fret, shows in Vegas are over $100 a pop, free drinks are hard to come by these days, and you can empty your bank account in minutes at the roulette table.
Las Vegas is a desert town and the weather is hot much of the year. Late fall to early spring can have great weather, and give you a chance to beat the summer heat and crowds. For those of you who tire quickly of the Strip, there are other activities close by. Red Rocks is a popular area for rock climbing and hiking, and is only a short drive from town. Boulder Nevada is about a half hour from downtown, and offers some great mountain biking, as well Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, and Black Canyon (Colorado River) right in its backyard. Of course for all of the Glitz and Glamour you find in the Vegas area, a mere 4.5 hour drive will bring you to one of the worlds most amazing destinations, the Grand Canyon's South Rim. From the South Rim you can plan all kinds of Grand Canyon guided tours, or a number of self guided activities to explore the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon Village is also located along the South Rim and is where you'll find the majority of Hotels in the Park.
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