Southern Nevada

Dustier and drier than Nevada's northern half, the south reels in over 40 million visitors per year, lured by the mythology of Las Vegas as the place to leave your troubles behind and even strike it rich. Although Vegas is far from a naturalist's vision of America, geologic treasures can be found in the wind- and water-carved landscapes of Red Rock Canyon and the Valley of Fire, reachable as day trips from the Strip's surreal facsimiles of ancient Rome, Paris and New York.

Escape the summer heat on the shores of Lake Mead. Here, pre-dating all of Vegas' wacky human-made wonders, the Hoover Dam is a marvel of 1930s engineering. In winter, it's even possible to ski the slopes of Lee Canyon before hitting the Strip.

Further afield, daring desert dreamers are drawn to gold-rush ghost towns like Beatty and Goldfield, while ufologists hover brazenly around top-secret USAF Area 51.

Explore Southern Nevada

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Latest Stories from Southern Nevada

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Southern Nevada.

  • Landmark

    Aria

    We’ve seen this symbiotic relationship before (think giant hotel anchored by a mall ‘concept’), but the way that this futuristic-feeling complex places a…

  • Casino

    MGM Grand

    Owned by the eponymous Hollywood studio, the MGM Grand casino and hotel liberally borrows Tinsel Town's themes. Flashing LED screens and computerized…

  • Casino

    The STRAT Hotel, Casino and SkyPod

    Vegas has many buildings more than 20 storeys tall, but only Stratosphere (now officially The STRAT Hotel, Casino and SkyPod, but still 'the Strat' to…

  • Casino

    Caesars Palace

    Caesars Palace claims that its smartly renovated casino floor has more million-dollar slots than anywhere in the world, but its claims to fame are far…

  • Casino

    Wynn & Encore Casinos

    Steve Wynn's signature casino hotel (literally – his name is emblazoned across the top) Wynn and younger sibling Encore are a pair of curvaceous, copper…

  • Casino

    Venetian

    The Venetian's regal 120,000-sq-ft casino has marble floors, hand-painted ceiling frescoes and 120 table games, including a high-limit lounge and an…

  • State Park

    Valley of Fire State Park

    It's about 50 miles from Downtown Las Vegas to the Valley of Fire State Park visitor center. Make the center your first port of call to find out how best…

  • Casino

    Bellagio

    The Bellagio experience transcends its decadent casino floor of high-limit gaming tables and in excess of 2300 slot machines; locals say odds here are…

  • Museum

    Neon Museum – Neon Boneyard

    This nonprofit project is doing what almost no one else does: saving Las Vegas' history. Book ahead for a fascinating guided walking tour of the ‘Neon…

  • Historic Site

    Hoover Dam

    At the height of the Depression, thousands of men and their families migrated here and worked in excruciating conditions, dangling hundreds of feet above…

  • Casino

    Palazzo

    A true high-roller's casino, this younger sibling and an extension of the Venetian to which it is linked doesn't rely on flashy attractions to get punters…

  • Ghost Town

    Goldfield

    Goldfield became Nevada's biggest boomtown after gold was struck here in 1902. Much of the town was destroyed by a fire in 1923, but a few precious…

  • Public Art

    Seven Magic Mountains

    What's that rising from the desert floor along I-15 just south of Las Vegas…gigantic, neon-colored, stacked-up marshmallows? Actually, the monumental,…

  • Gallery

    Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

    Changing with the seasons, Bellagio’s conservatory displays ostentatious floral arrangements, installed by crane through a soaring 50ft-high ceiling. The…

  • Museum

    Pinball Hall of Fame

    You may have more fun at this no-frills arcade than playing slot machines back on the Strip. Tim Arnold shares his collection of 200-plus vintage pinball…

  • Casino

    Paris Las Vegas

    This mini version of the French capital might lack the charm of the City of Light, but its efforts to emulate Paris' landmarks, including a 34-story Hotel…

  • Casino

    Cosmopolitan

    Hipsters who thought they were too cool for Vegas finally have a place to go where they don't need irony to endure – or enjoy – the aesthetics of the…

  • Casino

    New York–New York

    Opened in 1997, the mini-megalopolis of New York–New York remains a perennial hit with spring breakers. Tables in the casino's 'Party Pit' are set against…

  • Museum

    Mob Museum

    The myth and mystique of mobsters from Bugsy Siegel to Al Capone get the museum treatment inside a hulking Downtown courthouse where real gangsters sat…

  • Casino

    Mandalay Bay

    Angular and glittering gold, massive Mandalay Bay flanks the far south end of the Strip. It's the first resort many visitors lay eyes on as they roll into…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Southern Nevada.