Did you know, the Las Vegas’ Strip’ is the brightest place on Earth when looked at from outer space? That’s just remarkable. Note to self, when in space, look for the bright lights of Las Vegas!The Luxor Hotel at night shines Xenon light straight into space from the pyramid’s apex. When the Luxor opened on October 15, 1993, the beam was visible from airplanes circling Los Angeles 275 miles away — but authorities have since lowered the wattage to be less distracting. (Kirby, 2020)
But, as the sun sets, the city turns into a shining star, an unforgettable sight for all visitors. The famous Strip, also known as the ‘City Without Clocks,’ is filled with light, glitz, and unlimited partying. TheLas Vegas Stripis a stretch of South Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, popular amongst tourists and visitors for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos.
How Did It All Start?
The Strip was named by Los Angeles police officer and businessman Guy McAfee, after his hometown’s Sunset Strip. It is about 4.2 miles long and sits immediately south of the Las Vegas city limits in Paradise and Winchester’s unincorporated towns.
The first casino to be built on Highway 91 was the Pair-o-Dice Club in 1931, but the first casino-resort on the Strip was the El Rancho Vegas.
In addition to the large hotels, casinos, and resorts, the Strip is home to many attractions, such as M&M’s World, Adventuredome, and the Fashion Show Mall. Starting in the mid-1990s, the Strip became a popular New Year’s Eve celebration destination.
With the opening of Bellagio, Venetian, Palazzo, Wynn, and Encore resorts, the Strip trended towards the luxury segment through most of the 2000s. Premium dining, high-end retail, spas, and nightclubs increasingly became options for visitors in addition to gambling at most Strip resorts. (Wiki Encyclopaedia, 2020)
Reboot 2020: Fun Things to Do on The Strip
In 2020, for the first time, the city was shut down since mid-March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Though Vegas has reopened now for business, tourists returning to experience the Strip will see a renewed version of the city, some mandated by the government for the people’s safety – masks and sanitizers at the entrance, limited seats at casinos, social distancing, etc.
However, the Strip still has so much to offer that you won’t be disappointed. Let’s share some of the sure bets for 2020 that you can visit:
The High Roller at The LINQ
Standing tall at 550+ feet, the High Roller in Vegas isn’t just any Ferris wheel. Choose from day or night rides to watch the landscape glimmer with hot sun or neon lights as you soar high above. Whether Vegas is one of your favorite vacations or you traveled half the world to see the Strip for the first time, this ride above the Las Vegas skyline won’t leave you disappointed.
Time your ride for sunset to take the best photos. Add the happy hour option with an in-pod bartender for drinks with a dash of fun insights from the city’s local. For more information, go here.
Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino
This Las Vegas aquarium is home to 2,000 animals, including sawfish, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, piranha, jellyfish, rare golden crocodiles, and — sharks. Get close to more than 100 sharks, including 30 in the 1.3-million-gallon main tank, one of the US’s largest. Explore two underwater tunnels and experience Sea Monsters Revealed, the world’s largest exhibit of uniquely preserved sea creatures.
For more information, go here.
Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck at Paris Las Vegas
Take in glittering views of the Strip from the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas, and experience the iconic French monument in living color, half-scale, and Vegas-style. Glide up 46-stories to a panoramic viewing deck, and look past the city lights to the vast Mojave Desert and arid mountains. Step up to the edge for aerial views of the Bellagio Fountains, the glowing High Roller, and Sin City’s unforgettable, vibrant downtown. For more information, go here.
Las Vegas Convention Center
While the Strip has lanes filled with casinos, bars & resorts, the trade show business in the city has its fan following. The Las Vegas Convention Center’s expansion plan includes extending it toward the Strip with a new futuristic West Hall is opening its doors by December 2020. The new venue will have tons of exciting stuff, including 1.4 million additional sq. feet, enhanced tech features, a rooftop terrace, and an underground speed transportation system designed by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company.
(Kachelriess, 2020)
Truth & Tonic – First Vegan Café in Vegas
If you watch your calories and stick to eat healthily, Truth & Tonic is the must-visit cafe for you. Under the direction of Executive Chef Pete Ghione, the breakfast and lunch café has become of the best destinations in Vegas for clean, super-healthy food. By February next year, the entire menu will be entirely plant-based, making it the first and only all-vegan restaurant on the Strip.
(Kachelriess, 2020)
On the Strip – Deserving Mention
Along with these wonders of the world on the Las Vegas Strip stands Elite Medical Care – an Acute Care Hospital. We know the Strip and we know people. We knew Las Vegas needed our services as emergencies happen anywhere, so we came and built a world-class hospital, in the middle of the wonders of the city where the people make these attractions fun and entertaining need reliable emergency care. Our facility is a standout. We have every creature-comfort imaginable and treat our patients as the high-rollers would say, “When I first went to Vegas, there were just high-rollers and gamblers and the wise guys treated you great” – Don Rickles. Now in addition, we have Elite Care on the Strip to treat you great.
Works Cited
Kirby, D. (Ed.). (2020). Luxor Pyramid and Sphinx, Las Vegas, Nevada. Retrieved October 02, 2020, from https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11533
Wiki Encyclopedia, W. (2020, September 28). Las Vegas Strip. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Strip.
Kachelriess, R. (2020, January 13). How the Las Vegas Strip will Look Different in 2020. Thrillist. https://www.thrillist.com/travel/las-vegas/whats-new-in-las-vegas-strip-changes.
Staff, S. V. S. (2020, January 13). 15 Facts you didn’t know about Las Vegas. https://www.stripviewsuites.com/15-facts-you-didnt-know-about-las-vegas/.
