Las Vegas, the Sin City, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US. It is home to the famous Las Vegas strip, which has many lavish mega-hotels and casinos. Vegas creates an atmosphere of fantasy and allows you to travel the world in a single night due to its incredible theme hotels and casinos, which offer themes of places like Paris, Venice, ancient Egypt, New York, and medieval England. Vegas is a hub of gambling, shopping, nightlife, fine dining, and entertainment. There’s nowhere else in the world like Vegas where everything is made for your enjoyment and fun. So, when you are on a short trip to Las Vegas, it can be challenging to understand what to do. Therefore, here is a quick, three-day itinerary to Las Vegas. Check it out to make the most of your trip.
Day 1:
The first day in Las Vegas will be dedicated to The strip. There are loads of incredible sights to see on this stretch of road during the day, and it truly comes alive when the sun goes down. So, here are the things that you should do on the Las Vegas strip.
Take the Hop-On Hop-Off tour with Big Bus:
One of the best ways to experience Las Vegas is to take the Hop-On Hop-Off tour with Big Bus Las Vegas. You can choose between The Strip Red Route tour or The Old Vegas Blue Route tour, both of which take about two and a half hours if you stay on the bus the entire time.
However, if you find a site that you want a closer look at, you can hop off the bus, spend some time at the site, and hop on the next to continue the tour.
Big Bus also offers a night tour of the strip if you want to experience the Vegas nightlife in its element.
Visit the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens:
The Bellagio is one of the most prominent hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, and it has many multiple tourist attractions that you should check out. Firstly, you should visit the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, which are best experienced during the daytime.
A team of 140 horticulturalists prepares these seasonal Botanical gardens, and they include fantastic flower formations and water features that are nothing short of breathtaking. So, don’t forget to bring your camera along, because this is an excellent spot for taking memorable and artistic photos.
The decorations inside the Bellagio change according to the seasons; if you visit near Christmas, Easter, Halloween, or Chinese New Year, you will get to see the different themes of the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.
Check out the Incredible Fountains at the Bellagio:
While you are at the Bellagio, you should also stroll over to the incredible water fountains at The Bellagio. This is one of the most popular things to do in Vegas, and rightfully so because you can see several musical water shows here. The fountains are choreographed to several famous musical numbers, including several recognizable tones from concert opera and classical to Broadway tunes.
The Bellagio fountains are also free to enter, so make sure to add this classic and quirky Las Vegas attraction to your itinerary as well.
Visit the dolphin and wildlife habitat and the Volcano replica at The Mirage:
Next up, head to The Mirage, which is like an oasis in the constantly buzzing strip. The hotel has a relaxing spa, a lively casino, huge swimming pools, and several dining options; however, the hotel’s unique features include the Dolphin and Wildlife habitat and the Volcano show at night.
Head to the dolphin habitat first, and spend some time there. When it gets dark, stroll over to see the incredible volcano show that the mirage is famous for. This show is a genuinely exhilarating experience, from tall explosions and large fireballs to the driving soundtracks in the background.
The first show happens at 8 pm; however, don’t worry if you miss it, because it will happen again at 9 pm, 10 pm, and 11 pm.
Get a taste of Paris at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino:
This incredible hotel is located near Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road, on the strip. As the name suggests, this is a Paris-themed hotel, complete with a 540-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower. The hotel grounds also have replicas of The Arc de Triomphe and La Fontaine des Mers.
The hotel has incredible architecture, inspired by the Louvre and the Paris Opera house. It has 11 restaurants in total and 5 bars; however, the best attractions are, without doubt, the rooftop swimming pool.
Sidenote: There are several other themed hotels in Vegas that you can visit. Each will make you feel like you are in another state, city or country!
Day 2:
When we think about Las Vegas, the first things that come to mind are Bright lights, slot machines, Lavish hotels, nightclubs, exotic cars, and all-you-can-eat buffets. However, there is a lot more to Las Vegas than that, and after spending your first day on the strip, you should venture away from the crowds and check out the great sites that the Las Vegas desert has to offer.
You can check out small attractions in the desert and even visit the Red Rock Canyon, which has several sights, activities, and experiences to keep any adventurer or traveler entertained.
Visit the seven magic mountains:
The “Seven Magic Mountains” is truly magical in Las Vegas. It is a large-scale site-specific public art installation made by the Internationally renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. The “Seven Magic Mountains” is located near Jean Dry Lake and Interstate 15, about 10-miles towards the south of Las Vegas.
It comprises seven towers of colorful, stacked boulders, which stand more than 30-feet high. This spot is trendy among young travelers primarily because of the fantastic Instagram photos they can take here. So, don’t forget to take some incredible shots for your feed as well.
Take some photos on the Graffiti Train track on the way to Red Rock Canyon:
After the seven magic mountains, you should head towards the Red Rock Canyon, where you can spend most of your day; however, on the way, you will pass a train track with loads of graffiti. This is an excellent spot for a spontaneous photoshoot.
The train tracks, fences, and colorful graffiti make this spot the perfect backdrop for some unique and cool photos. So, don’t forget to take some time for this ideal spot.
Have an outdoors adventure at the Valley of Fire:
The valley of fire is renowned for its 40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops nestled in gray and tan limestone. This incredible park contains old trees and ancient petroglyphs that date back over 2000 years.
The park is open all year round, and it has several campsites equipped with shaded tables, grills, and water. Furthermore, there are many intriguing trails in the park as well.
Start your tour from the visitors center, which has several exhibits that show the incredible prehistory, geology, ecology, and history of the park and the surrounding region. You can find maps for the hiking trails and other park attractions here. So, it’s the perfect place to start your tour.
It would be best if you then headed out on the main road passing through the park, known as the Mouse’s Tank Road. This road curves through the park and allows you to observe some breathtaking scenery. Keep your eye out for signs that show trailheads and other park attractions.
Near the east entrance and the visitors center, you will find the park’s first attraction, the Elephant rock. With a bit of imagination, this rock resembles an elephant. After a short drive on Mouse’s Tank Road, you will find a sign for “The Beehives.” These aren’t actual beehives, but the theme of the park suggests.
They are rocks that resemble beehives in shape. These large boulders are easy to climb, and you can get a great view of the park from there. They are also an excellent spot to take some pictures.
There are several hiking trails in the park, and one of the first ones that you will find is the one to the Mouse’s trap. At the end of the course, there is a natural boulder that collects water, and the hike is relatively easy; however, if you are short on time, you can skip this hiking trail.
The Rainbow Vista hiking trail is much more worthwhile, and the 1-mile round trip leads to a small hill, which provides an excellent panoramic view of the Canyon. You should also check out iconic spots like the Pink Canyon and the fire wave, two of the prettiest places in the valley of fire. Next up, you should head to the White Domes hiking trail, one of the best and most challenging hiking trails in the park. It is a 1.25-mile-long round trip through a narrow slot canyon. The Fire Cave and Arch Rock are also popular spots to visit in the park.
Head out to see the Vegas sign:
After spending your day hiking through the valley of fire, you will probably be tired, so, to end your trip, you should visit the welcome to Las Vegas sign on your way back. This iconic sign is located at 5200 Las Vegas Blvd S, and it is one of the oldest neon signs in Las Vegas; and it was built and opened in 1959.
Day 3:
On day three, we are continuing with the trend of getting away from the rush of the city, and we are going to check out some of the other natural and exciting sights Las Vegas has to offer
Enjoy your day at the Red Rock Canyon:
- Stop By The Visitor Center at the Red Rock Canyon:
The visitors center is located at the entrance to the Scenic Drive, and it has loads of information about the Red Rock Canyon and its history. You can see maps of the hiking trails in the park and see what attractions they have to offer.
The visitors center has multiple indoor and outdoor exhibits and a live desert tortoise habitat.
- Take the Scenic Drive in the Red Rock Canyon:
The Scenic Drive is a staple of the Red Rock Canyon that you can not miss. It is the best way to get around the massive park, and most trailheads and observation points are near the Scenic drive. The 13-mile long route offers some of the most incredible scenery in the entire state.
Although an SUV tour through the park can be fun, if you’re feeling athletic, you can also ride a mountain bike on the Scenic route and enjoy one of the many hikes the Red Rock Canyon has to offer.
However, keep in mind that the Scenic Drive is a one-way route, so whenever a spot piques your interest, make sure to check it out.
- Go for a hike in the Red Rock Canyon:
The Red Rock Canyon is perfect for hiking. There are a total of 26 different hiking trails in the Canyon. If you are looking for an easy to moderate level hiking train, the one along Calico Hills is an excellent option. This incredible trail takes you through beautiful red bluffs and shady gorges.
There are many ways to get onto this trail, but the simplest and most straightforward is on the scenic drive. The hike starts with a steep staircase down and can be anywhere between 2 to 6 miles depending on how far you are willing to go, and it can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours to complete. However, it is entirely worth it because you get to experience the unique landscape of the Canyon in an immersive manner.
If you feel more adventurous and consider yourself an experienced Hiker, you can also go on the Icebox Canyon Trail; however, this trail is not for everyone. It is rated as brutal and can be pretty steep at some points. It is quite shorter than the Calico Hills Trail, being only 2.2 miles long; however, it is significantly more challenging.
This trail leads to the Icebox Canyon, an incredible spot to get away from the desert heat. This narrow Canyon almost doesn’t get any sunlight throughout the day. Moreover, the cool water pouring from the mountains also keeps the Canyon very chilly.
If you want to have an adventure, you can also go rock climbing at the Red Rock Canyon. It is quite common to hear the echoing voices of rock climbers when you are hiking beside cliffs. Several rock climbing spots in the park are rated for beginners and expert climbers. The pictures you take in this Iconic spot will be memorable, so don’t forget them.
Final thoughts:
Las Vegas is one of the most iconic and popular cities in the US and the entire world. It is also known as the “Sin City” because everything goes here. It is the perfect destination if you want to let loose and has the time of your life.
However, apart from the showgirls, gambling, lavish hotels, and city lights, Las Vegas and it’s surrounding has a lot to offer. Not many people will consider the desert surrounding Las Vegas to have any natural sights, but believe me, the unique beauty of spots like Red Rock Canyon and the fire valley will take you by surprise.
So, here was our itinerary to Las Vegas, which allows you to cram as much of the incredible experiences as possible into a short three-day weekend. We hope that you find it helpful and informative.