Perhaps, tourists coming to Las Vegas (Nevada) violate most of the commandments, therefore they call this place a “city of sins”, but no one can deny that it impresses with its beauty and offers for an unforgettable vacation. Every traveler will find entertainment to their liking, although most of them get here to go into all seriousness and have fun spending their money.
State of nevada
Perhaps this is the most contrasting state of America. Las Vegas with its famous hotels and casinos is not its only “attraction”. Everything is unique here: climate, nature, cities and people.
Once a Spanish colony, Nevada became part of the United States during the Civil War between North and South. His motto is “born in battle,” and as a sign of the valor of the soldiers who died in these battles, today several warships of America proudly bear his name.
Although the tourism and gambling profits make a big contribution to the state treasury, agriculture also flourishes. This is a rare case when land is used at 90%. No less rich state with the city of Las Vegas minerals. For example, gold mining here accounts for 9% of world reserves.
But the greatest fame for these places brought Las Vegas - the world leader in the gambling industry. This city is quite young, but in a short time it was able to turn from an ordinary railway station in an oasis in the middle of the desert into a metropolis, to which they travel for the thrills of the whole world.
History of the city
Although located in the desert of Las Vegas, the state in which it is located, translated from Spanish, means "snowy." This is not surprising, since most of Nevada is located in the intermountain plateaus, while the famous city, founded in 1905, in its southern part. A beautiful oasis in the Mojave Desert was discovered by chance in 1829, when a tangled caravan circled in search of water.
The discovered source was called Las Vegas (the state at that time was much smaller) and became a must-see destination for caravan stops on the way from Texas to Los Angeles (California).
When the rapid construction of railroads began in the United States, it became natural to build one of them along the caravan route. Thus formed a large railway junction Las Vegas. The city itself began to be built up only at the beginning of the 20th century and almost immediately gained a reputation as an immoral place. This is due to free morals, which were inherent in him from the very beginning. Fast weddings and fights without rules for money attracted many scams and thrill-seekers to the city.
The first Arizona club was open to railway workers so that workers could relax, drink and take down women of easy virtue, but apparently the desire to break the commandments was already strong in Las Vegas, so soon instead of the barrack where it was located, a beautiful stone building appeared in the premises of which the first roulettes were placed.
So the city of gambling was born, it remains so today.
The fight against the "sins" of Las Vegas
The authorities, who tried to return the lecherous city to the path of holiness, banned gambling in 1919, forcing the casinos available by then to go underground. The owners of gambling establishments became even richer, and Las Vegas (Nevada, too) lost huge profits, which were previously deducted to the treasury in the form of taxes from each casino. Only in 1931, having assessed all the damage to the budget and realizing that those who wanted to play would still find where to do it, they decided to legalize gambling. The document confirming this took 6 pages, and today it contains several tens of thousands of acts.
But not only this accelerated the development of the city, but the dam, built just 40 km from it, which not only supplied the whole region with electricity, but also formed a beautiful Lake Mead, which attracted nature lovers to its shores.
Gambling establishments of the city
Casinos were built one after another. Among their owners there were people of completely different layers, from the former police chief to the mafia leaders. The greatest boom in the construction and development of the gambling and leisure industry occurred in the late 40s and 50s. The most legendary Flamingo casino was built in 1946 by Billy Wilkerson, whom many businessmen at that time considered a visionary. His institution was the first place where customers were offered not only gaming halls, but also entertainment and recreation at the resort level.
If we compare the gambling establishments built before 1960 and modern casinos, Las Vegas (Nevada), over 100 years of development, not only did not decline, as he was predicted, but became the capital of world-class entertainment. As travelers note in their reviews, they come here not so much for the game as for the spectacle. The best shows, musicals, circus performances, SPA, musical fountains and themed casinos - this is the whole of Vegas.
Where to stay in the city
Only an inexperienced tourist can mix up what state Las Vegas is in. A city in the middle of the desert in a region that is famous for its harsh winters, when temperatures drop to -46 degrees, this is rather the exception. That is why people who do not know the geography of the United States "transfer" sultry Las Vegas, where in the summer the heat rises to +50, to California, which is nearby.
This city impresses not only with its casinos, but also with the most unusual hotels.
It is interesting to know: there are 25 large hotels in the world, among which 15 are in Las Vegas. What state will refuse the reputation of the most gambling, hospitable and most visited in the USA? He created a name for himself thanks to the title of “city of sins”, not without reason for the 600,000 population living here, more than 50 million people come here annually.
According to tourists, some hotels in the city are like mini-towns, which have everything for a quality vacation: casinos, SPA, cafes, boutiques, sports grounds and pools, bars and restaurants and chapels for instant weddings. What pleasantly pleases visitors is housing prices. Here for $ 30-50 a day you can rent a comfortable room, and a suite will cost $ 100. As a rule, this is due to the fact that customers leave as much cash as possible at slot machines and in stores.
Famous and Popular Las Vegas Hotels
Among the most original hotels in the city:
- Bellagio - famous for its singing fonts, which all Las Vegas guests have to watch. It was here that the film "Ocean's 11 Friends" was shot.
- "Hard Rock Hotel" was chosen by musicians and participants of bachelor parties and hen parties, which is probably connected with the spirit of freedom that reigns here.
- Themed hotels are no less popular, for example, Venice, which has an artificial channel where gondoliers ride tourists singing songs in Italian. Vacationers say that this is one of the best places for a romantic getaway.
- Of the more modern hotels, travelers praise the Stratosphere, which has a 350-meter tower with an observation deck and a lot of attractions. Thrill lovers can jump from it on a bungee.
These are far from all the hotels in the city, but vacationers note that Las Vegas (Nevada) is a place with its own Paris, Egypt and even the sea. Each of them was created with the aim of surprising, enchanting with comfort and luxury, so that people come here again and again to spend their money.
Sports arenas
It is hard to imagine that in such a gambling place sports were not held. Arenas, as stadiums are called here, are constantly in demand. Some of them are built exclusively for baseball, while others meet fans of American football, volleyball or basketball.
Americans are a very athletic nation, so there is nothing surprising in the fact that you need to buy tickets for the final games for six months.
Some hotels have their own golf courses, which host international tournaments, no less famous than the legendary world poker championships, which have been held for 47 years in a row at Binion's Gambling Hall, a casino famous for having 1 million displayed in its window dollars.
Vegas show
People always crave “bread and circuses”. In this sense, they are not much different from the ancient Romans, but the level of entertainment since that time has qualitatively changed for the better. The shows that take place in every casino and hotel in the city are of such a high level and so diverse in theme that, as tourists say, even the longest ticket does not allow everyone to get acquainted.
If Nevada, the state around Las Vegas, offers its guests a meeting with the pristine nature, beautiful mountains and even the opportunity to feel like a gold digger, then the city gives a completely different experience.
The most famous Las Vegas shows:
- "The Lion King" is a famous musical that began its march through the country with the equally legendary Broadway theaters. The story of the lion cub, which becomes king, is known to all the children of the world. In Las Vegas, she is watched and admired no less than kids, adults. Music, costumes, an excellent acting game - all this is sold out at every performance.
- You can watch the show on Fremont Street just by walking along it in the evening. On the huge dome, 6 shows are shown every hour, each of which is a picture that reproduces millions of LED displays.
- Circus shows can be visited at the Circus-Circus Casino Hotel, there are numerous attractions and even a real roller coaster.
It is interesting to know: in the 50s of the last century, one of the “shows” that attracted thousands of tourists was testing nuclear bombs at a test site 100 km from the city. Nuclear mushrooms could be seen directly from the hotel room.
Zoo
Although this state is considered harsh in itself, Las Vegas is located in the desert, so most of the inhabitants of the local zoo are connected with it. Endangered plants and animals are protected here, and this is almost the only place free to visit.
According to tourists, an extraordinary atmosphere of the neighborhood reigns here over 150 species of rare representatives of flora and fauna, which can be watched at least all day. The only paid building is a gem museum, but no money is pitied to enjoy such beauty.
Museums
Las Vegas continues to amaze. Well, where else could a museum of erotica be opened , if not in the most "sinful" city? In this place, erotica is promoted as a form of art, the main component of which is sensuality. Guests can familiarize themselves with photos, videos and paintings of an appropriate nature, listen to interesting lectures on this topic or watch dances.
Another unusual museum is an open-air platform, on which old neon signs are collected. They once made this city famous. And again, you can see their radiance and take off against their background every evening.
Entertainment industry
The history of the most gambling city in the world in all its glory shows how much people crave entertainment and thrills. As long as there is excitement and a desire to win a million dollars, life in this city will be seething around the clock.
Las Vegas is a popular tourist center in the United States, as evidenced by the huge number of people who come here to fully consciously and voluntarily give their money for an unforgettable experience.