01

Day 01

The Strip: Resorts, Views & Shows

Iconic resorts, the Forum Shops, an observation wheel, the Bellagio fountains, and a headline show.

1. Morning

   Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden

   Start at the Bellagio Conservatory, whose elaborate displays change five times a year, a free and unhurried orientation to Strip resort culture before the crowds build.

2. Late Morning

   Forum Shops at Caesars Palace

   Wander the Roman-themed Forum Shops and the halls of Caesars Palace, then continue the Strip's parade of themed resorts past the Venetian's canals and the half-scale Eiffel Tower at Paris.

3. Lunch

   Block 16 Urban Food Hall

   Lunch at the Block 16 Urban Food Hall inside The Cosmopolitan, a compact lineup of cult vendors that lets everyone in the group choose something different.

4. Afternoon

   New York-New York & the south Strip

   Head to the south Strip to ride the Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York and photograph its mini Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty, a playful counterpoint to the morning's window-shopping.

5. Late Afternoon

   High Roller at The LINQ

   Ascend the 550-foot High Roller, one of the world's tallest observation wheels, timing a late-afternoon cabin for long desert light over the valley and surrounding mountains.

6. Evening

   Fountains of Bellagio & a show

   Catch the free Fountains of Bellagio, which dance every fifteen minutes after dark, then have dinner and a headline show, whether a Cirque du Soleil production such as 'O' or a Strip residency.

02

Day 02

Downtown & Fremont Street

Vintage neon, the Mob Museum, the Fremont canopy, and the reborn East Fremont dining scene.

1. Morning

   The Mob Museum

   Begin at the Mob Museum, housed in a 1933 former federal courthouse, whose exhibits trace organized crime and law enforcement through real artifacts and a preserved courtroom.

2. Late Morning

   Fremont Street Experience

   Walk beneath the Fremont Street Experience canopy, the five-block LED barrel vault over the original casino corridor, passing vintage marquees like the Golden Nugget and the Plaza.

3. Lunch

   Downtown Container Park

   Grab lunch at Downtown Container Park, an open-air complex built from shipping containers with casual counters, shaded seating, and a giant praying-mantis sculpture out front.

4. Afternoon

   Downtown casinos & Fremont East

   Explore the classic Downtown casinos, then stroll into the Fremont East district, where restored neon and craft-cocktail bars have revived the blocks beyond the canopy.

5. Late Afternoon

   The Neon Museum

   Tour the Neon Museum's Boneyard at dusk, an open-air collection of restored and retired Las Vegas signs that glow back to life on the after-dark tours; book ahead.

6. Evening

   East Fremont dinner

   Have dinner along East Fremont Street, whose independent kitchens range from wood-fired pizza to modern Mexican, a very different Las Vegas from the Strip.

03

Day 03

Red Rock Canyon & the Western Desert

A scenic desert loop, sandstone trails, a historic ranch, and Summerlin dining.

1. Morning

   Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive

   Drive the 13-mile one-way Scenic Loop through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, stopping at the Calico Hills overlooks; timed-entry reservations are required during the busy cooler months.

2. Late Morning

   Ice Box Canyon Trail

   Hike toward Ice Box Canyon, or the gentler Calico Tanks trail, for up-close red-and-cream sandstone, shaded box canyons, and, after rain, seasonal waterfalls.

3. Lunch

   Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

   Picnic at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, a green oasis of lawns and historic ranch buildings set against the Wilson Cliffs just south of the loop.

4. Afternoon

   Red Spring Boardwalk, Calico Basin

   Walk the easy Red Spring Boardwalk at Calico Basin, where a desert spring supports cottonwoods and interpretive signs explain the area's geology and Indigenous history.

5. Late Afternoon

   Downtown Summerlin

   Return to Summerlin as the light softens, browsing the open-air Downtown Summerlin shops or simply relaxing before dinner on the valley's western edge.

6. Evening

   Summerlin dinner

   Have dinner in Summerlin, whose restaurants offer everything from acclaimed sushi to Italian, a calmer and more local scene than the Strip.

04

Day 04

Hoover Dam, Lake Mead & Boulder City

An engineering marvel, a bridge walk, a vast reservoir, and a gaming-free historic town.

1. Morning

   Hoover Dam

   Tour Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, completed in 1935; the powerplant and dam tours take you deep inside the Art Deco structure straddling the Nevada-Arizona state line.

2. Late Morning

   Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

   Walk the pedestrian path on the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge for a dizzying view straight down onto the dam and the river gorge below.

3. Lunch

   Boulder City

   Drive into Boulder City for lunch; built to house dam workers, it remains one of only two Nevada towns where gambling is banned, with a walkable historic Main Street.

4. Afternoon

   Lake Mead National Recreation Area

   Head to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the largest reservoir in the United States by capacity, for a scenic shoreline drive, a swim, or a boat outing from one of its marinas.

5. Late Afternoon

   Historic Railroad Trail

   Hike or bike part of the Historic Railroad Trail toward the dam, passing through five original railway tunnels with wide views over the lake.

6. Evening

   Henderson dinner

   Return through Henderson for dinner, or continue back toward the Strip; the Water Street district makes a relaxed stop before the drive in.

05

Day 05

The Arts District, Immersive Museums & Farewell

Immersive art, the 18b gallery district, the Springs Preserve, and a Sphere finale.

1. Morning

   Springs Preserve

   Start at the Springs Preserve, on the site of the original water source that gave Las Vegas its name, with botanical gardens, desert trails, and the Nevada State Museum.

2. Late Morning

   Area15 & Omega Mart

   Move to Area15, an immersive entertainment complex, and lose an hour or two in Meow Wolf's Omega Mart, a surreal, interactive art experience disguised as a supermarket.

3. Lunch

   18b Las Vegas Arts District

   Have lunch in the 18b Las Vegas Arts District, a walkable stretch of galleries, vintage shops, breweries, and independent cafes centered on Main Street.

4. Afternoon

   Arts District galleries

   Spend the afternoon browsing the Arts District's galleries and antique stores; on the first Friday of each month the neighborhood fills with the outdoor First Friday festival.

5. Late Afternoon

   Symphony Park

   Circle back toward Symphony Park downtown, home to the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and its landmark tower, a quieter architectural counterpoint before the evening.

6. Evening

   The Sphere & farewell dinner

   Finish at the Sphere at The Venetian, whose immersive LED dome shows films such as 'Postcard from Earth', then reserve a farewell dinner at a Strip steakhouse or celebrity-chef table.