Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas was our easy desert-to-desert escape in September 2023 — we flew in for a week and stayed off-Strip at a Club Wyndham resort with room to spread out.
Our experience
We've been three times, all in 2023. We don't go for the gambling so much as the spectacle: world-class shows, restaurants from every celebrity chef, the over-the-top architecture of the Strip, and the surprising natural drama just outside town.
After the show-and-dinner overload, we love escaping to the red rocks nearby. It's a place that does everything to excess, and now and then that's exactly the change of scene we want from quiet Palm Springs.
The famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, designed by Betty Willis in 1959, was never copyrighted — she considered it a gift to the city — and it actually sits outside city limits, on the Strip in unincorporated Clark County.
Must-sees and must-dos
- The Strip after dark — the Bellagio fountains, neon and themed mega-resorts.
- A headline show — Cirque du Soleil, residencies and stage spectaculars.
- Red Rock Canyon — a stunning desert escape just west of town.
- Fremont Street — old-school downtown Vegas and its canopy light show.
- Celebrity-chef dining — the reason to come hungry.
- The Neon Museum — a "boneyard" of the city's classic signs.
Our pro tip
We've learned to balance the Strip with the desert — Red Rock Canyon is just outside town and resets you after the sensory overload. Staying off-Strip gave us quiet and space; you can taxi or rideshare in for shows.
Avoid the brutal summer heat if you can, and book shows and dinner reservations before you arrive.
For a night out, book a Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas on Klook. If you want to get beyond the Strip, check out a Red Rock Canyon sightseeing tour.
For a look at classic Vegas history, book Neon Museum tickets through Tiqets.