24 Hours In… Las Vegas City Guide

Travel
24 Hours In… Las Vegas
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A glittering oasis of lights in the Nevada desert, Las Vegas was indeed founded by gangsters in the early years of the 20th century and has no doubt seen enough rather nefarious activity over the decades to have rightfully earned its nickname, Sin City. But today, Vegas is better known for its world-class entertainment, superb culinary scene and hotel properties that are ever upping the ante when it comes to art and design. If you only have 24 hours in town, here’s what one perfect day might entail.

By Erin Lindholm

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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8:30am, Put an Egg On It — The earlier you can get to the only Vegas outpost of cult Los Angeles fast-casual joint Eggslut, the better your chances of not having to queue with the hungry masses. Head for the second level of The Cosmopolitan (which also happens to be one of the Strip’s hippest stays) to get your eggy fix of classic breakfast sandwiches perfected with premium ingredients, house-made condiments and oh-so-pillowy brioche buns. (Note: Eggslut opens at 7am weekdays and stays open all night on Friday and Saturday.)

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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9:15am, Stroll Down Memory Lane — Visions of Las Vegas are synonymous with neon signage, and thankfully, many signs from bygone decades have found a permanent home at the Neon Museum, located just north of the Strip in the city’s downtown district. Guided tours of the museum’s so-called neon boneyard provide a treasure trove of insights into the signs and their stories. And yes, photos for personal use are allowed – so best be prepared for your Insta photo-op.

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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10:30am, Peep The Street Art — One decidedly insider fact about Las Vegas is that it has an exceptional collection of murals by local and internationally known street artists, including pieces by Vhils, Shepard Fairey and D*Face, to name a few. What began with a few commissions for the Life is Beautiful festival (held every September) has turned into a legitimate downtown street art district, the heart of which is Fremont Street, E. Ogden Avenue, North 6th and North 7th streets – but don’t be shy to wander further afield.

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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11:30am, Window Shop & Then Some — No trip to Vegas would be complete without a visit to one of the city’s iconic shopping destinations, which include The Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace and the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian. In addition to top-tier retailers, both venues are known for their ambiance and entertainment: the gondola rides at the Grand Canal Shops and the “Fall of Atlantis” show at the Forum Shops are definitely Vegas classics. Embrace the surreality, and enjoy the show.

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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12:30pm, Lunch With A View — One of the latest buzzy topics in the Vegas restaurant scene is the move of Wolfgang Puck’s Spago to prime real estate at the Bellagio, directly overlooking the lagoon where the hotel’s fountains do their dance beginning at noon on weekends and at 3pm on weekdays. Whether or not the fountains are active, the serenity of the lagoon and a few shared plates – think light pizzas, pastas and salads – are the perfect midday pitstop.

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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2pm, Indulge In Some Poolside R&R — One of the secrets to making it through a marathon Las Vegas day that will go well into the night is to take a bit of a time out at some point in the afternoon, to rest and chill before Round 2. And since Las Vegas hotels typically have such beautifully designed pools – Aria Resort & Casino, Caesar’s Palace, The Cosmopolitan and the new Park MGM all have lovely ones – why not enjoy them? Even if it’s not swimsuit weather, there’s nothing wrong with relaxing poolside and getting a little vitamin D. [Photo: Park MGM Pool]

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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3:30pm, Hotel Hopping — If you’re a hotel fan, an art and design lover, a foodie, or all of the above: one of the best parts of Vegas is checking out what’s new and notable around town. The Palms, fresh from a major refresh, has a very cool new vibe; the massive Damien Hirst shark hanging suspended over Unknown bar on the casino floor sets the tone as soon as you arrive (Hirst also had a hand in the bar’s polka-dot motif). And the opening of the Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas has transformed the former Monte Carlo into one of the Strip’s must-visit destinations. [Photo: Unknown at The Palms]

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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5pm, See Las Vegas From New Heights — The lights of the Las Vegas Strip are undeniably dazzling, which makes sundown or after-dark the perfect time to head for the world’s tallest observation wheel, the High Roller. Similar to the London Eye or Singapore Flyer, spacious cabins allow for optimal 360-degree viewing; one rotation takes 30 minutes (and, because it’s Las Vegas, there’s a bar cabin option for guests 21+). For even better views – and in less time, too – Maverick Tours’ Las Vegas Nights helicopter tour offers a bird’s-eye view of the city’s hotels and landmarks during a spectacular 15-minute flight.

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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6:30pm, Dinner + Show (Option 1) — Between the Cirque du Soleil performances, celebrity residencies, and variety shows of all stripes, there’s no question that Vegas truly is the entertainment capital of the US. The key to a good evening game plan is keeping things easy, which is why the combination of dinner at The Cosmo’s sultry supper club, Rose. Rabbit. Lie., plus tickets to Opium, the new Spiegelworld variety show – think retro-steampunk space journey, peppered with bawdy humour – works so well. [Photo: Opium by Spiegelworld]

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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6:30pm, Dinner + Show (Option 2) — Then there’s Lady Gaga and Britney Spears. Both American pop stars are launching residencies at Park Theater: Lady Gaga Enigma opens 28 December and includes 23 show dates for 2019, as well as several dates for a jazz and piano show. Britney: Domination bows in February. For dinner before a show at the Park Theater, the NoMad Restaurant, Primrose or Bavette’s Steakhouse at Park MGM and any of Aria’s restaurant offerings – including the new Vegas outpost of Catch – are all right there. [Photo: Primrose]

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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Late: Get Your Tiki On — Given the city’s love of all things retro and kitsch, it’s not surprising that Vegas has a strong tiki cocktail culture. What better way to wind down an amazing night out than with a classic tiki tipple served up in a custom tiki mug with all the garnishes – tiny umbrella included? Located just a few blocks west of the Strip, Frankie’s Tiki Room is favourite locals’ haunt that slings both classic and original tiki drinks 24 hours a day. So no worries about the time – whatever time it is, Frankie’s will be open.

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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Watch Before You Go — Bridesmaids, The Hangover, Ocean’s 11 (either the original or the 2001 remake), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me – truly, there’s no shortage of classic Vegas flicks to watch in advance of your trip. The takeaway: Get pumped and remember, this is also how not to behave.

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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Read Before You Go — Much has been written about Sin City, and any traveller looking to peek behind the curtain before they even reach the city limits is spoiled for choice, from the perennial favourite Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson, to Larry McMurtry’s The Desert Rose and Nicholas Pileggi’s Casino. For a broader view, reach for Literary Las Vegas: The Best Writing About America’s Most Fabulous City – a collection of stories and musings on Vegas, written by some of the country’s most-revered authors, including Joan Didion and Tom Wolfe. Perfect for airplane or poolside reading.

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas.
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Brush Up On Your Hockey Knowledge Before You Go — Curious to check out a local sporting event while in town? Las Vegas is home to the National Hockey League’s newest team, the Vegas Golden Knights, who play at T-Mobile Arena. In their inaugural season last year, the Golden Knights made it all the way to the Stanley Cup – not too shabby.

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24 Hours In… Las Vegas

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