Fodor’s Travel. July 2025.

I eagerly peeked out the window as my flight approached Harry Reid International Airport. Before even traveling there for the first time, I had the map of The Strip memorized. I could recite all the hotels and their corresponding themes like the back of my hand.

As a 23-year-old college student, I was a self-proclaimed Vegas lover, even though I didn’t gamble or drink. On that first trip, I walked through every single hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard. I also took my first helicopter ride over the city, Hoover Dam, and the Grand Canyon. I indulged in my first all-you-can-eat seafood buffet (only $25 at that time), and watched one of the iconic Vegas burlesque shows, shocked to find the dancers topless! At night, I returned to the quiet suburbs to stay with my uncle and aunt, who took me to a neighborhood Italian restaurant where I was certain some of the guests belonged to the mafia.

Over countless family reunions, I explored lesser-known eateries, hiked in the scenic Red Rocks, and took long drives to surrounding national parks. As I revisited for work, I stayed at the opulent Fontainebleau, met the cast of “O,” and spoke to culinary talent of all distinction. Two decades and countless trips later, I still feel the same excitement every time I touch down in Vegas, for the promise of a new and thrilling adventure always remains.

These are my picks for the best things to do and see, plus the must-try restaurants, the top hotels for any budget, and a few things to avoid.

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