The two main areas of interest for tourists are the Strip and Downtown. Each has a unique atmosphere and most visitors have a strong preference for one or the other. It's not unusual to find that frequent visitors' preference will vacillate between the two.
The Strip is the portion of Las Vegas Boulevard where the latest themed mega-resorts are located. This is where you’ll find the pyramid of Luxor, the medieval castle of Excalibur , the canals of Venice, the Eiffel Tower of Paris, and many more. These resorts include hotels, casinos, restaurants, night clubs, shops, performances and other attractions - such as the walk-through lion habitat at MGM Grand. Compared to downtown, this area of Vegas tends to be more trendy, upscale and pricey. Self-parking at most casinos on the strip are free of charge, and so is valet, but you should tip the valet between 1 and 5 U.S. Dollars.
Downtown Las Vegas is centered around Fremont Street, about a mile north of the Strip and home of the popular overhead video canopy that covers several city blocks. This area is vintage Vegas, where you can find the historic Golden Nugget Casino as well as Vegas Vic, the famous 40-foot neon cowboy sign, and his nearby companion, Lady Luck. Cheap prices on buffets, drinks and souvenirs, as well as some of the lowest casino table limits in Vegas, can be found in the downtown area; plus there's always live free, professional-quality entertainment in the evenings throughout the length of the area covered by the video canopy, including an hourly laser light show on the canopy itself. There are also an abundance of vendors in this area, some of whom also provide entertainment value, such as a person who paints pictures with spray paints. Free garage parking is available at all casinos as long as you are staying at that particular casino/hotel or get your parking voucher validated inside the casino. You can usually do this at the cashier cage or a restaurant that is inside the casino. Otherwise, they charge you by the hour.
Several golf courses are located on the outskirts of the city, and the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area is about a half-hour to the west.
