Nevada’s casino-resorts become more imaginative and lavish every year. Visitors can spend the night in a pyramid, the Eiffel Tower or a penthouse suite overlooking breathtaking Lake Tahoe. Visitors can also shop at upscale and name-brand boutiques, eat at lavish restaurants and see exciting big-name entertainment or watch thrilling boxing and sporting events without even leaving their hotel. Whether planning a trip with the family or taking a dream vacation to pamper yourself in unparalleled luxury, Nevada has a resort experience for every taste and budget.
Las Vegas
With more neon and lights than any other city,
Las Vegas
is home to themed resorts that conjure nearly every imaginable fantasy. Visitors can walk the famed Las Vegas Strip and experience ancient Egypt, Paris, Rome, Venice, New York, Monte Carlo and a variety of tropical paradises. In fact, 18 of the 20 largest hotels in the United States are in Las Vegas.
A must-see example is
Mandalay Bay
, which brings the beach to Las Vegas with its 11-acre tropical lagoon and swim-up shark tank.
The Venetian
brings the elegance and beauty of Italy to Nevada with a recreation of the Sistine Chapel in the lobby and a gondola on the Grand Canal through St. Mark’s Square. Just a short walk away is the
Bellagio
and its eight-acre lake with more than 1,000 “dancing” fountains and an indoor garden that transforms with the seasons.
Caesars Palace
is yet another example of ornate beauty where marble statues, luxuriant fountains and manicured gardens set the standard of elegance in the hotel.
Paris Las Vegas immerses visitors in a complete Parisian experience. The Eiffel Tower looms over the Strip where visitors can dine in a gourmet restaurant 11 stories above the street or travel in a glass elevator to an observation deck for a panoramic view of the city. The tower is actually half the size of the real Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Visitors can also get a breathtaking view of Las Vegas at the Stratosphere, whose tower stretches upward at 1,149 feet, making it the largest freestanding observation tower in the United States. For thrill-seekers, the Stratosphere tower boasts three extreme thrill rides that dangle visitors over the side of the tower or shoots them skyward to a height of 1,081 feet.
Nearby New York-New York is another city captured in a resort and combines the most famous sites of the Big Apple with Las Vegas-style thrills and excitement. The hotel mimics the New York skyline with 12 skyscrapers, and the addition of the Manhattan Express roller coaster that twists and turns around the hotel’s towers. The Luxor Las Vegas is perhaps one of the most recognizable resorts with its Egyptian pyramid and sphinx shape.
One of the newer additions to the Strip is the Wynn Las Vegas, which set a new standard for style and sophistication when it opened in 2005. The Wynn features the Strip’s only 18-hole golf course and has an art museum that features paintings by Picasso, Monet, Rembrandt and van Gogh.
Reno/Lake Tahoe
Whether it is amazing outdoor recreation, dazzling entertainment, fine dining, luxury accommodations, exciting festivities or peace and relaxation, there is no place like Reno and Lake Tahoe
With a skyway oyster bar spanning historic Virginia Street that runs through downtown Reno, the Atlantis is a paradise-themed resort with indoor waterfalls and tropical gardens. A short distance away is the Peppermill, which began as a small coffee shop and has grown to include 1,280 rooms and suites, eight restaurants, 12 themed bars and a salon and spa.
John Ascuaga’s Nugget in nearby Sparks celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005 and now features two 29-story towers that offer spectacular views of the surrounding snow-capped Sierra Nevada range. The Grand Sierra Resort set a new standard of excellence in 2007 when it added world-famous Nikki Beach to its property and opened a Charlie Palmer restaurant.
Downtown Reno is always lively with five resorts within walking distance of the Truckee River and the new Reno Events Center that has big-name entertainment, boxing and sporting events.
Circus Circus
is a fun family destination resort with a children’s arcade and circus acts performed daily. The hotel is linked to the Eldorado and Silver Legacy so visitors can dine and shop in three hotels without ever stepping outside. The Eldorado boasts entirely fresh ingredients in all of its 10 award-winning restaurants and has popular bars and lounges that keep the party going all night long. Silver Legacy has a Victorian-era theme reflecting the style of the 1800s and boasts a 120-foot-high silver-mining machine under the resort’s giant dome. Silver Legacy also houses Reno’s only rum bar, RumBullion’s, which features “dueling” pianos that lead the nightly entertainment. All three resorts often host comedians and other live entertainment in addition to their restaurants and bars.
Located only a block away is Harrah’s Reno, which houses a top-rated steak house and Ichiban, a new Japanese-style barbecue restaurant. The Siena Hotel Resort is Reno’s newest resort and features an impressive wine cellar and dining beside the Truckee River that flows through downtown Reno. The Siena also has an elegant and relaxing spa and outdoor rooftop pool.
Lake Tahoe has several resorts that offer panoramic views of the majestic lake and breathtaking mountains. The North Shore is home to the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe and the Cal-Neva Resort, two hotels with rugged yet sophisticated charm.
Every room at the Cal-Neva Resort has a view of Lake Tahoe and the hotel is a popular wedding destination. The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe is an elegant, upscale hotel with a rustic lodge feel. The Stillwater Spa at the Hyatt is the largest spa at the lake while the Lone Eagle Grill is perched on the beach and serves up a mouthwatering menu and beautiful views of the lake.
The South Shore of Lake Tahoe has several resorts within walking distance of each other. Mont Bleu is a serene, contemporary resort that features the South Shore’s largest spa and seven restaurants. Location is everything at Horizon Casino Resort. The resort is just minutes from Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course and numerous ski resorts and is just steps from Lake Tahoe’s beach.
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe is an 18-story resort with a family fun center and swimming pool and is connected to Harveys across the street by an underground corridor. Harveys was South Shore’s original resort and quickly became the area’s first high-rise hotel. The resort boasts eight restaurants, including the the exciting Hard Rock Café.
So, if it is the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas and Reno or the tranquility of Lake Tahoe, Nevada is home to a variety of resort options sure to fit every style.