Part 1: Reno and Death Valley

Part 2: Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, and Valley of Fire

Part 3: San Diego

Part 4: Downtown LA and Hollywood

Part 5: More LA and Long Beach

Part 6: Santa Barbara and the California Coast

Part 7: San Francisco

Part 8: Sacramento

 

 

I arrived in Las Vegas on the evening of May 22, and went Downtown for the sunset:

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning, the real tour of Vegas began, as I was joined by...

 

 

We returned Downtown...

 

 

...and began by checking out the Fremont East District:

 

 

The Downtown Container Park, operated by the Downtown Project, is a unique space (made from old shipping containers) that contains a variety of restaurants, shops, and live entertainment.

 

 

 

This giant praying mantis periodically shoots fire out of its antennae:

 

 

You should ask ColDayMan[/member] about his experiences at the Golden Gate:

 

 

Moving south, we check out The Stratosphere, the northernmost casino that can be considered part of The Strip. The observation deck has great views of Downtown:

 

 

...the surrounding mountains:

 

 

...and of the strip:

 

 

(If you're wondering what that blue tower is, look up Fontainebleau. There is perhaps no better example of Las Vegas excess and resource-wasting. The $3 billion complex was topped out in 2008 before the developer declared bankruptcy and construction stopped. So this unfinished building has been sitting there for nearly 7 years, and will most likely be imploded at some point.)

 

You can also look down at all the little old motels and casinos that have been surpassed by the newer mega-resorts opening up on the strip:

 

 

 

 

Livin' in the sprawl:

 

 

Spying on the Stratosphere guests:

 

 

Now on to the strip. CityCenter is a development, completed in 2009, that includes some residential towers, hotels, casinos, restaurants, and shopping:

 

 

 

As far as the rest of the strip... well, you guys know what that looks like...

 

 

 

 

There is also a cluster of casinos, way off the strip on the east side:

 

 

 

Panorama of the Strip (sorry, taken through glass):

 

 

One final shot of the city:

 

 

All in all, I enjoyed visiting Vegas and found it fascinating from an urban planning perspective.

 

The Strip developed organically as investors began building casinos and resorts south of the city--both to avoid Las Vegas' laws and taxation, and to be the first thing visitors driving towards the city would see. It is fascinating to look at old photos of the strip and to read about how each resort was town down and replaced with a progressively longer one over the years. So density and walkability (to some extent) developed on their own over time. And yet, these high rises are mixed in with massive vacant lots, fast food drive-thrus, etc.

 

It was also interesting, walking around the strip, to see that the casinos built within the past 10 years felt very nice and modern, but even the ones built 20 years ago felt extremely dated. I think this is mostly due to standards getting higher over the years, and newer casinos being full service resorts rather than just a gaming floor.

 

 

 

Onward towards Las Vegas' source of power and water... at least, until they suck it completely dry:

 

 

 

US Route 93 actually crossed over Hoover Dam until 2010, when the traffic was rerouted to the new Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge:

 

 

(The bridge is also part of a plan to eventually build a new interstate linking Phoenix to Las Vegas.)

 

Behind the dam is Lake Mead and the Lake Mead National Recreational Area:

 

 

 

 

 

Also in the area is the Valley of Fire, a Nevada state park. This was one of the most incredible areas I saw on the entire roadtrip:

 

 

 

 

 

Time to leave Greater Las Vegas:

 

 

Driving past the world's largest solar thermal power plant:

 

 

On to our next destination, San Diego!

 

Outstanding pics!  I'm trying to get down to Las Vegas for the first time this year, and I hope to get some good shots as well.  Thanks!

Excellent set.

Great set of pictures! I loved my time visiting Vegas, but I am still astounded by the thought of anyone actually wanting to live there.

Well done, thanks

:-D

 

SD! SD! SD!

Great photos! I enjoyed seeing some non-Strip Vegas.

I love Vegas and think it's one of the most fun places in the United States. I'm there all the time for work, and have yet to be let down. My experiences there have managed to top anything I've done at home in the Bay (none appropriate to write about here :wink:). It is a great place to work and a great place to party. The clubs there are just on another level, and the hotels on the strip are top notch. It's a very energizing, socially outgoing place.

 

Thanks for sharing these pics!

nice job that was fun to read and see!

 

ok now to hell with that wat stays in vegas nonsense - tell us one story you shouldnt tell us!  :wink2:

Fantastic photos (and video!)… as expected. Container Park was a unique an expected surprise. And despite the occasional clouds, we probably received some of the best weather we could have possibly anticipated --for the desert, over those two days. Wish we could say the same for the next leg on the trip lol.