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John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints |
That part of Las Vegas Boulevard which runs between the centre of Las Vegas and just south of McCarran International Airport (i.e. between Charleston Boulevard and just south of Tropicana Avenue, a distance of approximately four miles) is universally known as the Strip. However, all official road signs and many maps mark the road as being called Las Vegas Boulevard throughout its length and make no reference to the Strip.
All the major modern casinos and other attractions (Bally's, Caesar's Palace, Circus Circus, Excalibur, Luxor, MGM Grand, Mirage, Sahara, Stratosphere Tower, Treasure Island, Tropicana, Wet 'n' Wild, etc) are located along the Strip. The old casino centre (Golden Nugget, Mint, etc) is located at the north end of the Strip, around and to the west of its intersection with Fremont Street.
A drive along the Strip at any time of the day is extremely interesting. At night the lights create an astonishing and unforgettable experience which is definitely not to be missed.
If you are driving through Las Vegas on I-15 then provided you have sufficient time a diversion to run down the Strip is highly recommended.
Traffic levels tend to be high on the Strip but vehicles are generally slow moving and there are frequent intersections with traffic lights. For most of its length the road has two or three main lanes in each direction, plus filter lanes for turning traffic. Drivers should beware of pedestrians crossing the road, of buses and taxis pulling out, and of being distracted by the sights.
Moving one or two blocks off the Strip in either direction returns you to what is virtually a normal American town.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 includes a reasonably realistic depiction of the Strip. In the simulator you can easily start at McCarran Airport and taxi along the Strip without taking off.
Construction is currently taking place on a northern extension to this line to the Sahara, to create a four mile long system with seven stations, at total cost of $650 million. When complete this will link eight hotels and casinos. The system will have nine trains each with four carriages, capable of travelling at up to 50mph, very similar in design to those used on the fourteen mile long system at Walt Disney World in Florida. The extension is due to be opened for passengers in January 2004. Fares will be $2.50 per person regardless of distance travelled. This compares with $2 for a bus or $10 for a taxi. Trains will run at roughly four minute intervals and journey time from one terminus to the other will be about twelve minutes. Possible further extensions northward to the downtown area, southward to McCarran International Airport, and over the western side of the Strip are also being considered. Critics of the plan say that the system will need to carry 50,000 people per day to break even and that construction will cause considerable disruption to traffic. More information, including a route map, can be found on the Las Vegas Monorail web site (external link verified Apr-02) or Las Vegas (Nevada) Monorail (external link verified Jul-04).
I believe there is also a tentative plan to construct a high-speed passenger railway line between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Las Vegas - First Night Accommodation
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Most recently modified 3-Aug-04