Three Perfect Days in Las Vegas

DAY 1

Start by soaking up Sin City’s frenetic energy straight from the source with a walk along the Strip on Las Vegas Boulevard. This famous stretch starts on the south end, around Tropicana Avenue, and runs approximately four miles up to The Strat (formerly the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino), home to the U.S.’s tallest freestanding observation tower. Move with the flow of the crowd, allowing ample time to duck into shops, restaurants and resorts along the way. Architecture doesn’t toe the line in this city, so be sure to wander into a few casinos where themed design and décor are taken to the extreme. Pass through the doors of Paris Las Vegas, The Venetian Las Vegas and New York, New York to be transported to their namesake destinations: take a gondola ride through the canals of Venice, pose for a picture next to a half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower, and admire the NYC skyline or stroll through re-creations of its most famous streets.

Later that day, enter the lobby of the Bellagio for a quick cooldown from the desert heat and the once-in-a-lifetime chance to walk beneath the colorful Fiori di Como. This ceiling-mounted glass sculpture by American artist Dale Chihuly contains over 2,000 handblown pieces of glass and is one of the renowned artist’s largest public works. Take the floral fanfare to the next level with a worthy wander through the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, an expansive, 14,000-square foot, air-conditioned horticultural haven that creates elaborate flower and plant installations that change with the seasons. For a longer respite, spend some time perusing the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, an excellent rotating collection of pieces on temporary loan from private collections and esteemed museums around the globe. Since the resort’s opening in 1998, the gallery has featured work from Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, Pablo Picasso and Georgia O’Keeffe, to name a few.

For a delicious lunch, head to Miznon inside The Venetian Las Vegas, where Israeli chef Eyal Shani serves Mediterranean fast casual cuisine at a 14-seat counter space. The whole roasted baby cauliflower, bag of green beans with lemon, salt and garlic, and stuffed pillow-perfect pitas are longstanding signature favorites.

Next up, head to Las Vegas’ newest attraction, The Sphere. Marvel at its imposing size or scan pre-booked tickets for The Sphere Experience, an almost two-hour program featuring interactive encounters with cutting-edge tech and an immersive, multi-sensory film by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky.

Celebrate your return to the physical world with a toast at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant’s Caviar Bar, located inside Paris Las Vegas’ replica Eiffel Tower. Time a pre-dinner reservation just right for raising a glass to your full first day in Vegas or opt for an after-dinner nightcap for spectacular nighttime views of the Bellagio Fountain show that occur every 15 minutes between 7pm and midnight. Grab a car or walk the short distance to the Nobu Hotel Las Vegas at Caesars Palace, where an 11,200-square foot restaurant awaits. Indulge in Nobu Matsuhisa’s upscale take on Japanese cuisine and sushi made from fish flown in from Japan. For an extra-special meal, book the teppanyaki experience and enjoy an exclusive menu of dishes prepared in front of your table.