All photos Chris Carmichael. You may have noticed that in some of our other city guides, we've referenced "neighborhoods we like. Try asking a local where they live.
They'll rarely give you a neighborhood or town. The response will either be cross streets or a compassed version of the city "I live in North LV. Away from The Strip, Las Vegas is extremely spread out and development is always stopping and starting, creating new residential zones. For the purposes of this guide, these are the places you should know. All the major hotels, restaurants, casinos, etc. But we're about to blow your mind, because It's technically south of the city limits in the towns of Paradise and Winchester.
There you go. A couple warnings about the Strip. First, if you happen to be sober and out-and-about during the day, it's a complete eyesore. The buildings look sad in the sunlight, and the surrounding brown and orange hues will be an aggressive reminder that you're in the desert.
But damn, when that town lights up at night, people flip their shit. If your flight comes in after dark, you'll definitely want a window seat. Second, the Strip is much longer than you think. Depending on your source, it runs between 4. Not blocks. Think about that when you decide to wear your highest, most uncomfortable shoes for a night of casino and club hopping. Nothing will be as close as you want it to be. Just getting from one end of your hotel to the other can take 20 minutes.
Please don't be gross and start walking around barefoot. You will step in things that will give you nightmares for years. Go to the nearest pharmacy and buy those cheap flats that fold up and fit in a clutch. Fremont Street houses some of the classic casinos, most of which have seen better days. In recent years, efforts have been put into revitalizing the area. Despite some backlash in the last couple years, it's difficult to deny the impact the change has had for the people of Las Vegas.
