LAS VEGAS TRAVEL GUIDE: 13 Things to Know Before You Go

The Las Vegas Strip is a four-mile section of Las Vegas Boulevard known for its hotels, casinos, and attractions.

The Fremont Street Experience is a canopied five-block area in downtown Las Vegas featuring 24 million LED lights with shows on the hour.

Caesars Palace is a hotel located in the center of the strip.

Downtown Las Vegas is the original gambling center of Vegas with the best slot machine odds.

Las Vegas Boulevard is a street that runs for almost 50 miles, the most famous part of it is the Las Vegas Strip.

Mandalay Bay is at the south end of the strip and it has a gigantic wave pool.

The Strat is at the north end of the strip.

Paradise, Nevada is an unincorporated town where part of the Las Vegas Strip is located.

Winchester, Nevada is an unincorporated town where part of the Las Vegas Strip is located.

Fremont Street is in downtown Las Vegas, particularly the Fremont Street Experience.

The Circa Hotel is the newest hotel and casino in downtown Vegas and is an adults only hotel.

Summerlin is one of Vegas's upscale neighborhoods where you can find a Whole Foods and the Red Rock Casino.

Lake Las Vegas is a neighborhood built around a lake that looks like a small Mediterranean town and is on the way to the Hoover Dam.

The JW Marriott is located in Summerlin.

The Red Rock Casino is located in Summerlin.

The Red Rock recreation area is located in Summerlin and is a great place to hike in the winter.

The Hoover Dam is about a 45 minute drive from Vegas.

The Weston is a hotel located in Lake Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas International Airport is now called Harry Reid International Airport.

The Rent-A-Car Center is a consolidated Rental Car Center that operates out of the airport.

The Tropicana is a hotel on the strip that still offers free parking.

TI is a hotel on the strip that still offers free parking.

The Venetian is a hotel on the strip that still offers free parking.

The Palazzo is a hotel on the strip that still offers free parking.

Wynn is a hotel on the strip that still offers free parking.

Encore is a hotel on the strip that still offers free parking.

Resorts World is a hotel on the strip that still offers free parking and has heated pools.

Sahara is a hotel on the strip that still offers free parking.

Bellagio is close to the center of the strip.

MGM Grand has a monorail stop and is on the east side of the strip.

Paris is connected to Bally's by an interior hallway.

Horseshoe, formerly Bally's, is connected to Paris by an interior hallway and has a new arcade, bowling alley, and miniature golf.

Excalibur hotel rates can vary wildly.

Allegiant Stadium can cause hotel rates to increase.

Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace is considered one of the best buffets in Vegas.

Planet Hollywood has the ABC store and Earl of Sandwich inside the Miracle Mile shops.

Earl of Sandwich in Planet Hollywood has cheap, quick, tasty sandwiches.

Park MGM has gone entirely no smoking.

The El Cortez hotel is 21 and up only.

The Grand Canyon National Park is a four-hour drive from Vegas.

Zion National Park is a two to three hour drive from Vegas.

Death Valley National Park is a two to three hour drive from Vegas.