Boston Traveler: Las Vegas
With a luxe new hotel, star-studded shows, and the chance to soar high above the bright lights, Sin City’s megawatt pull is more enticing than ever.
A view of the fountains at the Bellagio. / iStock
GETTING THERE
Several daily nonstop flights on JetBlue will zip you to the Strip in roughly six hours.
STAYING THERE
Proof that Las Vegas is leaning more tasteful than tawdry, the Sydell Group opened its hip NoMad Hotel this year on the top floors of the Park MGM. The hotel within a hotel mimics the timeless design aesthetic of sister spots in Manhattan and L.A., with 293 guest rooms featuring Italian linens, pedestal bathtubs, and original artwork. New this month is the pool, inspired by the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech.
A chic spot at the NoMad Hotel. / Photo courtesy of NoMad Hotel
A.M.
Begin the morning with a heart-pumping hike at nearby Red Rock Canyon, and feel better about the decadent eating and drinking to come. Choose among trails that range from easy to agonizing: At just over a half-mile long, beginner-friendly Lost Creek showcases the many wonders of the Mojave Desert; Bridge Mountain, a 16-mile trail that ascends stunning sandstone peaks, is ideal for more-advanced climbers. With the hard work complete, you’ll want to indulge with the ’77 Elvis pancakes—chocolate chips, banana compote, bourbon maple syrup, and peanut butter—at the Venetian’s southern soul-food spot, Yardbird. If your quads are still barking, Qua Baths at Caesars Palace offers both hot-stone and Hawaiian lomi-lomi massages.
P.M.
Just in time for sunset, a new kind of Vegas thrill: gliding 12 stories high above the Strip on the city’s only zipline, starting at just $20 at the Linq hotel. Looking for a bit more culture? Art is electrified at the Neon Museum, a one-of-a-kind experience that reveals the Vegas of yesteryear. When it’s time to dine, tuck into pizzette and crudo at the Bellagio’s Lago, which boasts an outdoor patio complete with killer views of the fountains. Of course, no trip to Vegas would be complete without catching a show, and 2019 brings Gwen Stefani to Planet Hollywood. Inspired by her vocal stylings? Wind down at the Bar at Times Square at New York-New York, where you can sing along to dueling pianos and meet new friends you’ll swear you’ve known forever.
