Las Vegas, Nevada

Pools in Las Vegas
From the vast concrete walls of the Hoover Dam to the spectacular canyons of Zion National Park, there are all sorts of adventures to enjoy around Las Vegas.
Hamburgers are the backbone of the American fast-food diet and new burger joints are popping up on every block, with Las Vegas following the trend.
Las Vegas surprised me most in the stillness between the sparkle. Beneath the dazzle and neon, I found quiet corners where time slowed—a sunrise over the desert, a quiet seat at an empty blackjack table, the soft hush of warm wind at dusk. I remember thinking, “There’s more here than spectacle—if you know where to look.”
What stayed with me weren’t just the lights, but the contrasts: the clink of ice in a rooftop bar against a velvet sky, the solitude of Red Rock Canyon just miles from the Strip, the kindness of a stranger at a late-night diner. I wandered through mirrored lobbies and dusty trails, through shows and silences, and I left feeling unexpectedly moved—like I’d brushed against something human in a place built for illusion.
Whether you’re dreaming of slow mornings by the pool, neon nights, nearby nature escapes, or quiet luxury tucked just behind the noise, these guides gather the Las Vegas that surprised me—vivid, layered, and, if you let it be, unexpectedly tender.