Shannon O'Brien Travel Itineraries

The best destinations

Las Vegas Nevada 2018 09 13 panoramic view of the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Nevada 2018 09 13 panoramic view of the Las Vegas Strip

The Best of Nevada

#17 best destination in the world

Map view

Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park

Underground pool with calm reflections with stalactites hanging from the ceiling inside the Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park
  • The Lehman Caves is a cave about two miles long, making it the longest known cave in Nevada
  • The park it's in, Great Basin National Park, offers tours of the cave
  • The cave had been known to indigenous peoples long before the arrival of Europeans
  • In 1885, Absalom Lehman, a rancher in the area, began guiding tours into the cave
  • Animals use the cave, but must leave to forage for food
  • These cave-dwelling animals include chipmunks, mice, pack rats, and several species of bats

Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam on the Colorado River straddling Nevada and Arizona at dawn, from above.
  • Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona
  • Since about 1900, the Black Canyon and nearby Boulder Canyon had been investigated for their potential to support a dam that would control floods, provide irrigation water, and produce hydroelectric power
  • Constructed between 1931 and 1936, during the Great Depression, it was dedicated in 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers, and cost over 100 lives
  • In bills passed by Congress during its construction, it was referred to as the Hoover Dam, after President Herbert Hoover

Heavenly Mountain Resort Gondola, Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, NV - NOVEMBER 24, 2018: Heavenly ski resort Gondola from the top with the best scenic view of south lake tahoe

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • The Heavenly Mountain Resort Gondola is a scenic gondola ride located in the Heavenly Mountain Resort, which straddles the California-Nevada border near Lake Tahoe
  • This gondola transports visitors from Heavenly Village to an elevation of over 9,000 feet in less than 15 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 2.4 miles (4 kilometers)
  • Midway through the ride, there is an observation deck at 9,123 feet (2,780 meters) that provides panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains

Fremont Street Experience, Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 5:  Bright neon lights and tourists at the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 5th, 2016.

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • Originally the main street of Las Vegas, The Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian mall and entertainment district located in downtown Las Vegas
  • It spans five blocks and is known for its lively atmosphere, featuring a mix of casinos, hotels, restaurants, and shops
  • The area is covered by a massive LED canopy that displays spectacular light shows, making it the largest video screen in the world
  • Fremont Street hosts various live performances, street performers, and special events throughout the year, including costume contests and concerts

Neon Museum, Las Vegas

View of Neon museum . One of the most famous and unique place in term of musuem in the heart of Las Vegas , Nevada United States of America  - 20 Sep 2018

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • The Neon Museum in Las Vegas features signs from old casinos and other businesses displayed outdoors
  • The organization started out by re-installing old signage in downtown Las Vegas, to attract more visitors to the area
  • The Neon Museum's collection includes more than 200 signs
  • The museum offers guided and self-guided tours, and stories are associated with each sign

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden, Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada USA - 6 10 2023: A flower sculpture in the shape of hands holding flowers at Bellagio Conservatory and  Botanical Gardens with colorful flowers and lush green trees at the Bellagio

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • Opened in 1998, Bellagio is a resort, luxury hotel, and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise
  • The resort is themed after the village of Bellagio, near Lake Como
  • The resort's signature attraction is the Fountains of Bellagio, a dancing water fountain synchronized to music
  • Other attractions include the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, and a conservatory and botanical gardens
  • The hotel lobby features Fiori di Como, a sculpture by glass artist Dale Chihuly, which is the world's largest glass sculpture
  • Bellagio includes an 1,800 seat theater for performances of O, a water-themed show by Cirque du Soleil

Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas Nevada 2018 09 13 panoramic view of the Las Vegas Strip

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • The Las Vegas Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos
  • Many of the largest hotel, casino, and resort properties in the world are on the Strip
  • Its hotels, casinos, restaurants, residential high-rises, entertainment offerings, and skyline have established the Strip as one of the most popular and iconic tourist destinations in the world

Fountains of Bellagio, Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - August 01, 2022: View of the Bellagio Casino and Hotel at night on the strip

Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov

  • Fountains of Bellagio is a free attraction at the Bellagio resort, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise
  • It consists of a musical fountain show performed in a man-made lake in front of the resort
  • Opened in 1998, the attraction was built for $40 million, making it one of the most expensive fountains in the world
  • It is a signature attraction for Las Vegas, and one of the most photographed places in the United States

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Red rock canyon arch mountain landscape in Nevada desert
  • Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a protected area located approximately 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada
  • The area is renowned for its red sandstone formations, which were shaped by geological processes such as thrust faults
  • The area offers a variety of outdoor activities including a 13-mile scenic drive, numerous hiking trails, and opportunities for wildlife observation

Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park

The Fire Wave Trail in Valley of Fire National Park, Nevada, California

Walk difficulty: easy

  • Fire Wave Trail is a hiking route located in Valley of Fire State Park, that features sandstone formations that resemble ocean waves, characterized by swirling patterns of red, white, and other colors
  • Hikers are advised to visit during cooler times of the day, such as sunrise or sunset, especially in the summer due to high temperatures