Las Vegas, often referred to as ‘The world’s biggest adult playground,’ is a perfect example of marmite. Visitors either love with a passion - or deeply detest - the extravagance and excesses of ‘Sin City.’ After an adventurous road trip on the iconic Route 66, our Features Editor, Sharon Cain, and Photographer, Steve Hare, submerged themselves in the city’s madness and mayhem.

Sinner or Winner?

Vegas is famous for being larger than life in every aspect - gangsters, the Rat Pack, shows, casinos, themed hotels, and nightclubs.

It is also renowned for fine dining, retail therapy along with its Downtown area - the not so alluring underbelly which can be dodgy after dark.

After a 1,000-mile road journey which started on Route 66 in San Diego and took us to Santa Barbara, Death Valley, the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam, the mayhem of the 4.2 mile Vegas Strip was beyond bonkers.

Las Vegas, which means The Meadows in Spanish, was founded in 1905 as a key railroad stop and location to entice settlers and those working on the Hoover Dam to put down roots.

Its modern-day world is like no other where the concept of time does not exist.

Landmark Destination

The legendary Bellagio, where at eight o clock in the morning, guests still partying hard in tuxedos, sparkling gowns, pearls and furs, collided with sleepy-eyed guests in shorts and t-shirts heading out to explore the sights.

The Bellagio, a destination in itself, is well worth a visit even if you are not staying there. Standouts include a vibrant lobby centrepiece comprising a glass ceiling sculpture with over 2,000 colourful hand-blown glass flowers and weighing over 40,000 pounds.

Named Fiori di Como, which translates to ‘Flowers of Como’ in Italian, it was created by artist Dale Chihuly who was inspired by the beauty of Lake Como. Like many guests and visitors; we found it hypnotic.

After checking in, it took the best part of an hour to navigate our way around the hotel’s maze of restaurants, bars, and retail outlets with premium luxury brands along with a bewildering array of anti-aging products.

Assaulted with fast food joints just about everywhere we’d travelled to date, we splashed out on a delicious seafood platter served up with a martini cocktail. Civilisation at last - in Vegas!

Musical Extravaganza

Our too-ings and fro-ings from the Bellagio were enhanced by its musical fountains, hailed as the most ambitious and choreographically complex water feature ever produced.

The fountains dramatically shoot 460 feet into the sky, crashing down like thunder or at a slower pace to complement the musical styles which include opera, classical, Broadway and pop.

The spectacular free show runs every 15 minutes from 3pm to midnight on weekdays and from 6.30pm to midnight at weekends. A new development sees the hotel offering a luxury yacht experience around the dancing fountains on the resort’s 8.5 acre man-made lake for selected guests - no doubt at an eyewatering cost.

Venetian Dreams

The size and extravagance of the Strip, packed both sides with themed hotels, casinos, eateries and entertainment, is quite a spectacle.

The opulence and themes exceed the wildest of imaginations. The Venetian Resort transported us into Venice, my ultimate real-life destination, where serenading gondoliers ferried visitors through captivating canals.

Devouring the best gelato ever in the water-themed mall which captures the architecture, culture, and magic of St Mark's Square, I was in seventh heaven.

The attention to detail is outstanding with moving clouds, bridges, and supreme Italian cuisine. Definitely the ‘wow factor in spades.

Ancient Egyptian Inspiration

Only in Vegas can you cross continents in the bat of an eyelid and visit ‘countries’ by foot or on buses that ply the strip twenty four hours a day and are a cost effective way of getting around.

Moving from Europe to Africa, we came upon the enormous pyramid at the Luxor Hotel & Casino which was inspired by ancient Egypt. At 356 feet tall, it is one of the world’s tallest pyramids and features a man-made light beam which can been seen for miles.

Commemorating Egyptian history and iconography, the public spaces display sculptures, statues of pharaohs, antiquities, and a sixty-six foot Sphinx. The raft of restaurants and bars came in handy for a vital caffeine boost for our flagging energy levels.

Dolphin Habitat

When it all became too much, a temporary reprieve was a visit to Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden And Dolphin Habitat based at the Mirage Hotel.

Founded in 1996 by magicians and entertainers Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn, the Dolphin Habitat is an opportunity to see the endearing mammals and learn about their breeding programme.

Steeped in tropical lush greenery, the gardens showcase white tigers, leopards, and lions, who are also meticulously cared for. Never in a million years did I expect to learn anything new about mammals and wildlife in Vegas – it just shows how wrong you can be!

Downtown: The Darker Side

The Strip’s sparkle quickly dissipated on a bus trip to Downtown Vegas where, even before midday, nudity and alcoholism were rife.

The only must-see here is The Mob Museum dedicated to the history of organized crime and law.

The fascinating experience combined re-enactments of mob life and the 1929 St Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago where, disguised as police officers, Al Capone’s gang murdered seven members of an opposing gang.

Allow at least half a day to take it all in - this was our last day, and we ended up rushing round the museum at breakneck speed.

Toujours L’Amour

On our final evening, we dined at Mon Ami Gabi restaurant beneath the Eiffel Tower, where moules mariniere perfectly accompanied the Parisian décor.

We savoured the onion soup au gratin and, at the extortionate prices, lingered as long as humanely possible over the best ever Bloody Mary cocktail.

So, what was the verdict after our whistlestop experience - did we think Vegas is a sinner or a winner?

A destination for those seeking excitement, entertainment and indulgence, Vegas is undoubtedly brash and bold. It is also tremendous fun and not to be taken seriously.

World Wonder

We had planned our road trip to cover a section of Route 66 before heading to the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam and to Vegas from where we flew home.

Regarded as one of the seven worders of the world, the Grand Canyon has to be seen to be believed.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site of phenomenal geology, some of its layers of colourful rock date back over 1.8 million years, reflecting its monumental role in nature’s evolution. Home to Native American tribes for thousands of years, the canyon has over 2.000 types of plants and almost 400 different animals. We were fortunate to see a goat sleeping snugly as it sheltered from the wind on a precariously narrow ledge.

Divided into three Rims also known as edges of the vast chasm - the South Rim, North Rim and West Rim, hikes and walks are possible, but with due caution.

Sadly, many visitors do not heed advice about suitable footwear and being equipped with water. A warden told us how a family with young children had descended into the canyon that day wearing flip flops and without water, prompting the emergency services to rescue them.

We could have spent at least three days there but were restricted to three hours and reluctantly returned to the car.

Engineering Feat

A three-hour drive from the Grand Canyon’s West Rim and we were at the Hoover Dam - a global engineering feat constructed across 1931-1936 during the Great Depression.

Located between Nevada and Arizona, the dam spans almost 250 square miles. It holds a mind-boggling 9.3 trillion gallons of water which supplies farms, businesses and millions of people in Nevada, Arizona, California, and Mexico.

A symbol of American resilience, the dam stands at 726 feet high and 1,244 feet wide. Originally called the Boulder Dam, it was renamed the Hoover Dam in 1947 after the then President, Herbert Hoover.

Time restrictions are always an issue when travelling. We had enjoyed the luxury of being able to embark on part of the fabulous Route 66 road trip, crossing America’s coastal roads, highways, and vast tracts of desert across California and Nevada which merit a separate article.

If you are on a tight schedule, I’d recommend saving Route 66 for a separate trip and focus on the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam and Vegas - a trio of unique experiences which can be achieved in under two weeks.

Our awesome explorations had served up a feast of history, landscapes and cultures peppered with razzle dazzle, glam and glitz.

All in all, a truly eclectic mix!


Sharon Cain and Steve Hare travelled independently, flying with British Airways from Heathrow to San Diego and returning to Heathrow from Las Vegas.