Las Vegas isn’t the kind of place you can ease into; it grabs you the moment you land. The airport itself feels like a teaser, slot machines ringing before you’ve even picked up your luggage. Vegas has been on my bucket list since forever, and last weekend, I could finally tick it off my list when I touched down in Sin City.
The desert heat was still heavy in the air, and the city was glowing like a neon mirage in the distance. My travel plan was simple: soak up the classic Vegas nightlife, wander through its over-the-top casinos & clubs, and slip away for a taste of the desert just beyond the Strip. Here’s how it all came together, and a few takeaways if you’re planning your own quick Vegas escape.
Getting to Vegas & Where I Stayed
I flew into Las Vegas on Southwest Airlines from Baltimore and landed around 8:00 PM. The first thing I did was pick up my rental car from Hertz at the airport. It’s a must if you plan on exploring beyond the Strip. The rental cost me $98 for 02 days. The McCarran (Harry Reid) International Airport is only about a 10–15 minute drive from the Strip, which is where I stayed.
For my stay, I checked into the Luxor Hotel, which I booked via Priceline. It is one of the most iconic landmarks in Las Vegas. You can’t miss its massive black-glass pyramid topped with a sky beam so bright it’s said to be visible from space. The hotel itself is a mini attraction: the Egyptian-themed interior, enormous sphinx out front, and an atrium that’s one of the largest in the world. I paid $1152 (all inclusive) for 02 King Rooms for 04 people.
The self-parking lot of the Hotel was convenient (especially since we drove out a few times during the weekend), and staying here felt like part of the classic Vegas experience. Being at the south end of the Strip, Luxor is close to Mandalay Bay and Excalibur, making it easy to walk or catch the tram to other big resorts. Staying here definitely gave me that “classic Vegas” feeling before I even stepped foot in a casino.
Day One: From Hoover Dam to Vegas Nightlife
Morning: A Change of Brunch Plans
We planned to start the day with brunch at Terrace Point Café in The Wynn Hotel, but the line was way too long. Pro tip: if you’re eyeing a popular brunch spot in Vegas, either book ahead or get there early. We
Afternoon: Hoover Dam & Seven Magic Mountains
Instead of waiting around, we hit the road as per our planned itinerary and picked up some quick bites on the go. First stop: Hoover Dam, an engineering marvel about 40 minutes southeast of the city. The drive itself was easy, mostly highway, and once we arrived, the scale of the dam was staggering. Standing on top, you get sweeping views of both Lake Mead on one side and the Colorado River plunging down the other. If you have time, you can even take one of the guided tours inside the dam to see how it was built and still operates today. Even if you just walk across the “Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge” and snap photos, it’s absolutely worth the trip.
On the way back, we made a detour to Seven Magic Mountains, a large-scale art installation about 10 miles south of the Strip. Imagine neon-colored boulders, each stack reaching up to 35 feet high, rising out of the middle of the desert; it’s as surreal as it sounds. It’s free to visit, parking is right nearby, and it’s the kind of stop where you can spend 15 minutes or an hour, depending on how many photos you take.
Evening: Drinks, Dinner & Dancing
Back in Vegas, we started with sunset drinks at the Skyfall Lounge (in Delano Las Vegas). From 64 floors up, the Strip stretched out like a glowing ribbon, and watching the neon slowly take over the skyline was the perfect way to set the tone for the night.
For dinner, we headed to Hussong’s Cantina inside Mandalay Bay. It’s got that festive, Baja-style vibe, margaritas flowing, music buzzing, and plates big enough to share. The place felt like the right mix of casual and lively before a long night ahead.
The real party started at Omnia Nightclub in Caesars Palace. Here’s the thing: cover charges in Vegas can sting. For us, it was $176 per person for men, while women got in free before midnight. Pricey, YES, but Omnia’s experience is on another level. The DJs keep the crowd moving, and above the main dance floor hangs a $10 million chandelier that shifts, spins, and pulses with the music, which made it one of those “only in Vegas” experiences.
Pro Tip: Drinks are expensive inside the club, so better to pre-booze before you enter.
We wrapped up the night with a quick round of casino games inside Caesars Palace before heading back to our hotel. I played Easy Crap, Roulette, and Black Jack. Playing casino was an experience for me, but I suggest that you play at your own risk.
After a jam-packed day of desert drives, rooftop drinks, and dancing until dawn, Vegas had already left its mark. But this city has layers, and we’d only just scratched the surface. The next blog will cover the classic Vegas highlights of Day 2. Iconic Hotels, the Bellagio Conservatory, and a few photo stops you don’t want to miss.
