It’s more than a home to some of the world’s best-known resorts and live entertainment venues: Las Vegas features a thriving local culture that draws visitors from Toronto every year.
Whether it’s live music, daylife and nightlife, an outdoor adventure or LGBTQ-friendly events, Las Vegas offers a host of exciting and memorable attractions that make it a favourite destination. Here are a few to keep in mind when you’re planning your next vacation.
Beauty Bar
This salon-themed bar and concert venue on Fremont Street regularly features a great lineup of indie bands, including Richmond Hill punk rockers The Flatliners. 90s-era standouts like Everlast and Coolio have also performed on the Beauty Bar stage recently.
If there aren’t shows on the schedule during your visit, you can always hang out on the large back patio and enjoy the guest DJs. And yes, in case you were wondering, you can totally get a manicure here too.
Banger Brewing
Like Toronto, Vegas has caught the craft beer bug. If you’re checking out Downtown, you’ll definitely want to stop in to see what’s being served at Banger Brewing. On tap offerings may include the Van Damme (Belgian golden), Morning Joe (coffee kolsch), Midnight in Brussels (dark saison) and Hop Bang Boom (imperial IPA).
If you fall in love with the brewery, you can always take a tour of the facilities and bring home a branded beanie or glassware from the on-site store.
Red Rock Canyon
Bring your camping gear if you’re visiting Red Rock between September and May. Accommodations are first-come, first served and sites feature cooking grills, water tanks and picnic tables. The Scenic Drive Loop offers a relaxed view of the surrounding environment, while hikers can head out on one of 19 trails that range from easy to strenuous and 1.5 to 4.5 hours.
Red Rock Canyon also holds tourist-friendly events where visitors can participate in guided walks or discussions on petroglyphs, fossils and the local ecosystem. Check the event calendar beforehand and contact the information centre for details.
LGBTQ-Friendly Stops on the Strip
In a positive and progressive move, the Wynn and Encore hotels offer special tourism service to LGBTQ visitors through their “pride concierges.” These staff members have the low-down on the best LGBTQ-friendly attractions on and off the Strip.
Other hotels have introduced their own LGBTQ-friendly features. The Luxor hosts a weekly Pride-themed pool party in the summer and Caesar’s Palace was dubbed as “the gayest performance space in town” by travel guide GayCities. In 2014, the Human Rights Campaign named MGM Resorts – the corporation behind well-known Vegas destinations like the Bellagio and MGM Grand – as one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.”
Do you have a favourite spot in Las Vegas? Let us know in the comments!
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