Las Vegas, Nevada

Value Times are April, May, August, September, November and December. Excludes Holidays and Special Events

Of course, people did not create Nevada's beautiful desert landscapes, which can be even more wondrous than a city of flashing neon. Nor did they manufacture the pyramid at Pyramid Lake or the hundreds of remote mountains that pepper the state. With both isolated wilderness and bustling casino towns, Nevada is a place where you can get back to basics and also relish some of the guiltiest pleasures mankind can dream up. And you can do them both on the same vacation.

Dining

In the resort areas of Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas and Reno, visitors can find just about any cuisine that suits their fancy. In the rest of the state, the best bet is usually down-home western cooking. Casinos will often advertise what seem like incredibly low prices at their restaurants and, especially, their all-you-can-eat buffets. The buffets (some in imperial surroundings, some resembling overgrown cafeterias) are generally worth their low price, but you'll have to decide if they are worth the wait. Most start with a long line that snakes out of view (and usually ends at the strawberry shortcake). The ubiquitous free shrimp cocktail at the casinos tends to be rather small, don't count on making a meal of it.

Shopping

In the larger resort towns, such as Las Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe, elegant, high-quality clothing and other treasures can be found (but don't expect many bargains). Throughout the state, there are Native American arts and crafts, western art and western clothing and numerous products made from local silver.

Weather

Nevada gets less annual precipitation than any other U.S. state, so there's bright sun at most times of the year. Snow can be heavy in the mountains in the winter, especially in the north. In the west and south, winters range from moderate (26 to 51 F/-3 to 11 C) to mild (33 to 58 F/1 to 14 C). Most of the year is pleasant for travel somewhere in the state, but you should beware the midsummer heat if you're outside the mountains during July and August. Temperatures spend several weeks above 90 F/32 C in the north, and above 100 F/37 C in the south. Even after very hot days, nights can be cool (upper 40s to low 50s F/9 to 11 C), so take along a sweater or jacket.

Transportation

Major domestic airlines and their affiliated regional carriers serve both McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas and Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) near Reno. Major car-rental agencies maintain branches at both airports.