GETTING THERE : Las Vegas ’ McCarran International Airport sits hard on the Strip in the heart of Vegas . All three D . C . -area airports offer non-stop flights to LAS at reasonable prices . Non-stop service from Richmond to Vegas was discontinued in October , though there ’ s potential of restoration of that service in early 2022 .
TOP CASINOS : You ’ ll have no shortage of choices when it comes to finding your favorite table and machine games in Vegas , whether it ’ s on the Strip or in downtown on Fremont Street . Per TripAdvisor , top destinations include Wynn Las Vegas Casino ( which is adjacent to Wynn ’ s 18-hole championship course ); The Bellagio , famous for The Fountains of Bellagio , an iconic water show that repeats several times daily ; and The Cosmopolitan Casino . Looking for some old-school Vegas charm just off the Strip ? Check out Ellis Island Casino & Brewery , a family-operated business that ’ s been around since 1968 .
ABOVE : Reflection Bay RIGHT : Bear ’ s Best BELOW : Conestoga
to high-handicap player . The back nine at Rio Secco begins with a climb to a plateau that features views of the Las Vegas Strip in the distance .
DAY TRIP
Looking for a day trip away from the glitz of the Strip ? Head northeast . A little more than an hour up Interstate 15 toward the Utah border , Mesquite hosts two of Nevada ’ s finest public layouts — Wolf Creek and Conestoga . ( And if you ’ re looking for a non-golf diversion , a trip off the beaten path to Valley of Fire State Park , about halfway to Mesquite , isn ’ t a bad choice .) Opened in 2000 , Wolf Creek remains one of Nevada ’ s true destination courses . Ranked third on Golfweek ’ s list of Nevada courses you can play , Wolf Creek is known for its stunning desert landscape , elevation changes , and emerald green fairways meandering through red-rock canyons .
Conestoga checks in at No . 5 on Golfweek ’ s Nevada list and is a worthy complement to Wolf Creek for a Mesquite side trip . The Gary Panks design resides within the active adult community of Sun City Mesquite . Watch out for No . 14 , which features a remote postage stamp green surrounded on all sides by native Mesquite desert .
OTHER THINGS TO DO : If gambling isn ’ t your thing , there are plenty of ways to occupy your time in southern Nevada . A Vegas Golden Knights ’ game at T-Mobile Arena is a unique National Hockey League experience that feels as much like a Vegas show as it does a hockey game . The NFL ’ s Raiders are in their second year in Vegas and have home games on Dec . 26 ( vs . Denver ) and Jan . 9 ( vs . the Los Angeles Chargers ). Though December and January are generally Vegas ’ coolest months ( highs in the upper 50s and lows in the mid-30s ), there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors . Two prominent national conservation areas ( Red Rock Canyon and Sloan Canyon ) are within spitting distance of town . And it ’ s easy to take air tours of both the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon .
GOOD EATS : The good folks at Eater Las Vegas provide a roadmap for the essential restaurants in the area . Sample the caramelized sea scallops at Honey Salt on the West End . At Every Grain , Sheridan Su , a two-time semifinalist for Best Chef in the West in the James Beard Foundation Awards , serves up small plates inspired by his grandmother ’ s Taiwanese food . A few blocks down Charleston Blvd ., you ’ ll find Tacos El Gordo , one of Vegas ’ most popular eateries . At Sahara Las Vegas , you ’ ll find Jose Andres ’ Bazaar Meat . Come for the Kobe beef . Stay for the raw bar offering ceviches and carpaccios . For the full listing of Vegas culinary experiences , visit
vegas . eater . com .
vsga . org V IRGINIA G OLFER
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