5 Star Las Vegas Travel Guide

When you play craps at Binion’s, you’re not just playing craps at Binion’s. You’re taking part in a ritual that virtually defines the Las Vegas experience. Binion’s is the home of epic craps rolls and fortunes won and lost. Even if you can’t play at Binion’s, learn and play craps. But play at Binion’s. At least once.

Oh, and if you’re bored, try and beat our record for the Most Photos Taken With a Million Dollars.

It’s a dinky little casino, not too far from The Strip, and the table games don’t even open until 3:00 p.m. But who cares? The BBQ alone is worth a visit, and the beer (brewed on site) is the stuff of legend.

This should also answer the age-old question, “Where can I see the best rack in Las Vegas?”

The happy hour deals at Level 107 Lounge at Stratosphere are great, but the views are truly spectacular. Keep in mind that while the Top of the World Restaurant revolves 360-degrees every 80 minutes, the Level 107 Lounge doesn’t, so you’ll have to stroll around to get the full effect. A definite must-do in Las Vegas.

As the name implies, Level 107 is 107 floors up. That’s 749 in dog floors, whatever those might be.

The Neon Museum is a walk through Las Vegas history, with dozens of vintage signs on display across six acres. The Neon Museum’s visitor center alone is worth the price of admission. It’s the restored lobby of the iconic La Concha Motel.

A sign from the Moulin Rouge, the first integrated hotel-casino in the United States.

Abandon your inner prude at the door, because you’re in for a wild ride. Part adult carnival, part variety show, part raunchy stand-up and part WTF, this hilarious, occasionally heart-stopping show at Caesars Palace is about as entertaining as it gets on The Strip. Add this to your “Must-Do in Las Vegas” list, already.

And, yeah, this photo we took of burlesque singer Melody Sweets of “Absinthe.” Being a Las Vegas blog can be a rough gig.

You’re going to buffet while you’re in Vegas, it’s the law. Here’s the one you have to try: Studio B Buffet at M Resort. Sure, it’s a little out of the way (about 10 minutes south of The Strip), but it’s so good, you won’t mind much.

Because M Resort is a locals casino, the values are exceptional, and the savings on your buffet might even pay for a cab ride.

It’s weird and funny and borderline nuts, but the Zombie Apocalypse Store is a no-brainer (see what we did there?) when you’re in Las Vegas. From survival gear to novelty items, this place is so fun, if you’re not already a zombie fan, you’re sure to turn. Into one. You know what we mean.

Just something to chew on.

Triple George is our favorite restaurant in downtown Las Vegas, an area with a vibrant (and much cheaper than The Strip) dining scene. The cocktails are sexy and the menu is teeming with temptations. Visit twice and chances are the bartenders will know your name. Triple George is a have-to-do if ever there were one.

And don’t get us started on the desserts.

Downtown does a lot of things right, but dealers who also go-go dance? That’s Vegas at its finest. The young women at The D and Golden Gate, downtown, are personable and charming, and even know how to deal (not always the case in some Vegas party pits).

It’s blackjack or bust at Golden Gate.

If you’ve visited this blog before, you may have heard a thing or two about the High Roller. It’s the tallest observation wheel in the world, and if it were a person, we would send it flowers and take it on a romantic gondola ride, if you get our drift. This is the grandaddy of must-do things in Las Vegas.

We might have mentioned the High Roller wheel a time or two.

Think of the best steakhouse in your hometown. Now, multiply that by infinity, and you have Old Homestead Steakhouse at Caesars Palace. This places knows steak! In fact, its sister restaurant, the original Old Homestead in New York City, opened in 1868. That makes it one of the longest continually-serving restaurants in America, and it shows.

Old Homestead gets its meat from a specialty butcher on the East Coast, making the butcher one of this blog’s BFFs.

Before or after you enjoy the M Resort’s buffet, make sure to visit the Lion Habitat Ranch about a minute away. This is where all those MGM Grand lions went when they retired. It’s a clean, welcoming environment, and the keepers treat the lions (including cubs) like family.