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The Las Vegas Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard South) runs from Mandalay Bay in the south to the STRAT (formerly Stratosphere) in the north — 4.2 miles that contain more accumulated spectacle than any comparable stretch of road on earth. Here's how to walk it intelligently.
South Strip (Mandalay Bay to Bellagio): The Grand Tour
Start at Mandalay Bay for the pool complex and shark aquarium, walk through the Luxor pyramid (the skybeam at night is visible from orbit), past Excalibur's castle, through MGM Grand, across the bridge to New York-New York (the replica Manhattan skyline), past Park MGM to the Aria and Cosmopolitan. Then the Bellagio — the fountain, the conservatory, the art gallery.
Mid Strip (Bellagio to Venetian): The Heart
From the Bellagio, walk past Caesars Palace (enter the Forum Shops — the replica Roman sky ceiling and fountain are extraordinary), past the LINQ and High Roller, and through the Venetian's Grand Canal shoppes (free to walk through, includes fake sky ceiling and gondola canal).
North Strip (Wynn to STRAT): The Elevation
The Wynn and Encore are the most beautiful hotels on the Strip — the lobby design and Esplanade are worth 30 minutes. The STRAT tower at the north end offers the best views ($20 for observation deck, free to look at from outside).