The first individual of European ancestry to enter Las Vegas was Raphael Rivera, who toured the territory in 1821 as part of Antonio Armijo's plan to open up a trade route—the Old Spanish Trail—between New Mexico and California. The Los Angeles and Salt Lake railroad linking the city with the Pacific and the country's main rail networks arrived in Las Vegas in 1905, and Las Vegas was incorporated in 1911. The enormous Boulder Dam (Later renamed the Hoover dam) construction started in 1931 and attracted thousands of laborers to a site just east of the city. The completion of the dam in 1936 led to the cheap hydroelectricity that powers Fremont street, which houses the casinos and showgirl venues. Howard Hughes lodged into the penthouse of the Desert Inn in 1966 and never left. He bought the hotel rather than being evicted and other hotels worth around $300 million. His outright buying of the hotels ushered in a new era from the mob owners to corporate conglomerates. The city's first mega-resort, called the Mirage, was opened by Steve Wynn, a casino developer, in 1989. Over the next few years, the old casinos were demolished to give room to modern massive complexes emulating ancient Rome, New York, Paris, and Venice. Entertainment and casinos continued to be Las Vegas' major employers, and the city enjoyed growth with the size of the resorts and the number of tourists who visited annually.

Explore the Las Vegas Strip
Thanks to world-class entertainment that you will hardly find anywhere else, the Strip is easily the most recognizable and well-known part of Las Vegas. Begin your exploration by visiting the STRAT, where you can jump 829 feet above the Strip with Skyjump or have the best view of Las Vegas from its observation deck. Drift down the Grand Canal in an indoor or outdoor Venetian Gondola Ride. Get one of the city's best views from 46 stories up in the replica Eiffel Tower. Experience the Fountains of Bellagio, an aquatic show running every 15 to 30 minutes depending on the time of the day. Drop 203 feet on the world's foremost roller coaster with a 180-degree heartline twist and dive maneuver at the Big Apple Coaster.

Let Loose in Downtown Las Vegas
While the Strip might be the most renowned part of Las Vegas, Downtown Las Vegas shouldn't be overlooked as it is home to many entertainment options such as dining, shopping, entertainment, and many more. Shop or relax at Downtown Container Park, which features an open-air shopping complex filled with boutiques, a stage for free movies and concerts, and an interactive treehouse and playground. Fly over downtown on the Slotzilla zipline or see the world's largest video screen enamored with rotating visual displays at the Viva Vision Light Show.

Up for a bit of an adventure? Swim with sharks at the beautiful Golden Nugget Pool. Oh, just joking; the sharks are actually enclosed in their transparent pool next to the main pool. Want to let go on the dance floor? Make a trip to the Gold Spike, where you can work or hang out during the day or party all night with outdoor games like jenga and beer pong.

Visit Parks
Though the city is popular for its hotels and casinos, it also offers nice outdoor Recreation Centers and Parks. Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation are the two most popular recreation centers in the city. The Spring Mountain Ranch on the southwest, Floyd Lamb on the northwest, and Valley of Fire on the northeast are the parks within reach in the city. Other entertainments in the city include the annual National Finals Rodeo and the annual world series of poker and automobile races at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Food and Restaurants
Feasting in Las Vegas has come a long way over the years and is now one of the leading foodie locations in the world. Cruising up and down The Strip, you're constantly hit with billboards of the biggest celebrity chefs. While that's awesome, there's way more to Vegas than just "The Boulevard and Casinos. The city has some signature dishes perfected by a few chefs, Roasted Beef Wellington at Gordon Ramsay Steak, Lemon Spaghetti with Shrimp at Giada, Chicken Satay at Mr. Chow, Foie Gras Custard Brûlée at Sage, and Cotton Candy Foie Gras at Bazaar Meat.

Las Vegas has 10 Michelin Star restaurants within the city. The Joel Robuchon restaurant is the best with a 3-star rating, Restaurant Guy Savoy and Picasso with 2-star ratings, while Wing Lei, Michael Mina, Aureole, DJT, L'Atelier De Joel Robuchon, Le Cirque, and NOBU all have 1-star ratings.