Last Updated July 2026
Planning your first trip to Las Vegas? Here’s how my family spent 24 hours exploring the famous Las Vegas Strip, staying at the Bellagio, seeing a concert, and experiencing some of the city’s most iconic attractions.
Why Visit Las Vegas?
Las Vegas is one of the most exciting destinations in the United States, known for its luxury resorts, world-famous entertainment, incredible architecture, and unforgettable nightlife.
Even with just one day you can experience many of the city’s most iconic sights.
Getting There
Instead of flying into Las Vegas, my family drove from Beverly Hills which was a 7 hour drive with L.A. traffic, making Las Vegas the next stop on our West Coast road trip before continuing to Rancho Palos Verdes to board our cruise. (Future cruise guide coming soon.)
As we arrived around 8:00 PM, the Strip was exactly what you’d hope for—bright lights, packed sidewalks, incredible energy, and an atmosphere unlike anywhere else.
Where We Stayed
Bellagio Las Vegas
For our stay, we chose the Bellagio, one of Las Vegas’ most iconic luxury hotels.
We stayed in a Two Queen Strip View Room for one night and loved waking up overlooking the Las Vegas Strip.
The Bellagio is famous for:
- The world-famous Fountains of Bellagio
- The beautiful Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
- Its luxury atmosphere
- Central location on the Strip
If you’re visiting Las Vegas for the first time, it’s hard to beat staying in the heart of the action. I’ve stayed at the Venetian Hotel before and that’s also worth looking into.
What We Did
Explore the Las Vegas Strip at night and morning
One of the best parts of our visit was simply walking the Strip at night and in the morning.
The lights, music, crowds, and energy make Las Vegas feel completely different after dark. Don’t get scammed by the money grab photo ops all along the strip.
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
One of the highlights of our stay was exploring the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.
The seasonal displays are beautifully designed and are one of the most photographed attractions in Las Vegas.
Watch the Bellagio Fountains
No first trip to Las Vegas is complete without watching the famous Bellagio Fountain Show.
The synchronized music, lights, and water create one of the city’s most iconic experiences—and it’s completely free.
Maroon 5 at Dolby Live
One of the biggest highlights of our trip was seeing Maroon 5 perform live at Dolby Live inside Park MGM.
Las Vegas is known for hosting incredible concerts and residencies throughout the year, making live entertainment one of the city’s biggest draws.
If your favorite artist is performing while you’re visiting, it’s absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. Even if you don’t know what to do before hand, there are always concert residencies going on.
Visit Tipsy Robot
We also stopped at Tipsy Robot, one of the Strip’s most unique experiences.
Watching robotic bartenders prepare drinks is a fun look at how technology is becoming part of entertainment in Las Vegas.
Experience the Future
Las Vegas continues to embrace new technology.
During our visit, we saw one of the city’s self-driving taxis, giving us a glimpse into the future of transportation.
Drive Past the Sphere
Even from the outside, The Sphere is an incredible sight.
Its massive size and constantly changing digital exterior make it one of Las Vegas’ newest landmarks.
See Iconic Las Vegas Landmarks
While exploring the city, we also passed several famous locations, including:
- Little White Chapel
- Gold & Silver Pawn Shop (featured on Pawn Stars)
Even if you don’t stop inside, they’re fun landmarks to see while driving around Las Vegas.
What We Loved
- Staying at the Bellagio.
- The incredible Bellagio Fountains.
- Walking the Strip at night.
- Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.
- Seeing Maroon 5 live.
- The futuristic self-driving taxi.
- Tipsy Robot.
- The Sphere.
- Las Vegas’ nonstop energy.
What Could Be Better
- March evenings can be surprisingly chilly, so bringing a light jacket is a good idea until summer hits.
- Traffic on the Strip can be slow during busy evenings.
- One night goes by quickly—you could easily spend another day exploring and maybe going to another concert.
Is 24 Hours Enough?
Absolutely.
While you won’t see everything Las Vegas has to offer, one or two days is enough to experience many of the city’s most famous attractions, luxury resorts, entertainment, and unique atmosphere.
If it’s your first visit, staying on the Strip helps maximize your time.
Tips Before You Visit
- Stay on the Strip if it’s your first trip.
- Watch the Bellagio Fountain Show at night.
- Visit the Bellagio Conservatory.
- Check concert schedules before booking your trip.
- Bring a light jacket if visiting in March.
- Spend time simply walking the Strip after sunset.
Final Verdict
Las Vegas is one of those destinations everyone should experience at least once.
From the iconic Bellagio and its famous fountains to world-class entertainment, futuristic technology, and the unmatched atmosphere of the Strip, even a short visit leaves a lasting impression.
Although our stay was only one night before continuing our California road trip, it was more than enough to understand why Las Vegas remains one of the world’s most popular travel destinations.
Overall Ratings
Hotels: ★★★★★
Entertainment: ★★★★★
Nightlife & Atmosphere: ★★★★★
Things to Do: ★★★★★
Accessibility: ★★★★★
Value: ★★★★★
Overall Experience: ★★★★★
Would my family visit again? Absolutely. Next time, we’d stay longer to experience even more shows, attractions, and resorts along the Las Vegas Strip.
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