Buffalo - Las Vegas, NV Area Guide

Nearly 10,000 years ago, Paleo-Indians arrived to the area. They left their mark in the form of rock art that is still visible on the cliffs of the desert landscape. Around 1830, explorers arrived from New Mexico on their way to California, discovering the Las Vegas Wash. Mormon Missionaries were the first non-native settlers; they arrived and built the Mormon Fort, now the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Park. This park contains the remains of an adobe fort, historic artifacts, and a Visitor Center.

In 1885, the State Land Act opened sections for farmers and ranchers, who could purchase land at just over $1 an acre. By 1900, the population of Las Vegas was a scant 22. Even though it only had a handful of residents, Las Vegas became a city in 1905. In 1909, Las Vegas became the count seat of Clark County.

Once you've moved to an apartment in Outer Downtown/Central Las Vegas, be sure to visit the Nevada State Museum. This museum explores the natural history as well as the cultural history of the area and includes both permanent and traveling exhibits.

Speaking of museums, Las Vegas is home to more than 60 of them. Be sure to visit the Mob Museum, the Neon Museum, the Pinball Hall of Fame, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, and the Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art.

New York may be the "City that Never Sleeps," but you won't find any downtime in Vegas, either. Whether you want to try your luck at the blackjack table, see a concert, or take in a spectacular show, Las Vegas has it all -- comedy clubs, concert halls, theaters, nightclubs, and even some things you might not have considered, such as the Bellagio Fountains, where moving water is set to music. Catch a jaw-dropping performance by Cirque du Soleil, a stand-up comedian, or a Broadway show.

The Fremont Street Experience is more than a strip of casinos and bars. This pedestrian mall features a barrel vault canopy, neon lights, and the SlotZilla Zip Line. Watch the Viva Vision Light Show, listen to live music, or taste the latest brews on the Banger Brewing Tour.

When you move to Las Vegas, you'll be surrounded by nightlife -- and that includes top-rated restaurants. Take a food tour to experience samples from several different locations then start trying out the local hotspots like the Triple 7 Brewpub, Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse located in the Golden Nugget hotel, and (if you enjoy living on the edge) the Heart Attack Grill -- where you can try something called the "Octuple Bypass Burger." This burger has nearly 20,000 calories, is over a foot tall, and costs around $22.

Las Vegas is extremely pedestrian-friendly, and that is also true in the Outer Downtown neighborhood. In addition to walking and bicycle-riding, Las Vegas offers mass transit in the form of buses and train. There's a train stop on South Main Street and bus stops throughout the neighborhood. With wide sidewalks and ample bike lanes, a car isn't necessary in Las Vegas. If you'd still rather drive, you'll find easy access to I-515, I-15, and Highway 95. For longer trips, the McCarran International Airport is just south of the neighborhood, and North Las Vegas Airport is in neighboring North Las Vegas.

After moving to your Central Las Vegas apartment, you'll discover a variety of parks, green spaces, courtyards, and golf courses. When you want outdoor adventures on a grander scale, Red Rock Canyon National Park is only about 20 miles from Vegas. With its jagged red peaks against blue sky, this park is stunning. Activities in this Mojave Desert park include rock climbing, mountain biking, camping, horseback riding, hiking, OHV riding, and a night sky you just can't find anywhere else. Do yourself a favor -- after you've settled into your apartment, head to Red Rock Canyon and enjoy an amazing sunset, the wide-open views of the stars and planets, and perhaps even a meteor shower.

You could also head east to the Hoover Dam and take a tour of this historic location. The Colorado River provides white-water rafting, canoeing, and kayaking. Or head south to Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, a 48,438-acre park with other-worldly volcanic rock peaks, some reaching over 5,000 feet. This is the location of the Sloan Canyon Petroglyph Site, an important archeological region featuring 300 rock art panels with more than 1,700 designs.

You'll find renting an apartment in Outer Downtown Las Vegas quite reasonable and slightly less than the state average. A one-bedroom apartment averages about $650. And while tourism is the largest industry in Las Vegas, it isn't the only -- Zappos is headquartered here, and the film industry is also thriving. As the county seat, government is also a large employer. UNLV (the University of Nevada, Las Vegas) is considered one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, with roughly 28,600 students.

You won't have any trouble finding places to shop in Las Vegas -- just step outside your apartment and you're surrounded by gift shops, boutiques, and specialty stores. Head to Freemont Street for a true shopping experience or try exploring the shops at Las Vegas North Premium Outlets. This shopping plaza includes Kate Spade, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren, Steve Madden, Michael Kors, Ann Taylor, and more. Many of the hotels also offer shops -- try the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace or the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian.

The futuristic-looking Fashion Show Mall is a popular shopping destination for residents and tourists alike. This mall is anchored by Dillard's, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Macy's. The mall is across the street from Treasure Island hotel and casino.