Las Vegas: Places to Explore

Paradise Road and the East Side

The East Side of Las Vegas, an area that includes Paradise Road and stretches to the University District, is as eclectic as it is convenient. Much of the area is residential, save for a handful of (older) resorts that rise from the landscape like beacons. There also is a preponderance of restaurants, extensive medical offices, and most of the area's collegiate athletic facilities.

Paradise Road itself is the Strip's sister street. On the southern end the Hard Rock Hotel is one of the most popular off-Strip resorts in town, and despite the opening of increasingly over-the-top Strip properties, Paradise has remained popular over the years. A number of other resorts, such as the Platinum and the Rumor Boutique Hotel, qualify as nongaming, but are still within walking distance of larger casinos. This stretch also comprises the heart of the area affectionately known as "Fruit Loop," Vegas's gay-friendly neighborhood. Especially on Friday and Saturday nights, the parties at Gipsy and the Piranha Nightclub are some of the biggest raves in town.

Though there aren't any resorts in the University District, UNLV (University of Las Vegas) and the Thomas and Mack Center provide plenty of things to see and do, from sporting events to (on-campus) museums and more. As is the case with most college towns, the cost of living in this neck of the woods is considerably lower than it is elsewhere in town. In other words, you can usually get dinner and a beer for less than $6. You don't have to be a freshman to know that's a good deal.