LAS VEGAS OLD AND NEW – 21K

Description

Las Vegas may be a city that never sleeps, but for those of us up early in the morning it is the perfect time to hit the streets and run in comfort.  It’s the coolest part of the day, and there are just a few other early birds out there (or night owls still going from the night before!).

This is an out-and-back tour, starting where we finish.  Most likely this will be your hotel in the Strip or Downtown area.  The distance will be approximately half marathon, with plenty of stops along the way, especially for photos.

Las Vegas initially grew in the Downtown area.  Our run will take us along Fremont Street, under the canopy of the largest LCD screen in the world.  We can wave at Vegas Vic, the famous neon cowboy, and run past historic names such as the Golden Nugget and Binions.  Perhaps you’ll get the taste for joining the party and live music of the Fremont Street Experience later.

Close to Downtown we’ll run through the Arts District, one of the lesser known highlights of Las Vegas.  This vivid, eclectic and ever-changing area will show you a range of cool places to come back for food or drink, or maybe you’ll check out one of the theatres or galleries.  We’ll pause for the photo opportunity at the ‘Greetings from Las Vegas’ postcard mural.

The Strip awaits, signposted by the Stratosphere tower, with its canyon of mega-resorts and world famous names….Caesars Palace, the Flamingo, Mirage, Wynn, Mandalay Bay.  We’ll run past the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Sphinx, the High Roller ferris wheel.  They’re all there, and much else.  Maybe we’ll see Elvis taking a stroll!  The ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ is the turning point, as well as a must-do photo.

Along the way we’ll learn something of how Las Vegas grew from a small, dusty stopping point on the road to California, to become one of the most notorious and sparkling cities in the world.  The virtuous and the less-than-virtuous all played their part in shaping this city….speculators, builders of the Hoover Dam, the mob, tycoons and celebrities all have a voice in how Las Vegas would grow.

The run is essentially flat and on paved sidewalk all the way.  There will be a few stairs up and down where there are elevated sections to cross some busy junctions.

There’s much more to Las Vegas than the casinos.  This tour will introduce you to the many of the contrasts and much of the diversity, as well as giving you a great weekend work-out!