On the road to Las Vegas, Death Valley has plenty to do in a day: Dante’s View at sunrise, Badwater Basin, Artist’s Palette, Furnace Creek, Zabriskie Point at sunset, etc. Once you reach Vegas, eat off the Strip at Lotus of Siam or Chada, two Thai restaurants that will ease slowly you into the Vegas vibe. Raku, where all the best chefs meet after service, is another excellent option if you’re in the mood for a Japanese izakaya. On the Strip, Cut, Bazaar or Momofuku should go it, although none of them can compare to the original locations. James Turrell’s art installation Akhob, inside the Louis Vuitton store at Aria, is an experience that cannot be missed and deserves to be booked weeks in advance — it will cleanse your mind and your eyes from the Vegas hubbub. Similarly, opt for a show (Love, O, or a concert) to fill up your evening while everyone else is waiting in line to get into a nightclub. Stop by the Venetian, Caesars Palace and Bellagio for curiosity, but the Wynn has better and less crowded casinos, if that’s what you’re into. Driving out of Vegas, stop by Fremont St. to see where it all started, and head to the art installation Double Negative on the way to Zion.
