Nevada: The Silver State

Nevada is a state located in the western United States, best known for its widespread legalization of gambling and the gaming industry. Nevada’s nickname is “The Silver State” or “The Sagebrush State,” and the state’s motto is “All for Our Country.”  “Home Means Nevada” by Bertha Rafetto is the state song.  The phrase “Battle Born” is on the state flag; “The Battle Born State” is the official state slogan, as Nevada was admitted into the union during the American Civil War.

 

Las Vegas: The Hospitality & Event City

SSL is located in beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas is a fabulous and fantastic hotspot and one of the most popular destinations in the world for exploring its hotels and casinos. Hospitality, hotel and casino management is also one of the most popular majors for students who want a career in Hotel Management or Food and Beverage Services.

Near Los Angeles, California & Phoenix, Arizona

Most students who come to study will fly to one of these two major cities in the West, and then take a connecting flight to Las Vegas. Las Vegas is located approximately…

  • 500 miles from Phoenix, Arizona

  • 400 miles from Los Angeles, California

OVERVIEW OF LAS VEGAS

Anyone who has visited or lived in Las Vegas agrees that it is a very diverse and populous city, with the famous Strip, Mt. Charleston, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon nearby and its many parks. Las Vegas is located in the southwest region of the United States. By car, Las Vegas is located about four hours from L.A. and about five hours from Phoenix.

 

Mt. Charleston

Many who visit Las Vegas have the impression that there’s not much to see or do beyond the bright lights and huge resorts on the Strip. I mean, isn’t it all just desert out there? Well, if you’ve done your homework before traveling to Las Vegas, you’ll find that the hills and mountains surrounding the city offer a myriad of recreational opportunities throughout the year. One such place is Charleston Peak, which the locals call “Mt. Charleston.” It is about 35 miles northwest of the Las Vegas Strip. Take US 95 north from the Strip and then head west on Nevada Highway 157 or take a guided tour for an informative and relaxing way to see this unexpected Las Vegas attraction.

 

The Strip

Compared to major roadways in other cities, the Las Vegas Strip is  tourist and pedestrian-friendly. New casinos have designed their facades to attract walk-up customers and many of these entrances have become attractions themselves – the Fountains at the Bellagio, the volcano at The Mirage, and the Treasure Island (TI) Sirens are the most well-known. People gather on the sidewalks in front of the casinos to watch these shows. To alleviate traffic issues at popular intersections, footbridges have been installed to help pedestrians more safely cross the roads. The Tropicana – Las Vegas Boulevard footbridges were the first to be installed, and based on the success of this project additional footbridges have been built on Las Vegas Boulevard at the Flamingo Road intersection; between The Mirage/Treasure Island and The Venetian; and the latest ones at the Las Vegas Boulevard-Spring Mountain and Sands Avenue intersection connecting the Wynn with the Fashion Show Mall.

 

Hoover Dam & Lake Mead

One of the main sightseeing attractions in Las Vegas is Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam is among the greatest modern engineering projects in the world. The construction of the Dam occurred from 1931 until its completion in 1935. Blocking the Colorado River created two lakes, the first being Lake Mead in 1935 and the second being Lake Mohave with the completion of Davis Dam in 1950. At the peak of construction at Hoover Dam 5,218 people would be working on the Dam at one time. Hoover Dam is 726.4 feet in height; it is 660 feet thick at the base and contains 4,360,000 cubic yards of concrete. The power plant at Hoover Dam has the capacity to produce 1,344,800 electricity kilowatts. Hoover Dam has produced approximately 150 billion kilowatts (enough energy to supply a million residents for 20 years).

If you are traveling to Las Vegas from a warm climate and are arriving in the winter, you might not be able to bring warm clothing with you. It might be best for you to bring one or two warmer items and buy a warm coat and some sweaters after you arrive. You can purchase a good winter coat for approximately $50 to $150. There are even some good used clothing stores if you prefer to spend less money on clothing.

 

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a great chasm carved over millennia through the rocks of the Colorado Plateau. It is more than an awe-inspiring view. It is a pleasure ground for those who explore the roads, hike the trails, or float the currents of the turbulent Colorado River.