For those that are used to Northeastern winters, Las Vegas can be a difficult city to get into the holiday spirit. But just because it doesn’t snow every winter in Las Vegas (though it occasionally does), doesn’t mean that the city is devoid of its own special holiday traditions.
The Nutcracker
Few shows reflect holiday tradition like The Nutcracker, and the Nevada Ballet Theater puts on an amazing rendition every year at The Smith Center in downtown Las Vegas. The show is very true to the original, but with some very careful personal touches to make it just a little bit unique every time you see it here. The ambience of The Smith Center along with one of the most storied holiday ballet performances make The Nutcracker a must see for anyone looking to get in the spirit. It even snows on stage!
Holiday Feasts
Las Vegas is a year-round hospitality destination, and as such the city and its premier outlets rarely close for a holiday. In fact, many of the gourmet restaurants around the city offer dedicated menus and events to make the holidays that much more special for those that either cannot be with family or would like to have someone else cater to them for a change. Depending on the location, availability can be extremely limited so be sure to plan in advance and make reservations.
Mount Charleston
If you absolutely cannot get into the spirit of the holidays without seeing snow, then Mount Charleston is just a quick 30 minute drive from The Strip. Because of the altitudes, temperatures and seasonal weather atop the mountain much more closely resemble those of our friends in the North of the country. The mountain has a lodge, but rates do tend to trend upwards during the holidays because of the nostalgic weather and also ski season. If you do just make a quick trip up for the day, it would be recommended to go a few days before or after any major holiday as many locals and travelers flood the only roadway leading to Mount Charleston on these dates, especially Christmas, to catch a glimpse of Vegas’ own winter wonderland.