Here's Why Vegas Is the Best City to Spend the Holidays In

Vegas doesn't spring to mind when you think of the holidays, but it should. Food as far as the eye can see, entertainment every night of the week — and, you don’t even have to lift a finger. If you’re looking to change up holiday traditions this year, might we suggest a Vegas holiday experience for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve?

Ditch the Giblets
Why bother stuffing a turkey? Wynn Las Vegas is offering classic dishes like stuffing, pumpkin pie, and, of course, the big bird during November. Or how about trying an exotic Thanksgiving by having dinner at Bazaar Meat at SLS Las Vegas. For Christmas, enjoy an authentic Italian meal at Rao's at Caesars Palace, or follow a Jewish tradition by eating Chinese at Lao Sze Chuan at Palms Casino Resort.

Shop ‘Til You Drop
While the rest of the world is chugging caffeine to stay up late enough to catch the late night Thanksgiving sales or setting their alarms for the crack of dawn to beat mall traffic, you can roll out of your hotel room on the Vegas Strip and walk to one of the many nearby stores and malls. Enjoy a leisurely stroll to the Luxor, past restaurants, kiosks and stores at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place. Or if you prefer to go a little bit more high-end, the Shops at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and the Esplanades at Wynn and Encore boast a true luxury experience. You can add a gondola ride to your day when you shop at the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and The Palazzo. Or enjoy an open-air shopping experience along the Strip at Town Square Las Vegas, a favorite among locals.

Get Out and Explore
If you’re worried you won’t get an authentic holiday experience in Las Vegas, think again. The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens gets all decked out for Christmas, complete with giant bells, penguins, and polar bears, and all the poinsettia plants in the Western hemisphere (we exaggerated slightly). You can skate on over at the The Cosmopolitan Ice Rink or visit Santa and the North Pole at the first-of-its-kind 2,000 square foot, two-story interactive house that is opening in partnership with Dreamworks at Fashion Show Mall this year. If you’re keen on a great view of the Strip, check out the High Roller. And if you want to ditch the nightlife and casinos all together, head downtown to the Fremont Street Experience where they pull out all the stops with a holiday stage show and a huge tree.

Catch a Show
Of course, what’s Vegas without some serious stage action? In addition to the city’s packed roster of shows on a nightly basis (if you haven’t ever seen a Cirque du Soleil show, you absolutely must), tons of talent is performing on New Year’s Eve. Hang out with the princess of pop, Britney Spears, at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino; check out Lady Gaga in concert with Tony Bennett at  The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas; watch Adam Levine turn up the sex appeal with Maroon 5 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino; or have a gay ol’ time with Olivia Newton John at Flamingo Las Vegas. And if you’re really looking to party, Evolve Vegas New Year’s Eve is a three day, all-gay event that is bringing men from all around the world to Vegas.