View looking west from the Las Vegas Strip

Off-strip hotels and the hills of Red Rock Canyon at sunset west of Las Vegas Boulevard. - photo by Joe Alexander
Off-strip hotels and the hills of Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas Boulevard at sunset. – photo by Joe Alexander
If you are staying in a casino on the west side of the Las Vegas Strip, you might have a view in the direction of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Much closer, just across Interstate 15, you can spot off-strip casinos like The Orleans, The Rio and The Palms.

Off-strip hotels and the hills of Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas Boulevard. - photo by Joe Alexander
Off-strip hotels and the hills of Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas Boulevard.

The Rio Hotel and Casino and the hills of Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas Boulevard. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Rio Hotel and Casino and the hills of Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas Boulevard.

The Palms Casino Resort and the hills of Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas Boulevard. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Palms Casino Resort and the hills of Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas Boulevard.

The Las Vegas Strip in June 2026

Construction of the guitar hotel at the future Hard Rock Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, looking north from in front of Caesars. - photo by Joe Alexander
Construction of the guitar hotel at the future Hard Rock Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, looking north from in front of Caesars. – photo by Joe Alexander
It seems like there’s always something changing on the Las Vegas Strips.

Amidst the familiar bright lights, 2026 is the year we see the new guitar going up on what used to be the Mirage and will soon be the new Hard Rock Casino.

The Eiffel Tower of the Paris Casino next door to the Planet Hollywood, looking east from the Bellagio. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Eiffel Tower of the Paris Casino next door to the Planet Hollywood, looking east from the Bellagio.

The balloon of the Paris Casino next door to the Planet Hollywood, looking east from the Bellagio. - photo by Joe Alexander
The balloon of the Paris Casino next door to the Planet Hollywood, looking east from the Bellagio.

Bellagio Conservatory in transition

Pieces for the Bellagio Conservatory in a lot behind the Casino in June 2026. - photo by Joe Alexander
Pieces for the Bellagio Conservatory in a lot behind the Casino in June 2026. – photo by Joe Alexander
The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is one of the special spots to visit in Las Vegas.

It’s not only free, but it changes on a seasonal basis.

The changes mean there are brief periods when the exhibit is closed as they change from one season to the next.

I happened to be in the neighborhood when a new exhibit “Summer 2026: Paradise” was being put in place. That meant I couldn’t walk though the exhibit and most of what you saw while walking past were workmen and small construction vehicles.

One interesting thing I saw on the way to the tram from the Bellagio to the Park MGM was a back lot with what looked like pieces of the incoming exhibit.

Remaining 2026 exhibition dates via the Bellagio website:

– Summer: June 13, 2026 through Sept. 12, 2026

– Harvest: Sept. 19, 2026 though Nov. 7, 2026

– Holiday: Nov. 14, 2026 through Jan. 2, 2027

Bellagio Conservatory website

Pieces for the Bellagio Conservatory in a lot behind the Casino in June 2026. - photo by Joe Alexander
Pieces for the Bellagio Conservatory in a lot behind the Casino in June 2026.

Las Vegas Athletics domed baseball stadium under construction

Construction site of the future Las Vegas Athletics domed baseball park on the south end of the Strip as seen from Harry Reid Airport. - photo by Joe Alexander
Construction site of the future Las Vegas Athletics domed baseball park on the south end of the Strip as seen from Harry Reid Airport. – photo by Joe Alexander
Construction of a new major league baseball stadium in Las Vegas is now far enough along that you can get an idea of the future shape of the building.

Located on the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana, the facility is just south of the MGM Grand Casino and east of the Excalibur Casino on the Strip – where the Tropicana Casino used to sit.

Construction site of the future Athletics domed baseball park on the Las Vegas Strip as seen from in front of the MGM Grand Casino. - photo by Joe Alexander
Construction site of the future Athletics domed baseball park on the Las Vegas Strip as seen from in front of the MGM Grand Casino.

Aerial views of the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead on the way to Las Vegas

Lake Mead was formed where the Colorado River backs up behind the Hoover Dam near Las Vegas. - photo by Joe Alexander
Lake Mead was formed where the Colorado River backs up behind the Hoover Dam near Las Vegas. – photo by Joe Alexander
I’m that guy that likes to fly in the window seat and spend the entire flight watching the earth go by.

A trip to Las Vegas means sitting on the right side of the plane and seeing the tail end of the Grand Canyon near the end of the flight and then Lake Mead right before landing.

Along the way you can see a lot of the desert southwest.