As Las Vegas matures as a destination, the powers-that-be are working to create more human-scale developments typically found in other cities — where you can walk comfortably and sip a latte in a sidewalk cafe. Sin City recently saw the opening of a pedestrian area around the new Linq ferris wheel, with numerous shops and restaurants with outside dining. Downtown Vegas continues to grow and add amenities that don't require an expensive cab ride. But back on the Strip, MGM Resorts recently opened a new pedestrian area, with plenty of shade trees to blot out the Nevada sun, at the Monte Carlo resort. Within the new Monte Carlo Plaza, a half-dozen restaurants face the Strip, allowing an exciting place to eat and people watch. Among the restaurants are 800˚ Degrees, a popular L.A. pizza chain, locally-owned coffee purveyor Sambalatte, and Yusho, a Japanese small plates restaurant and one of the best new places to eat in Vegas. Monte Carlo Plaza also offers live music, so there's no possible way you could be bored (like that could ever happen in Vegas). Check out images of the plaza below:
