My City: Las Vegas

As the diversity & cultural manager for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority, Jim McMichael encourages all kinds of people to visit Sin City, including LGBT travelers. Though he likes to escape a few times a year to less arid places (see picture!), McMichael loves his city and offered up his favorite things to do while in Vegas.


DW Bistro
Gay-owned and operated DW Bistro is the perfect combination of Jamaican flavors-meets-New Mexico cuisine. Try the New Mexican-style slow-cooked pork with New Mexican red chile served with over-easy eggs for dinner, or enjoy Sunday “funday” with the popular brunch complete with bottomless mimosas. (6115 S Fort Apache Road, more info)


Drink & Drag
Drink & Drag is a unique gay nightlife experience staffed by the world’s most fabulous drag queens. Located in Neonopolis in famed downtown Las Vegas, guests can play a game of bowling over cocktails or dance the night away to music spun by one of the resident DJs. (450 Fremont Street, more info)


Mount Charleston
Located just 45 short minutes from the world-famous Strip, Mount Charleston provides a cool escape from the desert heat. During the winter snow bunnies flock to the lodge for some hot chocolate and ski adventures; during the summer, Mount Charleston offers world-class hiking in cooler temperatures. (more info)

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is the destination’s newest chic resort featuring some of the hottest restaurants, trendy shopping, and unmatched nightlife. During the summer, The Cosmopolitan throws poolside concerts and hosts weekly outdoor movie nights that cannot be missed. (3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South, more info)


Adventure Seekers
LGBT travelers looking to get outdoors have plenty of options. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy summer hiking and winter skiing/snowboarding at Mt. Charleston, get out on the water and raft or kayak the gentle Colorado River south of Hoover Dam or speed through the desert on the zip lines located at Bootleg Canyon.


Museums
Las Vegas also offers several options for LGBT travelers looking for a more educational experience, including the interactive, hands-on Discovery Children’s Museum, exploring the Las Vegas desert oasis origins at the Springs Preserve or the historical past at the Southern Nevada Railroad Museum and Clark County Museum, both near Boulder City.