Las Vegas is also known as "Sin-City" or "The Entertainment capital of the World" and is the 28th most populous city in the United States. With over half a million people the city thrives like no other and is unique in its atmosphere and lifestyle. It is not without its heritage and its history is pretty intriguing:

Rafael Rivera became the first known non-Indian to set foot in the oasis-like valley of Las Vegas but the exact date is unknown. Around 14 years after Rivera's arrival, John C. Fremont arrived on May 13, 1844 during an expedition heading for California. His name is remembered today in neon lights as well as museums and history books. The Fremont Hotel Casino in Downtown Las Vegas bears his name as does Fremont Street the main thoroughfare through the heart of Las Vegas.

Mormon settlers travelled to Las Vegas to protect the Los Angeles-Salt Lake City mail route and in 1855 began building a 150-square-foot fort of sun-dried bricks made of clay soil and grass, a substance known as adobe. The Mormons planted fruit trees, cultivated vegetables and mined lead for bullets at Potosi Mountain. A portion of the "Mormon Fort" has withstood the ravages of time and is an historic site today near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard North and Washington Avenue. The temple spires are visible in the foothills of Sunrise Mountain to the east of the city.

The Las Vegas Strip came about in the 1940s with the construction of many casino hotels along the two-lane highway leading to Los Angeles. Some of the earliest built hotels were the Thunderbird, which still stands but is now known as the Arubu Hotel & Spa and the famous Flamingo Hotel built in 1946.

Las Vegas is also famous for weddings as much as gambling and has become the destination for those wanting to wed without having to wait or plan far in advance. There are 35 wedding chapels in Las Vegas who perform over 114,000 weddings per year and many Elvis impersonators who can conduct the ceremony.

Now that you know a little bit more about Las Vegas, why not book your break with Discount Hotels Las Vegas today and enjoy a great hotel deal.