Henderson

The farthest from the strip of any of our recommendations (about 45 minutes east), Lake Las Vegas is one of the most Un-Vegas places in town and one of the better places to stay if you’ve brought the kids along. The Westin here is located right on the lake, with a series of pools, mountain views, and two huge waterslides. The resort also offers great access to the lake—there’s a small beach to lounge on, and guests can rent SUP boards, jet skis, and boats to explore the water. At night, grab a glass of wine and watch the desert sun go down over the water—the patio is outfitted with several fire pits that are perfect for congregating around.

The red velvet banquettes are the first sign that Michael's is into the old-school Vegas glamour. (Valentine's Day, not incidentally, is big for them.) The fine dining restaurant was originally opened in 1982 in the former hotel, Barbary Coast, which has since shut down. When the gourmet room reopened at South Point several years ago, it kept its charm to the delight of locals.

Vegas regulars come to the M when they need access to The Strip (usually for one of the many conventions that takes place here) but need a good night’s sleep. The clean, modern rooms have great views of the city, and the quiet pool terrace has ample cabanas and lounge chairs for reading off-duty.

Stop by Ethel M. Chocolate Factory on your way back into the city from Hoover Dam. The fully operational space allows visitors can walk through and watch the chocolates, brittle, and caramels being made and boxed in real-time through observation windows (needless to say, getting kids to leave isn’t easy). Don't leave without taking a walk through the beautifully-manicured, three-acre sanctuary, lined with countless native and foreign plant species. It's also home to The Living Machine—a natural purification system which processes 100% of the factory’s wastewater.