Paradise Tutors Come To You

For those who like posh resorts, bright lights, live entertainment and, of course, gambling, then Paradise is the perfect name for the unincorporated area of Las Vegas which includes most of the famous Strip, McCarran International Airport and the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Paradise is bounded on the south and east by residential areas like Silverado Ranch, and on the north and west by Las Vegas’s numerous hotels and casinos. Paradise is home to some of the most famous resort properties in the world including The Mirage, Mandalay Bay, Luxor and the Bellagio. The area’s name, however, originated many years before the neon lights and spinning wheels when farmers capitalized on the fertile soil and high water table, dubbing the place Paradise Valley. Gambling came to Paradise in 1941 with the opening of the El Rancho Vegas and soon organized crime moved to town establishing the Flamingo and Desert Inn. In 1950 the city of Las Vegas attempted to annex the area to gain the tax base but were thwarted by casino executives and syndicate leaders, among them Gus Greenbaum (Moe Greene in the mafia movie The Godfather).

For students who wish to enjoy all that Las Vegas can offer it’s certain that a Grade Potential Tutor will put you ahead of the curve on your studies so you can go out on the town guilt free. While gambling is by far the most popular thing to do, the area has a wealth of other activities and attractions. For history buffs, the National Atomic Testing Museum near McCarran Airport offers a fascinating journey back to the introduction of nuclear weapons and the outbreak of the Cold War between America and the Soviet Union. The United States began testing atomic and hydrogen weapons in the Nevada desert in 1951. At that time, visitors would often travel as close as Mt. Charleston to witness the blasts and the effects of the bombs could be felt as far away as Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. For UFO conspiracy theorists, the museum includes an exhibit on Area 51, a secret base within the National Test and Training Range.

Art lovers can easily spend several days checking out the numerous galleries on the Strip and beyond as well as the public art which graces the walls and facades of the best Las Vegas resorts. Originally built to house the personal collection of Steve Wynn, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art now features rotating exhibits such as “A Sense of Place: Landscapes from Monet to Hockney” and “Andy Warhol: The Celebrity Portraits.” Likewise, the Barrick Museum on the University of Nevada Las Vegas campus hosts a series of exhibits ranging from contemporary paintings and sculpture to the black and white nature photography of Ansel Adams.

For something a little more fun, M&M’s World Las Vegas is a 28,000 square-foot, four story tribute to the iconic chocolate candies including a printer where visitors can create their own personalized messages on the candy treat. Further north on the strip visitors also might want to check out Madame Tussaud’s with wax figures of more than 100 famous celebrities and notable individuals.