Planning a relocation to Las Vegas? You’re not alone. Thousands of people are flocking to the Silver State every year and for good reasons. While our metro area has much to offer, many people mistakenly believe that Las Vegas is all about “The Strip,” but that’s definitely just the tip of the iceberg. Take a look at our shortlist of tips from Vegas locals.

1. Think About What You Want Close By

Whether you are relocating to Las Vegas or any new city before you select an area to live in, think about what types of services you want close by. For instance, you might want to be very close to a major hospital or a specific doctor’s office. You might want to be within walking distance of a school. Perhaps, you don’t want to drive more than a mile or so to reach a grocery store or restaurant.

2. Select The Right Neighborhood For You

Do you want a neighbourhood bustling with kids or a quiet neighbourhood where everyone keeps to themselves? When dealing with relocation, people often have to make decisions quickly, so it’s smart to have a good strategy.

For instance, try to visit homes on the weekend or in the evenings if possible. This can really help you gauge the reality of a neighbourhood. If you visit home at 10 a.m. on a Wednesday, most people will be at work or school, so it’s not a great indication of how quiet or noisy a neighbourhood will be.

3. Think About Your House Must-Haves

The Las Vegas area has a ton of neighbourhoods, so there’s truly something to please everyone. While choosing the right neighbourhood is crucial, there also are a few items you might really want in your home.

Don’t fixate on items such as granite countertops or stainless steel appliances or other things that truly can be changed fairly easily. It’s more important to think about items that you cannot alter, such as the number of bedrooms and toilets. You cannot change the location of a home or its lot size or the size of the home. You cannot change the size of the rooms, so if it’s important to you to have a large kitchen and four bedrooms, those are crucial issues, where paint colour and flooring can be changed to suit your tastes.

4. Don’t Avoid The Strip

Now for those Las Vegas-centric tips. You might think that locals never venture on The Strip, but you’d be wrong. Of course we do. We love the shows and restaurants as much as anybody else, but we also know that there are tons of great attractions off the strip and we do tend to bypass The Strip on many holiday weekends, as it’s usually packed.

5. The Strip Is Not “Downtown”

Many people mistakenly believe that The Strip is downtown Las Vegas. The official downtown area is actually a bit farther up Las Vegas Boulevard from The Strip and it incorporates several interesting areas, including The Fremont Street Experience and the Mob Museum, both of which are well worth a visit.

6. The Strip Isn’t Even In Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Strip actually is not located within the city limits of Las Vegas. It’s in Clark County, but actually part of two unincorporated towns, mainly Paradise.

7. It’s Not Hot Year-Round

Some people mistakenly assume that it’s 115 degrees here all day every day throughout the year. While it certainly can hit that 115-degree mark in July, the 100-degree days typically only last from May until September. April and October can be warm, with highs in the 90s, but the nighttime temps often are only in the high 50s. Our winter is lovely, and, last year, we even had some snow.

8. Love The Outdoors? You’ve Come To The Right Place

If you love biking and hiking and the great outdoors, we definitely offer plenty of outdoor adventures. For instance, at Red Rock Canyon, you can enjoy a scenic drive, hike to the top of Turtlehead Peak, explore a canyon trail and even go camping.

If you love roaming around the desert on an ATV, there are many companies that offer these adventures. There are places for kayaking, as well, which leads us to our next spot that locals love.

9. Visit Hoover Dam

While we don’t recommend a trip to Hoover Dam on a scorching July day, it’s definitely worth a visit when the temperatures drop.  It’s an amazing technical marvel and includes a great museum and stunning views of Lake Mead.

There are many excellent hikes in and around Hoover Dam and the Lake Mead Recreation Area. The Historic Railroad Trail is a fun option, as is the Gold Strike Hot Springs Trail. You can book rafting adventures and kayaking adventures in the area, as well.

Also, did you know that The Grand Canyon is only about two hours away? If you’ve ever longed to see this amazing natural wonder, just relocate to Las Vegas and it will become an interesting day trip. Just another perk to get you motivated for your Las Vegas move.

10. We Have Some Great Museums

When you think about relocation to Las Vegas, museums probably aren’t the first thought to jump into your mind, but we have several great options. The Mob Museum is fantastic, encompassing several stories filled with exhibits that detail the connection between the Mafia and Las Vegas. The Mob Museum even hosts some cool events throughout the year, from history lectures to dances to jazz events and more.

If you’ve got kids, we highly recommend a trip or two to the Springs Preserve. This complex includes the Origen Museum, which is a natural history museum filled with exhibits that shed information on Nevada’s geography, flora and fauna.

This facility also includes the Nevada State Museum, which has many interesting exhibits regarding our state’s history, as well as a botanical garden filled with native plants, a butterfly habitat, train rides, a playground and Boomtown 1905, which gives you an idea about life in a circa-1900 Nevada town.

In addition, if you purchase a membership, you gain year-round access to the Springs Preserve and the Nevada State Museum, as well as discounts at the café and shop. Keep in mind, Nevada residents usually get discounts at our local museums, so don’t forget to bring that new Nevada driver’s license. This museum also hosts tons of great events throughout the year, for kids as well as grown-ups.

11. There Are Freebies & Discounts for Nevada Residents

While some casinos on the strip charge everyone a parking fee, at some casinos, Nevada residents can park for free. Nevada residents also can ride the Las Vegas Monorail for just $1 per ride.

Typically, most attractions, such as the High Roller (our amazing Ferris Wheel experience), Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay and others also have lower rates for locals. Many casino buffets also provide discounts for Nevada restaurants, so before you buy tickets for a show or head to a restaurant, see if there’s a discount for locals.

12. Check Out Our Mountain

Want to take a break from the red rocks and desert landscape? Well, less than an hour from The Strip, we have our own ski area, and even if you aren’t a skier, it’s definitely worth a visit. There are hiking trails, picnic areas, mountain biking, camping and much more.

On your drive up to Mount Charleston, you will literally traverse a lonely desert road and then slowly gain elevation and watch in amazement as the landscape and scenery completely transforms into a mountain setting. It can be a great place to visit on a hot August day. It might be 112 in Las Vegas and maybe 80 or less at Mount Charleston. If you are craving a few minutes in the snow, plan a visit up the mountain in December or January.

13. Golfing, Golfing, Golfing & More Golfing

If you love golf, you can pretty much play throughout the year. Obviously, you might want to skip it on a balmy July afternoon, but many people still head for an early morning nine rounds. We have about 70 golf courses, so you are sure to find at least one or two to your liking.

14. Social Activities Abound

Whether you are a millennial, a Gen-Xer or a Baby Boomer, we have tons of social opportunities. Head to Meetup.com and you’ll find a little something for everyone. There are hiking groups, singles mixers, book clubs, woodworking groups, knitting clubs, Mah Jongg meetups, Bunco, motorcycle groups and much more.

15. We’ve Got The Sports

We love and adore our hockey team, The Las Vegas Golden Knights. In fact, at Move 4 Less, we are proud partners of the Golden Knights.  The Raiders soon will relocate here, and we have a Triple-A baseball team, the Las Vegas Aviators. Their stadium is located in Summerlin, and definitely offers a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening.

16. We’ve Got The Food

No matter what type of food you might love, we’ve got it. Craving Ethiopian? No problem. We’ve got all the usual chains and pizza joints (New York, Detroit, Chicago, and beyond), as well as tons of great Mexican, Italian, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese food.  Whether you want some poke or the world’s most outrageous Bloody Mary, you can find it in Las Vegas, and we don’t just mean on The Strip, but of course, that’s not really in Las Vegas, but we digress.

17. We’re Friendly

People who live in Las Vegas generally love living in Las Vegas. We are grateful for the affordable housing prices, the many attractions and the many employment opportunities. We aren’t just a haven for gambling; we are a bustling metropolis filled with friendly people ready to welcome you.

If you need help with relocation, either relocation to Las Vegas or perhaps relocation to somewhere else, we can help. At Move 4 Less, we provide high-quality, affordable local and long-distance moving services, so whether you need to move from Henderson to Summerlin or from Las Vegas, Nevada to Las Vegas, New Mexico, we can help.