Cool Facts You Should Know About Las Vegas Before Moving There

Nevada became the country’s fastest growing state, according to the latest US Census data, receiving more than 141,000 newcomers in 2018, of which 50,000 were Californians. Many of them are choosing the state’s largest metro area, Las Vegas, as their new home. As a result, Metro Las Vegas now has a population of 2.23 million people, and will, most likely, continue to grow.

People are attracted to Las Vegas by affordable housing costs and exciting job opportunities. If you’re considering making the move, it’s important to learn that the monthly rent for an apartment in the Las Vegas metro area hovered around $1,120 this January, according to Yardi Matrix data. This represents a 6% growth from January 2019, but it’s still decidedly under the national average of $1,474. Should you need some extra storage space while moving to the area, the street rate for a self-storage unit in Las Vegas stands at an affordable $107 per month for a standard 10X10 locker.

The unemployment rate in the Las Vegas metro area stands at 3.5%, pretty much in line with the national average of 3.6%. Everyone knows you can always count on a job in hospitality or services in Las Vegas. However, the city is diversifying its economic landscape, with huge tech companies, including Amazon and Google, opening new offices here in order to avoid the ultra-expensive Silicon Valley.

All things considered, moving to Las Vegas looks like a pretty smart decision right now. And, if you need more incentives, here are some cool, lesser-known facts about Las Vegas, plus some pretty unique things you can do and enjoy in the area.

1. Las Vegas Powers All Its City-Run Systems with Renewable Energy

It’s the first large city in the US to have achieved such an amazing milestone. More than 140 city buildings, streetlights, community centers and about a dozen parks get their power from a combination of solar farms, solar panels placed on buildings and hydroelectric generators. And that’s not the only eco-friendly feature of the city – many of its parks, golf courses, and turf facilities are using so-called “grey water,” which is recycled from bathtubs and showers, according to the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

2. The Arts District

This area of Las Vegas is undeservedly little known, not only by tourists and newcomers to the city, but also by many of its residents. The artsy neighborhood is made up of dozens of independent creative businesses, from antique stores and art galleries to small museums and theaters. It’s also the place where the famous First Friday monthly art festival has been held ever since 2002.

3. The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Located a mere 15 miles west of the city, the natural reservation allows you to enjoy the uniqueness of the desert landscape around Las Vegas. The large, red rock formation makes for a scenic 13-mile drive, plus numerous opportunities for hiking, camping and biking. There are picnic areas, nature observation spots and indoor and outdoor exhibits.

4. Winter Sports Are within Reach

Moving to Las Vegas doesn’t mean you have to give up on skiing or snowboarding for good. Located about an hour north of the city, the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area and its highest peak, Mount Charleston, provide winter sports opportunities during the cold months of the year. During the summer, it’s the perfect spot to escape the intense city heat and to spend time outdoors.

5. The Hollywood Car Museum

The museum sprawls across 30,000 sq. ft. of space and hosts more than 100 famous cars that appeared in movies, TV shows or music videos. You can admire no fewer than five James bond vehicles, several Batmobiles from different TV and movie adaptations, and also a few cars from the first “Fast and Furious” movie. Another iconic exhibits in the museum are the “Back to the Future” Delorean car and the one that appeared in the “Bonnie and Clyde” movie.

6. Ethel M Chocolates and Botanical Cactus Garden

This is a quirky combination of two of the most beloved things ever, chocolate and cacti. The botanical garden features over 300 species of cacti and other succulents, largely native to the area. Admiring the super cute plants is a great activity, but you can also combine it with a tour of the chocolate factory and tasting sessions, which really takes the whole experience to the next level.

7. The Neon Museum

This one-of-a-kind museum preserves an important part of the city’s history – its spectacular neon signs. The museum is where the city’s billboards, lettering and advertisements, formerly used to adorn hotels, casinos, restaurants and other attractions, go to retire. The exhibition contains more than 200 signs with details about their history and their creators.

8. Springs Preserve

This is a 130-acre attraction in the middle of Las Vegas, where you can visit a botanical garden, several exhibits featuring native desert fauna, animal shows, interactive street recreations and miles of trails, and there is also a play area. It’s a great outing for families with kids, an opportunity to have fun, learn and explore.

9. The National Atomic Testing Museum

Yet another unconventional Las Vegas museum, this one showcases the history of atomic testing in Nevada. In the 50s, when a lot of atomic testing took place in the Nevadan desert, the mushroom clouds were visible from Las Vegas, and a lot of tourists were coming specifically to see the explosions. Fortunately, atomic explosions no longer take place in Nevada, but here at this museum you can see rare artifacts, a replica of the Control Point where the countdown before the explosions was conducted, and you can even experience a simulation of an above-ground test.

10. Las Vegas Residents Get Plenty of Free and Discounted Stuff

If you’re still not convinced and need more reasons to move to Las Vegas, maybe you should know that being a Las Vegas resident comes with a pretty cool set of perks. Most casinos, malls, restaurants and other venues will offer, from time to time, deep discounts to those with state residency. Show tickets, admission to museums and other attractions, meals, different types of services, transportation – all of it becomes more affordable as soon as you become a resident.

If you have any other cool facts about Las Vegas that you want to share, please let us know in the comments.