Golden Nugget
Resorts along the Las Vegas Strip have become exceedingly good at re-creating paradise. Yes, smack-dab in the middle of a desert, guests can spend the day lounging by cool waters and tropical Edens. A day spent at the pool has become a mini-vacation inside your vacation. And while the mega resorts offer acres upon acres of pool paradise, downtown hotels have upped their pool game and are worth adding to your itinerary.
First off, nowhere in Las Vegas can you
plunge into a pool and spot sharks and schools of fish swimming next to you except at the Golden Nugget. The Tank pool complex features a 200,000-gallon shark tank aquarium and a waterslide through said tank. Guests can book a private cabana, cool off on a submerged lounge chair or visit the 21-and-over private pool hang, The Hideout, which is equipped with its own cabanas, infinity edge pool and bar. There’s also the H2O bar, oversized Jacuzzis and outdoor gaming tables.
More games await at Downtown Grand’s Citrus Grand Pool Deck, including foosball, cornhole and table tennis. The rectangular pool has a backyard-type feel, complete with cabanas, fire pits, grassy seating areas with umbrellas and daybeds. It’s become a welcoming, cool spot to hang for the day.
On Fridays, stop by Citrus in the evening for the weekly Old School by The Pool event, beginning at 8 p.m. and free to those 21 and over. Hang in the pool or dance on the deck as R&B and funk bands play all the old-school hits you can handle; there’s also food and drink specials, and DJs keep the groovy sounds going in between band performances.
Downtown Grand
If you want to celebrate the Fourth of July early, head to The Pool at The Plaza. Guests are invited to a free Independence Day pool party June 30 at 7 p.m. The Pool has a cool, vintage Palms Springs vibe, with cabanas surrounding the sparkling waters and lounge chairs submerged in the shallow ends. The 70,000-square-foot deck will have plenty of room for guests to relax throughout the evening while enjoying drink specials, live DJ sets and made-to-order poolside fare from the pool’s permanent food truck. The Plaza’s pool also offers a 12-person hot tub, tennis and pickleball courts, blackjack tables and foosball, ping pong and cornhole games.
