Downtown Las Vegas: nostalgic fun, neon treasure

A short trip from the Strip's high heels, higher prices

This giant shoe was atop the Silver Slipper casino that opened in 1950, closed in 1988. Saved and restored, it now stands near Neon Boneyard Park. (Photos by David G. Molyneaux, TheTravelMavens.com)

A $20 cab ride away from the Strip lies the heart of Las Vegas, a part of the city that continues to pump, and occasionally to bump and grind.

Downtown Vegas seems a world away from the Strip’s brand of glamour – glittering capacious casinos, bustling high-end restaurants, masses of humanity shopping to throw down wads of money, glitzy shows, and celebrities on parade.

You won’t find that sort of thing Downtown.