There are many ways to start off an evening in Las Vegas. Few compare to getting elevated via the High Roller observation wheel at The Linq Promenade, which should be on everyone’s short list for ways to experience sundown on the Strip. Aside from incomparable vistas, there are new friends to be made and new things to check out at The Linq Promenade. And In-N-Out Burger.
Dinner can wait until after a rotation. Daytime rides with 360-degree views of the Las Vegas Valley beneath azure blue desert skies contrast with the neon nighttime trip, providing incentive for making two visits to High Roller. Sundown rolls come increasingly early as fall gives way to winter, with plenty of time to make it to The Linq Promenade’s mid-Strip location before hitting a 7 p.m. show elsewhere.
It’s also good timing for an aperitif, which can be obtained at a well-stocked bar after passing through a security check at the entrance. A Happy Half Hour can be reserved for up to 25 people in one cabin, with a personal bartender serving up libations during the 30-minute turn of the wheel. It may be the most convenient-to-arrange small party experience on the Strip.
The design and engineering aspects of the High Roller are breathtakingly impressive. The sheer amount of material that went into its development becomes more apparent upon drawing nearer until perception of its massive scale is replaced by the closeness of the round cabins, and awareness of the fact that they don’t stop as guests board.
Cabins move slowly, though, and provide plenty of room and angles for photos. Likely there will by multiple languages expressing wonder about the lights spread out like gold dust in the eastern Vegas Valley, and the lights outlining the new MSG Sphere that is one of the newest architectural wonders. FLY LINQ zipliners below get smaller and smaller.
As the altitude increases, prime sightlines of resorts and their illuminated signage emerge to the north. The Mirage, Caesars Palace and Flamingo provide prime photo ops as the cabins rise higher and the Strip’s south properties come into view. Before the expanse of kinetic neon activity below can be fully processed, the 15-minute mark arrives and the cabin has reached its highest peak.
By then, the ice has been broken and guests are discussing favorite views and helping each other take selfies. FaceTime calls enable people who couldn’t make it to Vegas to see what High Roller riders can see. The sun has fully dropped in the western sky and the sky above is dark.
There’s a feeling of contentment on the way down that remains upon exiting the High Roller and taking a promenade through The Linq Promenade. There’s a buzz of energy, live acoustic music coming from a bar, a slew of choices for dining and including one with bowling lanes. A burger from In-N-Out may be the perfect way to conclude a High Roller experience, though, especially if it’s prepared “animal style.”
