LAS VEGAS — Shiny things can be fun. On final approach or a nighttime takeoff from the airport south of town, The Strip can be quite mesmerizing. Lights! Swirly things! The new Raiders’ stadium, the cool Sphere and the old Stratosphere, still sending out a beacon from the top. Las Vegas has something for just about everyone.

More than 30 years of travel to Las Vegas has taught me a few things.

— Comfortable shoes are important, whether you’re on vacation and seeing the sights but especially at trade shows. At my first one back in the mid-90s, I was trying to look sharp and impress. I wore boots, because I was stupid, and almost didn’t get them off my swollen feet that night at the hotel. Lesson learned. Also, Preparation H and elevating your feet helps reduce swelling. Staying hydrated with a lot of water is important, too. But wear comfortable, supportive shoes if you’re going to be on your feet a lot.

— Better food is available off the Strip, especially if you like Asian food. West of the hustle and bustle is Chinatown, on Spring Mountain Road. Scads of restaurants offer everything from Chinese to Korean to Thai. You’ll find Indian, too, and probably a few more I don’t know about. You’ll also find Ethiopian, eastern Europe, Caribbean, German and others.

But my No. 1 go-to always-visit place is Lotus of Siam on Flamingo Road. This is its “new” home, although it’s been on Flamingo for several years. The original restaurant was in a strip mall off Sahara, further north. I walked there once for lunch from the old Hilton, now the Westgate, and saw a guy on the sidewalk yelling at two guys in a car in the big intersection of Joe Brown and Sahara. The car did 360s trying to get to the mouthy guy, who kept darting away while still mouthing off. Quite the scene. Thought we might have a shootout in the making, to be honest. Old Lotus was in Sketchyville but hot damn, it was good. Still is, too, now on Flamingo.

— The casinos aren’t the same with today’s digital machines. The nonstop noise and sensory overload was something to behold, for sure. Today, it’s too serene. Fewer bells and clangs, the smoke isn’t as thick and the cheers for the occasional payout don’t seem to resonate. I’ve stayed in a dozen places, at least, from the old Riviera and Hilton to The Palms and Circus Circus. Walking through the cacophony definitely was memorable. Even at the airport, which I’ll always call McCarran, you got a little “ding ding ding ding” on the way out of town.

Other Things to Do

The quiet moments away from the bling are most enjoyable. Here are a few of mine.

Chihuly Glass at the Bellagio: Hanging from the lobby ceiling of this exquisite hotel is the hand-blown glass by the artist known as Chihuly. Last-name artists are akin to last-name athletes; they need little introduction, and their feats will be remembered for many decades. Chihuly’s works look, to me, like giant multicolored lily pads. Walk into the Belaggio lobby and look up. Gape and gawk. Point and ooooo and ahhhhh. Stunning.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area: If you’re in your Vegas hotel looking west, you’ll see a line of jagged mountains. Among these are the Red Rock Canyon public lands, administered by the federal Bureau of Land Management. These are your lands, taxpayer lands, gorgeous rugged lands with trails and vistas. Do not go out here without water and wearing flip-flops thinking this is an urban greenway. The trails aren’t technical, but this isn’t manicured land. A 13-mile auto tour route is available, as is a visitor’s center with info. This is a great outdoors getaway just a short drive from the glitzy shedazzle.

Hoover Dam: I took our kids more than 15 years ago for a tour inside Hoover Dam, which was interesting and a bit unnerving. The massive dam has leaks. I should’ve thought of that, though, since it’s 1. old, 2. man-made, and 3. is holding back a gazillion gallons of water. The tour was fascinating, though. This was when you could drive over the dam, or walk across and look over the rail. Since then, a new driving bridge has been opened and the dam road is closed to vehicles. It’s just a short drive from Las Vegas.

Valley of Fire State Park: More than 40,000 acres of red sandstone, incredible views and hiking, camping, photography and other opportunities await here. This is a solid day trip from Las Vegas.

If you’re keen on driving a bit for a multi-day outing, head about 3 1/2 hours northeast to Zion National Park in southwest Utah. It’s one of my favorite national parks. Plan far enough ahead to get a cabin, stay in the park, enjoy the buckwheat pancakes at the restaurant, and enjoy as many trails as possible.