Las Vegas, City of Dreams made real. Once upon a time there was gambling and top-notch musical entertainment. Now there's that and a whole lot more. Now you can visit Vegas and never want to leave. Many don't. Las Vegas was one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. for over a decade. Visit one of the Cirque du Soleil performances – Mystere, KA or O – and see some of the finest acrobats in the world. Then be amazed when the show turns out to be so much more than just a circus act. True theater, with music and grand staging to match, these one-of-a-kind extravaganzas are sure to delight anyone.

Enjoy zoos? Come see some interesting twists on an old idea at one of the many Las Vegas venues. There's the White Tiger Habitat at the Mirage. These amazing animals are much more visible than in your average zoo, comfortably housed behind glass walls that make seeing them a unique experience.

Prefer aquariums? Check out the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, also at the Mirage. You can enjoy a drink at the bar while the dolphins swim nearby, and occasionally leap to celebrate your good fortune. Or, check out the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. Housed in a million gallon tank, you'll find a dozen species to delight you.

Shopping is now in style in Las Vegas. Everything from exquisite jewelry at Harry Winston's to home decor at Versace, the famed clothing designer. Don't miss out on a half-mile gondola ride at The Venetian, then step out and whip out the plastic. Or, come visit the tri-level Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. You'll be treated like a queen at any of the over 100 shops.

Try a more rough and ready trek at nearby Red Rock Canyon. This desert park is home to Red-Tailed hawks and 8,000 foot peaks. The red sandstone cliffs feature unbeatable views, 30-foot waterfalls and hiking trails to challenge even the most experienced. Want to see something unusual, educational and awe-inspiring but stay in town? Try The Atomic Testing Museum at the Frank H. Rogers Science and Technology complex. The nearly 50-year history of nuclear weapons testing at nearby Nevada sites is recorded and explained here. With interactive displays, films in the concrete bunker and the most unusual gift shop anywhere visitors will be glad they split the atom.

Visit Fremont Street and see the $70 million dollar 1,400-foot canopy covering an area housing dozens of casinos. With continual projections of video and amazing sound you'll come away dazzled. Offering more neon lights than anywhere outside Hong Kong, it's a must-see. Then, if you're not totally knocked off your feet yet, try one of the scream-inducing rides at the Stratosphere. At a thousand feet, no one can hear you anyway but the terrified rider next to you. Then feel some real fear by engaging in the traditional activity at Las Vegas - gambling.
 
The Casinos

With all the new shopping centers, restaurants and entertainment offered by Las Vegas these days it's easy to forget about the casinos. But they are still the center of attraction for many. Vegas still has many of the old-time icons to offer like the Sahara. But many new ones have sprouted up in just the past decade. Even those as old as 40 years have seen major renovations in the past few years, to compete and to keep that youthful spirit ever fresh.

MGM Grand
Come to Hollywood. The granddaddy of modern Vegas, the casino complex is built to resemble a huge movie set, sort of like James Bond on steroids. Even with the 16,000 seat auditorium and dozens of restaurants, there's still plenty of room for gaming. Whether you're an old-timer who still wants to play keno or you're a young stud or studette with an itch for high stakes poker, you won't walk away disappointed. Empty-pocketed, maybe.

Paris Las Vegas
For the real James Bond feel to your gaming fun, check out one of the newer kids in town. With re-creations of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre, the place is easy to spot. But save your eagle eye to spot that ace that just went to your left. Also be sure to save some money after all the Baccarat to spend on a lady at Le Cabaret where the Euro bands entertain.

Luxor
After Paris, only Egypt will look exotic. The Luxor is a 360ft/110m high glass pyramid that shines in the desert sun like a mirage. Get yourself worked up for some hot action with the dice as you face off with the fez. With an Olympic-sized pool to cool off in after a hot night's gambling, you'll find it has every kind of game imaginable. Apart from the thousands of slot machines, hundreds of poker tables, roulette wheels and the like, there's a virtual gaming room. Unreal.

Mandalay Bay
From ancient Egypt, travel to the tropics and enjoy some of the jazz featured at Mandalay Bay. Between Broadway shows in the 12,000 seat theater, you can enjoy some fine roulette. Be sure to bet on black, since you want to avoid being in the red after a few hours at house odds. When you're done you can drown your sorrows or celebrate your winnings with a cool drink at the bar near the sandy beach.

Caesars Palace
Caesars remains the Las Vegas king. Around for decades, it still offers some of the hottest tables, the coolest dealers and the sexiest waitresses in town. Get ready to roll the dice amid the splendor of the Imperial Roman decor, then relax in the spa and gloat. Go to Cleopatra's later for some dancing or enjoy a show in the Omnimax Theater. Whether you like Texas Hold 'Em or European-style roulette, or just want to punch a dollar into a slot and watch the wheels spin, the casinos in Vegas have something for you. Be nice to the dealers, though. The hotels still hire large, serious looking gentlemen as managers to keep everyone polite.
 

 
The Bellagio

Home of the famed Cirque du Soleil show O, the Bellagio Hotel has this and much more to offer the Las Vegas guest. Opened in 1998, this luxury hotel is patterned after a Roman extravaganza, but offers everything for the modern traveler. Sited on the shores of a 10-acre man-made lake, the hotel houses 20 restaurants and cafes, a 65,000 square foot spa and salon and a dozen other attractions. The famed Bellagio Fountains are just outside. A thousand choreographed sprays blossom into the air in a water ballet that has to be seen and heard to be appreciated. The jets are timed to classical music and Las Vegas visitors will often stand in front of them day or night for an hour and watch the show.

The lobby alone is worth a visit. The ceiling displays 2,000 hand-blown glass flowers each hand-crafted to perfection. The Fiori di Como are multi-colored works of art that form only one astounding part of this city within a city. Just off to the side are other fascinating things to see, such as the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Within its walls are exotic plants from all over the world. Those who have enjoyed the botanical gardens of London or New York won't be disappointed.

The Fine Arts gallery is an option, even for those not staying at the hotel. With dozens of works by Picasso, Monet, van Gogh and other masters, it's small but impressive. Easily the equal of many European art museums, art lovers will find many works to view and enjoy. An audio tour is available.

Unlike some of the hotels, the Bellagio is restricted to those over 18 unless they are guests of the hotel. One reason is the centrality of the large casino within the property. Visitors will pass through it on their way to almost any of the other attractions. Under these orange canopies you can find just about anything in the way of gambling, from $1 slot machines all the way up to $5,000 per hand poker tables.

Not inexpensive by Las Vegas standards, the Bellagio rooms can easily cost $250 a night, though discounts are a possibility during off-days or weeks. But you'll definitely get your money's worth. Whether it's the luxurious Italian provincial-decorated rooms, or the high-end spa, you'll find elegance and pampering are routine here. The spa architecture has an unusual feature to enhance the visitor's experience: walls made of water. The music and general ambiance will melt your stress away.

Even with over 3,400 rooms they offer a high staff-to-guest ratio and your every whim will be catered to quickly. Come visit the Bellagio and find out for yourself.
 
Cirque du Soleil

The astounding Cirque du Soleil is an enormous acrobatic act... and so much more. If you have somehow missed it and still harbor in your memory the image of an old time circus with clowns and acrobats, be prepared for a shock. Cirque du Soleil has this, and much more, but in a form that is wildly different. With dozens of artists - tumblers, firebreathers, clowns and others - the show has many of the traditional entertainers. But the similarities end there.

The difference is immediately visible the moment you see the entertainers. With carefully crafted makeup and costumes, it has to be seen to be appreciated. Deep blue or orange suits with tie-dyed designs, Chinese red capes and kaleidoscope makeup are only the beginning. The performers are among the best acrobats in the world, gathered from more than a dozen countries.

Displaying their talents inside huge arenas that seat over 1,600 they astound audience members with their skill. But that skill is in service of the most unusual, individual and innovative choreography around. Whether it's the Aerial High Bar act making death-defying leaps that seem as if they truly can fly or the Alexis Brothers with their amazing tumbling, the shows never let up for a moment.

For 90 minutes at the Mystere Theatre the audience is agog with wonder as they watch the show unfold. At the MGM the KA show dazzles the eye. The O performance is as wondrous as its title signifying 'everything'. Dancers of the Cirque du Soleil are one of the highlights. Combining traditional movements from their native countries with modern twists and turns that surprise at every step, the artists leave you something to remember for a long time afterward.

But the show isn't all just traditional high wire acts, comedy or dancers in new costumes. There is a theme to every show, one that weaves and tangles and then resolves like a complex detective story. You may have to attend several times to unravel all the mystery and awe that's packed into the performance.

Performances can be crowded. Once a novelty, Cirque du Soleil has taken center stage in Las Vegas and became an important part of the whole 'Vegas experience'. Like a lot of shows in Las Vegas, tickets are a bit high but a web search might yield a discount. Well worth the price, the Cirque du Soleil is an unforgettable theatrical experience.

Don't miss seeing it in the Desert City of Lights. Whether O, KA or Mystere, or any of the several other shows that are brought forth over the months and years, Cirque du Soleil will always leave you guessing what's next.
 

The Mirage

Owned by MGM Mirage, this Hawaiian-themed, 3,000 room hotel is as much an entertainment complex as a place to stay. Over 40 years ago it was known as Castaways. But it's as up-to-the-minute fresh as any place in Vegas now. Inside the front entrance is a lush tropical rainforest housed under a 100-foot high dome, with 60-foot palm trees providing 'shade'. Not far away are the lagoons where visitors can swim or walk among palm trees. With two pools and a series of cliffs where water streams down into grottos, it's a man-made paradise.

Step along and step up to the Paradise Cafe or the Dolphin Bar and sip a cool drink on a hot Vegas day. If you're feeling especially hot, or want to get that way, try the Bare pool area. A clothing-free environment, you can lounge away and observe the local beauty while sipping a drink from the bar. You'll enjoy the sunshine au naturel as the dolphins swim only a few feet away.

Connected to it is a Siegfried & Roy-sponsored animal attraction: the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. The area is a carefully reconstructed tropical paradise. Here, a dozen species fly, crawl or swim continuously. The 2.5 million gallon pool is home to several Atlantic bottleneck dolphins in a sandy-bottomed artificial coral reef system. With four connected pools, they enjoy plenty of variety and so will the visitor.

For a closer look at sea life, visit the Aquarium - a 20,000 gallon seawater enclosure that houses puffer fish, tangs and other interesting creatures. There are over 60 species represented among the 1,000 animals and all are easily visible within the 53-foot long, six-foot wide by 8-foot high, 4-inch thick acrylic walls.

Until a few years ago the hotel was the home of the Siegfried & Roy white tiger-themed show. But Roy was attacked by one of the animals and the show closed down. Fortunately, the tigers are still around in the White Tiger Habitat. Visible daily, these rare beauties are on display 24 hours per day, 7 days per week in a carefully controlled environment. With a pool, fountains and simulated mountain terrain for the tigers to enjoy, it's a treat for them as well as the viewer.

Outside is the Mirage volcano - an artificial Vesuvius that erupts periodically throughout the evening. At the top of each hour from 7 p.m. to midnight, flames shoot high into the night sky, spraying smoke and fire a hundred feet up. Backed by design expertise that helped create the Bellagio Fountains, it's a not-to-miss attraction. Over 50 feet high, situated on three water-covered acres, it's been amazing viewers for almost 20 years. It even smells interesting. To mask the scent of the gas used to power the volcano, the structure emits Piña Colada vapor. Come smell the breeze at The Mirage.
 
The Venetian

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino contains all the connotations suggested by its name, and a great deal more. Once upon a time on this site stood the legendary Sands Hotel. But Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack were long departed from the scene by the time the venerated structure was demolished to make way for The Venetian. Opened in 1998, this billion dollar behemoth is one of Las Vegas' greatest centers of luxury and entertainment. Its massive walls enclose over 4,000 suites and a 120,000 square foot casino. But the hotel offers much more than mere size as its claim to fame.

Not two years after it opened, an art museum was added - the Guggenheim Hermitage, featuring pieces from Impressionist masters. Less than a year later another stellar collection was unveiled - Art Through the Ages: Masterpieces of Painting from Titian to Picasso. Not satisfied, the ever inventive hoteliers added yet a third two years later, containing pieces from Renoir, Gauguin, Matisse and many others. Between the three, visitors have access to works that rival those found in any of the great museums in New York or elsewhere.

But for those who like a more lively form of entertainment, The Venetian has many from which to choose. The quirky ensemble the Blue Man Group performs there in the Blue Man Theatre. Displaying some of the most astounding physical feats seen anywhere, the show has to be seen to be believed. And even then you'll wonder.

The Phantom of the Opera musical gave birth to a variant that is performed at The Venetian, an extravaganza that those who enjoyed the original will be sure to want to see. Along with the entertainment there is shopping, dining, gambling and a dozen other things to see and do. You can visit the food court in the Grand Canal Shoppes and find some genuine cuisine from Venice.

Or hit the 10,000 square-foot Tao Nightclub and find out what dancing is all about. The next day you can have lunch at the Aquanox where the seafood rivals that of the famed Emeril. You don't have to go all the way to London to see Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, either. There's one inside the hotel that is nearly its equal. Chock full of celebrity figures that are as life-like as the real thing, it will amuse visitors young and old.

Then relax at the five-acre Pool Deck where you can enjoy any of three pools or spend time in the hot tub. Sited above the fourth level of the Venetian Tower, you'll have a great view while you soak away your cares. Then dry off and take a gondola ride along the canals and experience Venice in Las Vegas.
 
The Stratosphere Hotel and Tower

The Stratosphere is not the largest hotel, nor does it have the biggest casino. But it's got something that is nowhere else in Las Vegas or anywhere else: The Stratosphere Tower. The Tower, as it's known locally, is 1,149 feet high. At the top is the famed revolving restaurant and entrances to the rides.

With both indoor and outdoor observation decks, the 100-story structure also offers a lounge, restaurants and, of course, a spectacular view. The windows come down to the floor at an angle so it's possible to look straight down and see what's below - nothing but air. In 30 seconds the double-decker elevator will rush to the top at 1,800 feet per minute or three floors a second.

Naturally, you'll want to travel down a little more slowly. Apart from the observation deck itself there are several thrill rides that are enormously popular. The Big Shot, X-Scream and Insanity are all aptly named. Any one of them is enough to exhaust your adrenalin long before you start gambling. But then, gambling that you'll stay on is what these rides are all about. The Big Shot is almost 1,100 feet high and qualifies as the highest thrill ride in the world. The Insanity is less high (900ft), but by spinning riders at 40 miles per hour, it earns its name anyway. X-Scream is a 'mere' 866 feet, but by dropping riders over the edge it too is aptly named.

For those who prefer to get married with a view, there's The Chapel in the Clouds. A large number of people every year still come to Vegas to get married and this choice is definitely better than the standard cheesy chapel off The Strip. But there are other forms of entertainment as well.

The vampire-themed adult revue 'The Bite' could only have been conceived and executed in Las Vegas where the unusual is the norm. Then there's the American Superstars show where the celebrity look-alikes get a chance at stardom while you laugh.

The Stratosphere is located at the northern tip of the casino group on The Strip and is the only one actually located in the City of Las Vegas proper. The others are technically in the suburb of Paradise. With 2,444 rooms and an 80,000 square foot casino it's by no means the largest, but it might very well be the most unusual.

Completed in 1996 it didn't do box-office business at first, but its location eventually proved to be an advantage. It's centrally located between The Strip and downtown, which is convenient for those who want to see it all, including Fremont Street. The rooms are inexpensive but adequate, and few go to Vegas to sleep anyway. On the other hand, there are plenty of games in the casino where you can spend a lot more money, so never fear. Save that for the rides.
 
Red Rock Canyon

Think Las Vegas and your brain immediately conjures neon lights, casinos and maybe a spectacular show. But Vegas has much more to offer than the expected modern pleasures. Fewer than 20 miles from The Strip is a different kind of spectacular view: Red Rock Canyon.

With 1.2 million visitors per year it's hardly an unknown option. But seeing this magnificent group of sandstone cliffs and canyons isn't the sort of thing that immediately comes to mind when you picture a Vegas vacation. But it should. They're amazing. Full of wildlife and flora of the area. Rangers will give you a guided hike at no charge. Bring your best hiking boots and see desert tortoises and big horn sheep against the beautiful background scenery. Then hike over to the 3,000 foot high cliffs and be astounded.

You'll get a view of petrified sand dunes, cascading waterfalls that flow into the canyons and wide stretches of the Mojave Desert, one of the world's hottest in summer. Above the expanse you may be lucky enough to catch sight of one of the many Red-Tailed hawks that circle the area looking for prey. Some of the peaks reach 8,000 feet above sea level, making them more than a mile in the air from your feet.

There are enormous bands of red and white rock, with ravines running through much of the area. Joshua Trees dot the landscape. There are several areas of interest to the visitor:
Calico Hills is a popular spot for climbers and features short trails and several views of the canyon with Las Vegas visible in the south. Hikers can pick out many of the distinctively-shaped casinos from there.
Lost Creek Canyon is the largest gash through the cliffs and has a 20-mile dirt track that winds its way through the multi-colored hills, as it crosses into the desert town of Pahrump. This one is best reserved for the truly hardy.
Spring Canyon provides a few of a 30-foot waterfall. Dry during the summer for most of its length, there is a section where it flows year round. At any time of the year, though, the view is extraordinary.

Since it is the desert, be prepared with appropriate clothing for the time of day and year. Deserts are cool at night and can be scorching during the day. Bring a small backpack to store unused clothing and supplies. Pack plenty of water or, even better, a mineral laden low-sugar drink.

Be sure to hit the correct spot, though. Nevada has three similarly named areas, including the Red Rock State Park. Just follow Charleston Boulevard, which crosses The Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard) a few blocks beyond Stratosphere Tower. The Tower is 1,149 feet high - you can't miss it. Bend to the left as it becomes Blue Diamond Road/Highway 159.
 
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