Venetian Hotel and CasinoNo expense was spared creating the Venetian Hotel, in
fact two billion dollars was spent recreating Venice in the Nevada
Desert and the result is fairly spectacular. Guests can travel
around the hotel in a gondola - real canals run through the hotel -
and a replica of St Mark's Square and the Basilica turns from night
to day every three hours; visitors have to look carefully to notice
that the sky is actually a vast fresco. The only things missing are
the pigeons and the backpackers. The casino itself is massive,
featuring 2,500 slot machines and 125 gaming tables. For guests
taking a break from the tables, there are five swimming pools, a
fitness centre, and 17 restaurants - mostly pizzerias. One of the
main attractions is Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, a wax museum
presenting some of the world's biggest icons including stars,
politicians, record-breaking athletes and legends.Bellagio Hotel and CasinoThe Bellagio is one of Las Vegas' most opulent hotels
and most popular casinos. With an Italian theme, the great bulk of
the Bellagio sits in its own vast garden. It has over 3,000 rooms
and hundreds of slot machines and gaming tables, however its
best-known attraction is its amazing water show - a breathtaking
union of water, music and light. Between 3pm and midnight (from
12pm on weekends) the Bellagio's world-famous fountains 'dance' to
opera, classical or whimsical music with carefully choreographed
movements. Beyond the Bellagio's gracious lobby lies the
Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, a magnificent garden
abounding in fragrance, texture and colour. The hotel also has a
new fine arts gallery that hosts contemporary art exhibits; it is
currently exhibiting a series of celebrity portraits by Andy
Warhol.The MirageAnother MGM mega-casino, the showpiece at the Mirage
is a Volcano that shoots flames 100ft (30m) into the night sky
every 15 minutes (6pm to midnight), spewing smoke and transforming
a tranquil waterfall into spectacular streams of molten lava. As
you'd expect of Las Vegas, it's all quite naff, but great
entertainment. Siegfried & Roy's White Tigers are the other
signature attraction at the Mirage (unfortunately the Siegfried
& Roy show has been cancelled indefinitely due to the
near-fatal attack on Roy Horn by one of the tigers during a
performance). Unlike conventional tigers, which have black and gold
markings, the white tiger is white with black stripes, pink paws
and ice-blue eyes. There are only a few dozen white tigers in the
world, which makes them rarer than the panda bear. The open-air
Tiger Habitat features a swimming pool with fountains and simulated
mountain terrain for the tigers' enjoyment and the public's
entertainment. Another popular attraction is the aquarium located
behind the Front Desk. This 20,000-gallon saltwater aquarium is
home to angelfish, puffer fish, tangs, sharks and other exotic sea
creatures.The LuxorThe Luxor is themed on ancient Egypt and is one of the
most prominent sights on the Strip. It is a massive black-glass
pyramid containing 36 floors of hotel rooms, and shining through it
up into the night sky is the world's most powerful light beam,
which they claim can be seen by planes circling Los Angeles. The
ground floor of the hotel is given over to a massive casino, which
stands beneath a recreation of Tutankhamun's Tomb. Other than
gambling, entertainment at the hotel includes an IMAX theatre,
gyms, swimming pools and exhilarating shows by comedians, dancers
and singers.Liberace MuseumThe Liberace Museum was founded in 1979 by the late
entertainer and features 'Mr Showmanship's' dazzling jewellery,
outfits and other memorabilia. Liberace was a massively popular
musician in America and best known for his outrageous outfits and
stage sets. He was a regular visitor to Las Vegas. The museum
houses his vast collection of pianos and cars, which include a
custom-made Rolls Royce, covered with tiny mirrors. His costumes,
stage props and jewellery can also be seen. His 'crown jewels'
include a spectacular piano-shaped watch with diamonds, rubies,
sapphires and emeralds, and a piano-shaped ring containing 260
diamonds in a white and yellow gold 18-carat setting with ivory and
black jade keys. Proceeds from the not-for-profit museum support
scholarships for the performing arts.Imperial Palace Auto CollectionWith over 250 classic antique cars on display (all
available for purchase), the Imperial Palace Auto Collection is an
absolute must for car enthusiasts. It is actually part of a larger
collection and cars are rotated in and out of the showroom on a
regular basis; once a car is sold it is replaced by another.
Exhibited are rare models, racecars, muscle cars, touring roadsters
and dozens of vehicles once owned by the rich and
famous.Fremont Street ExperienceThe downtown area of Las Vegas is where it all began
and is known as the Fremont Street Experience or 'Glitter Gulch'
for the bright neon signs and thousands of flashing lights that
line the streets - this is where you'll find Vegas Vic and Sassy
Sal, two of the nations best-known neon icons. Some of the city's
most famous vintage casinos are found here, including the Golden
Nugget and the Gold Spike, as are most of its strip clubs and stage
shows. Most entertainment is on, or just off, the Freemont Street
Experience Mall.Roller CoastersThere are four roller coasters on The Strip: the
Manhattan Express at New York NY, the Canyon Blaster at the
Adventuredome, the roller coaster at MGM Grand Adventures and the
High Roller at the Stratosphere. The MGM theme park is probably the
best, although for sheer terror factor head for the High Roller. At
1,149ft (350m), the Stratosphere Tower is the tallest freestanding
observation tower in the United States and the tallest building
west of the Mississippi River, and thrill seekers can enjoy
excitement over 100 stories above the ground on the Big Shot thrill
ride and the High Roller roller coaster. There is also a revolving
restaurant at the top of the Stratosphere, which offers great views
but pretty average food.The Grand CanyonA mile deep, 277 miles (446km) long and up to 18 miles
(29km) wide the breathtaking grandeur of the Grand Canyon is so
impressive that pictures or words simply cannot do it justice. One
of the great natural wonders of the world, it was formed by the
cutting action of the Colorado River over millions of years, the
harder rock formations remaining as great cliffs, pinnacles and
buttes, and the different layers of rock possessing colours that
range from purple, fiery red and pastel pink, to yellow, brown,
grey and soft tones of blue. Whether by foot or on horseback, from
a plane or helicopter, aboard a raft down the mighty Colorado River
or by merely gazing in awe from the rim, the canyon's seemingly
infinite depths can be experienced in a variety of ways and is a
landscape not to be missed, however one chooses to see it. The park
receives hoards of visitors from around the world, who cannot fail
to be transfixed by the sculpted rock shapes, the shifting colours
that change with the light and a tiny glimpse of the Colorado River
far below. The Grand Canyon National Park comprises two separate
areas, the South Rim and the more remote North Rim. Separated by
the 10-mile (16km) width of the canyon, it is a 215-mile (346km)
drive from one visitor centre to the other and the South Rim, being
the most accessible and possessing more facilities, sees over 90
percent of the park visitors. The North Rim is higher in elevation
and wetter, with thicker surrounding forests; it is further to get
to and is usually closed by snow from October to May, but many
people prefer the comparative peacefulness of its less crowded
lookouts. At both rims there are several drives and walkways along
the edge with numerous lookout points for views from different
angles, as well as a few hikes down into the canyon where one can
overnight at Phantom Ranch on the canyon floor. The impact of over
four million visitors a year to the South Rim, especially during
the busy summer months, has its negative influences on the park,
with overcrowding and traffic congestion, but despite the hoards it
is a positively memorable experience to have visited one of the
most spectacular examples of erosion in the world.Hoover DamStretching 1,247ft (380m) across the Colorado River,
the Hoover Dam holds back the waters of Lake Mead and is a fine
example of the engineering of its time. One of the world's most
famous dams, the Hoover Dam was built during the Great Depression
in the 1930s - one of many vast public projects commissioned by the
US Government to get people back to work. The dam employed
thousands of men from all over the country, and its hydroelectric
power generator supplies Nevada and its neighbouring states with
electricity. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is popular with
water sports enthusiasts as well as those just after a bit of sun
and relaxation.Red Rock CanyonRed Rock Canyon is a dramatic valley ten miles (16km)
west of Las Vegas and is a good excursion to escape the neon lights
and jangle of the slot machines. Its defining feature is the steep
Red Rock escarpment, which rises 3,000ft (914m) on its western
edge. Today the dramatic landscape is peppered with cacti and
Joshua trees and is a good spot for walking, rock climbing, cycling
or simply a scenic drive. The Mojave Desert is not barren as you
might think; it teems with life and beauty that is rare and unique
- waterfalls cascade into the canyons and high above red tailed
hawks search for their next meal.AdventuredomeThe glass-encased theme park of Adventuredome is the
perfect attraction for thrill-seeking kids on holiday in Las Vegas
- its loop roller-coaster and other gut-wrenching rides are not to
be missed! If this adrenalin rush is a bit too excessive, there are
also shows by the likes of magicians and jugglers on offer, as well
as plenty of decadent treats like ice-cream, popcorn,
candy...Doolittle PoolWhen the Las Vegas summer heat gets too much for the
kids head to the Doolittle Pool complex, which has a great swimming
pool and pool toys for kids to enjoy. Other features of this
attraction include a water slide and playground, as well as sports
fields and a picnic area.Buffalo Bill'sThe Buffalo Bill's amusement park is an excellent
holiday attraction for children, offering everything from
earth-plunging rides that defy gravity or end with a huge splash,
to log rides on a fantasy lake. Kids also love the Frog Hopper
experience, bouncing around the park on the back of Buffalo Bill's
life-like amphibian.Blue Man TheaterAn entertaining attraction for children (and their
parents!) in Las Vegas is a show by the Blue Man Theater Group.
Three 'mute' performers, painted blue and wearing bald caps, keep
kids on the edge of their seats with a combination of humorous
theatrics, music and comedy.Grand Canyon Helicopter and Ranch AdventureKids will revel in the exciting experience of flying
through the Grand Canyon in a helicopter and landing at the Grand
Canyon West Ranch. Once at the ranch, children are enthralled by
horse-drawn wagon rides and the cowboys putting on a show. The
western-style meal served at the Ranch House also goes down a
treat.
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