Las Vegas Overview

Las Vegas--the city of dreams--a 24-hour town, open 7 days a week. Come, sample the finest of dining choices, indoor and outdoor recreation, non-stop gambling and shows befitting the name, "entertainment capital of the world."

Districts

The Strip: this fabled three-mile area holds more hotel rooms than any other city in the world. You will find the most famous and remarkable resorts such as Bellagio with its Italian Renaissance aura and Caesars Palace, the glory of Rome, Vegas-style. Old standbys include the Flamingo Hilton and the Mirage, with its white tigers and erupting volcanoes. See the Paris Las Vegas with its outstanding replicas of the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and magnifique Parisian atmosphere and charm. Treasure Island offers daily live pirate battles, free of charge.

At the "bottom" or south end of the strip, risen from the ashes of the Hacienda Hotel, now stands the magnificent Mandalay Bay with its tropical atmosphere and a pool with waves you can actually surf.

At the top of the Strip, you will find the Stratosphere Tower, visible from miles away. It is the highest free-standing building in the western half of the United States, with views from the top that are indescribable.

Entertainment

From the talented to the absolutely amazing, Las Vegas offers the best in magic, theater, dance, song, and comedy. The gaming areas themselves provide sufficient entertainment for many guests. Gambling draws the majority of tourists, and Las Vegas houses a variety of games in each venue. Every casino is vying for the tourist; to set themselves apart, the casinos build creative themes that dazzle your imagination.

Las Vegas has worked hard to reinvent itself as a family destination, so bring the kids along. There are lots of great entertainment venues built with them in mind. The first child-oriented hotel-casino was Circus Circus, complete with a Circus Midway full of carnival games and trapeze acts. The Circus Circus Adventuredome is a theme park built under a large (pink, of course) dome, so that the kids can ride the roller coaster year-round in climate-controlled comfort. For educational fun, visit the Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary and Orchards. For hands-on education, the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum can not be beat. Kids will love learning about science, medicine, and math here.

Dining and Drinking

Once a vast wasteland of buffets, Las Vegas has come of age in dining and drinking. Added to the list of celebrities are some of the top names in the culinary world. Visitors now have their choice of fine dining experiences, both on and off the Strip.

Where To Stay

"Glitter Gulch" is awash with the brightly-lit hotels as far as the eye can see. Pyramids, skyscrapers and magical castles present an enchanting scene as you make your way through the desert mirage. The come-hither look of swaying palms, dancing fountains, and pirate ships can present quite a dilemma when choosing where to hang your hat, but what a delightful dilemma it is. No matter the reason for your visit, perfect accommodations await. Business or pleasure, with the kids or on your own, Las Vegas has something just for you.

Did You Know?

Las Vegas is Spanish for "the meadows." More than 100,000 marriage licenses are issued in the city each year. Las Vegas is home to the largest hotel in the world, the MGM, with more than 5000 rooms.

Orientation/Geography

Sprawling in the heart of the sun-baked Mojave Desert on the southern fringes of Nevada, Las Vegas serves as a decadent neon oasis in the aptly named Las Vegas Valley. Surrounded on all sides by mountains, the city is some 239 miles east of Los Angeles and about 300 miles west of Phoenix.

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