Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino
A scale-down half replica of the Eiffel Tower is the eye-catcher.
You can take an elevator to the top, but this is not a free ride
(in fact, it costs almost as much as if you were ascending the
real tower). Back on the ground, push past the casino area inside
the main entrance to find the indoor Parisian streetscape. The
cobblestone lane is lined with boutiques, restaurants and clubs.
An accordion player draws a crowd when he plays 'I Love Paris' or
'La Vie en Rose'. Roving themed characters appear along Le
Boulevard, outfitted in striped shirts, red scarves, and
traditional berets. You may see this singing bread-man peddling a
bicycle along the avenue.
The Mirage
One of the forerunners of the shift to themes and big spectacles,
the Mirage's motif is a little hazy, but it combines a variety of
interesting elements and continues to draw in sightseers. Outside
is a gigantic waterfall topped by a volcano that erupts every 15
minutes after dusk, with elaborate lighting effects simulating the
lava flow. The white tigers that perform with illusionists
Siegfried and Roy can be observed in a specially constructed
natural habitat, and there's also the Secret Garden, which
displays a number of other rare animals. A saltwater habitat
houses a family of bottlenose dolphins. A re-created indoor
tropical rain forest grows inside the main lobby, and there's an
enormous aquarium at the check-in desk.
Treasure Island
Adjacent to the Mirage, this resort follows the themes of Robert
Louis Stevenson's novel. The highlight for those on a walking tour
of the Strip is the free pirate show that takes place in
'Buccaneer Bay', a pool in front of the hotel. The pirate ship
Hispaniola and the British frigate H.M.S. Britannia square off in
a fiery battle. Characters swashbuckler, cannons boom, a ship
sinks.
The Venetian
Another of the recent, upscale Vegas properties added with
gracefully arched bridges, flowing canals, vibrant piazzas and
stone walkways re-create Venice. The Bridge of Sign, the Rialto
Bridge and the Campanile are faithfully reproduced. A re-creation
of St. Mark's Square, lined with restaurants and shops, is the
scene of street-style entertainment. There are several sightseeing
attractions that will set you back a few dollars. You can take a
gondola ride through the canals while being serenaded by a singing
boatman. The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum offers fine-art
exhibitions. Madame Tussaud's Celebrity Encounter has Wayne Newton
and 100 others rendered in wax. And the Houdini Museum features an
extensive collection of memorabilia from the life and times of the
legendary magician.
 Downtown Las Vegas (Glitter Gulch)
Blocking around the intersection of Fremont and Main Streets,
closed to the Strip, is the Downtown Las Vegas. Even though it is
not as rich and big as the Strip, Downtown Las Vegas houses many
valuable properties; among one of them is the ever-famous, real
classic Golden Nugget casino. Today's Downtown also has good
selections of lower key casinos, showrooms, nightclubs, and
theater which are always cheaper than those in the Strip.
Much of the Downtown has been recently turned into a pedestrian
mall affectionately known as Glitter Gulch with a highlight of the
Fremont Street Experience as its latest and most impressive
attraction in Downtown. The Fremont Street Experience is a five
block pedestrian mall covered by a high-tech canopy that displays
an elaborate light show set to the music several times at night.
It is a one-of-a-kind Light and Sound Shows derived from over 2
million lights and 540,000 watts of concert quality sound
controlled by thirty-five different computers and very advanced
fiber optic technology, presented each night at dusk.
Vegas's marvelous
Apart from gambling, dinning and entertainment in lavish bars
and nightclubs on the Strip, Las Vegas offers many more variety of
attractions, part of them are historic sites, museums, parks and
gardens and other natural spots. The most important places which
act as memorials of the city's symbols are the Elvis-A-Rama Museum
and the Liberace Museum. Elvis's ties to Las Vegas have even been
the theme of several movies. The Elvis Museum includes his
costumes from various movies, an army uniform, cars, stage
outfits, photos, and various letters and documents. A live show
performed by one of the ubiquitous Elvis impersonators is also
included. Similarly, the Liberace Museum does pay tribute to the
technical musical genius of the legend. The museum also displays
his talent in making many people became his royal fan and how he
contributed such a brilliant show every time, his costumes,
collection of jewelry and musical instruments are also
demonstrated here. Furthermore, the Imperial Palace Auto
Collection, located right on the Strip, is the place which car
buffs won't want to miss, it features rare models and dozens of
vehicle once owned by the rich and famous, almost 350 classic
automotives are well kept and also available for sale, including
the once Elvis Presley's 1933 silver Pierce Arrow and a 1976
Cadillac Eldorado, which are the most and ever popular one. Other
interesting are Czar Nicholas II's 1914 Rolls Royce, Japanese
Emperor Hirohito's 1935 Packard and Adolf Hitler's 1939 Mercedes,
and Howard Hughes's 1954 Chrysler with the air purifier that costs
more than the car.
Attractions Outside the City
Although Las Vegas is not very famous for its natural
attractions, in reality, sights in the surrounding desert are
quite splendid. The Hoover Dam, one of the country's many gigantic
constructions, generates spectacular panoramic view over the Lake
Mead. Hoover Dam is only an hour-drive southeast of downtown Las
Vegas. The sensuous geometry of the 726ft (220m)-high concrete
wall contrasts sharply with the rugged red rock of the canyon
walls. Lake Mead is another natural looking man-made attraction.
It is a reservoir created from the back of the Colorado River when
the dam was constructed. It is also the largest reservoir in the
USA and provides great recreational opportunities under the hot
Nevada sun. A whole range of water sports is available here, and
the lake is well stocked with various breeds of fish. Many types
of vessels are available for rental, ranging from houseboats to
speedboats. Further south about 260-270 miles from Las Vegas are
many added breathtaking natural wonders of Grand Canyon. This is
the world's famous area that attracts millions of visitors per
year, which is a highly recommended portion of any trip to Las
Vegas.
On the western side of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon, located 17
miles west of the Strip on Mount Charleston Blvd., receives nearly
1.2 million visitors every year. Red Rock Canyon National
Conservation Area offers enticements of a different nature. Peace,
serenity, and beauty are just a few words that describe what the
preserve has to offer. Check out petrified sand dunes, waterfalls
that appear out of nowhere, and red-tailed hawks circling above.
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