Las Vegas, Nevada - A City Built of Dreams

Las Vegas! Just saying the name conjures up (a good term, by the way when discussing Vegas) the idea of a City of Dreams made real.

Once upon a time there was gambling and top-notch musical entertainment. However, that did not attract enough revelers for the kings and queens of dreams, so now there's gambling, performances, and a whole lot more. Now you, and your family, can visit Vegas and never want to leave.

Many have chosen not to leave. 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. Maybe even check out the magic of Penn and Teller, or another kind of magic...that of 'The King", Elvis.

Maybe you enjoy zoos?

Come see some interesting twists on an old idea at one of the many Las Vegas venues. There's Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage, for example. There you can see white lions, white tigers, panthers, leopards, and a family of Bottlenose Dolphins up close and personal These amazing animals are much more visible than in your average zoo, comfortably housed behind glass walls that make seeing them a unique experience. You can even enjoy a drink at the bar while the dolphins swim nearby, and occasionally leap to celebrate your good fortune.

Or, if you still miss the water out here in the desert, check out the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. Housed in a million gallon tank, it's not quite the "Aquarium of the Bay", in San Francisco, but you'll still find a dozen species to delight you.

While gambling was once the big deal in Vegas, shopping is now in style.

You can find 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 onto "dry" land 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.

Would you like to see something unusual, educational and awe-inspiring, other than a slot-machine payout, but still stay in town? Try The National Atomic Testing Museum at the Frank H. Rogers Science and Technology complex. The nearly 50-year history of nuclear weapons testing conducted for decades at nearby Nevada sites is recorded and explained here. With many interactive displays, films in the concrete bunker, and the most unusual gift shop anywhere visitors will be glad they split the atom.

Want something awe-inspiring?  Then 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 fhis, or the other, side of Hong Kong, it's a must-see. In fact, many will tell you that if Vegas has a "Main Street", Fremont street is it!

If, after "doing Vegas" you're not totally knocked off your feet yet, try one of the scream-inducing rides at the Stratosphere. At a thousand feet up, no one can hear you anyway but the terrified rider next to you.  That's okay, because no one else will know, because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?

However, anytime you want a real adrenaline rush, then crank up some real fear by doing the traditional activity at Las Vegas - gambling.

The Bellagio Hotel

Caesars Palace

Casinos

Cirque de Soliel

Dining in Las Vegas

Fremont Street

National Atomic Testing Museum

Red Rock Canyon

Shopping in Las Vegas

Stratosphere

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