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##HCasinos & The Strip Visitors to Las Vegas find the whole vista of Las Vegas' a feast for the eyes. Its main hotel casinos line the so-called Strip and each are worth seeing for their sheer audacity. The area around the intersection of Fremont and Main Street in downtown Las Vegas is often called Glitter Gulch because of the millions of light bulbs and neon signs. The first neon sign in the city as erected here in 1929 and this is where you will discover Vega Vic ad Sassy Sal - two of the most famous Vegas icons. The area around Glitter Gulch is currently undergoing a transformation - parts of it (around Freemont) are car free and a café culture is being developed. The hotels seemed to have been designed by architects who not only let out the inner child - but also gave it pens and said- design away. The motivation seems to be to avoid complacency - cities like Atlantic City now also offer gambling and create mega-resorts that contain something for all the family. The intention is to create awe and entertainment. The Luxor, for example is a hotel that comprises of a huge pyramid. It was built in 1993 and reaches 350 feet (about 35 stores) in the air, is topped by the world's brightest beam of light (It can be seen by airliners for hundreds of miles) and contains the world's largest atrium at 29 million cubic feet. Out front of it is a giant Spynx. The Venetian Hotel Casino contains canals upon which visitors can ride on gondolas. The singing Gondoliers were trained incidentally in the original Venice, Italy. The Treasure Island hotel features battles between the Royal Navy and pirates every 90 minutes, The Excalibur is a 4000 room giant that has floors devoted to none gambling entertainment. It is here that the Knights of King Arthur's court can be found jousting on horseback. ##HGrand Canyon The Grand Canyon in NW Arizona has been described as the world's most beautiful hole in the ground. It is a gorge created by the river Colorado eating into the bedrock. It is common to refer to numbers when describing the canyon in order to try and capture its immense size. The canyon is over 200 miles in length, from 5-8 miles in width and up to a mile in depth. The Grand Canyon is part of the Grand Canyon National Park covering 1902 square miles. But numbers cannot capture the sheer beauty of the place; one of the richest sights imaginable is a view of the sun setting over the red sandstone cliffs. It is possible to take organized drips to the canyon, to drive there in a 4X4, go for treks and even fly down it by plane or helicopter- and it is an eerie experience apparently when the plane dips into the canyon and flies below the surrounding ground (air conditioned planes are fitted with the latest safety features such as TCAS [Traffic Collision Avoidance System] and GPWS [Ground Proximity Warning System]). Of course, the average hiker must be reminded that the Grand Canyon is in a desert, and that unless they pack sufficient water and take sensible precautions then the last thing that they'll see flying overhead will be vultures. ##HHoover Dam It's not often that a dam appears on a tourist guides' must see list- but the Hoover Dam (formally the Boulder Dam) is such a place. It was authorized and funded by Congress in 1928 and was build during the US Great Depression. Construction provided work for thousands (5000 at its peak) of previously out-of-work workers. It is an immense structure over 700 feet high (the equivalent of a 70 story building) and a base that is 660 feet thick. It has been described as an architectural gem - with its simple sweeping lines contrasting with the rugged rock of the canyons walls. The dam has formed an artificial lake- Lake Mead and this is a highly popular place for boating, water skiing, fishing and scuba diving. The dam provides power and water to Las Vegas, and it perhaps it needs its immense capacity to feed the voracious water needs of a city with so many water based themed rides and exhibits. Visitors are no longer permitted inside the wall of the dam since the September 11 attacks in New York. Visitors may take the Discovery tour and view a movie depicting the history of the dam in the visitor's centre. There are also exhibits about its construction. Hoover dam is an hour's drive from Las Vegas along Highway 95/93. Many companies offer coach trips from downtown Las Vegas to the Damn and Lake Mead. ##HElvis-A-Rama- Museum Elvis Presley played concerts in Vegas when he ran short of cash and released a huge hit- Viva Las Vegas that could be described as that city's theme tune. It seems to be an unwritten law that every documentary or movie featuring Vegas must feature this tune. For a city that loves glitz and brashness, it comes as no surprise to see how Elvis, in his trademark sequined jumpsuits became something like the city's adopted son. A collector of Elvis memorabilia - Chris Davidson saw Elvis perform when he was ten years of age at the Las Vegas Hilton and turned what was a hobby into his bread and butter living. He opened a huge 3.5 million dollar museum that covers over 8000 square feet. Chris now is the world's most prolific private collector of Elvis memorabilia. Visitors to the museum can expect to see the King's famous sequined jumpsuits, his blue suede shoes, personal possession such as Elvis' speedboat, jewelry, hand-written letters, his world famous '55 Concert Tour Limo. Visitors can of course expect to hear live shows by Elvis impersonators who belt out the king's hits. A gift shop offers Elvis merchandise as well as some of the Elvis memorabilia - although perhaps not those blue suede shoes. Free shuttles from the Strip are available. ##HMarriage Britney Spears said 'I do' in Vegas (before 'I divorce') and thereafter joined the ranks of an estimated 120,000 couples per year who obtain a Vegas marriage license. Las Vegas is not only becoming the world's wedding capital but in ways - that perfectly suit the surreal nature of Las Vegas - the city where the most outlandish marriage ceremonies routinely take place. A couple may choose a lavish hotel reception, they may opt for a drive thru wedding in a 24-hour bureau, a wedding in a helicopter or while bungee jumping if that is what the blushing bride desires. Of course being Vegas, an Elvis look-a-like can always be found to conduct a wedding and the couples' dress code is suitably informal. The Little Church of the West is the busiest wedding chapel in Vegas and is in a building that is the oldest structure still standing on the Strip. Visitors can walk in without appointment, watch a ceremony or two (they are not overly long) and perhaps take the plunge themselves. There is no waiting period for intending couples, the simple payment of a small fee is all that's requirement. Couples should be aware, that despite the glitz and the glorious lack of taste, wedding are real and divorces could cost far more than the nominal outlay (just ask Britney). ##HStratosphere Tower For those that have oodles of bravado and a yearning to see everything in a single location, then there is no option but to take a trip to the top of the Stratosphere. This is America's tallest observation tower, rising 1,149 feet above the city streets. Those who like to combine eating and heights can eat in the revolving restaurant at the top of the tower often accompanied by some live jazz. Those who feel like taking a short cut to the ground (although perhaps not after a full meal) can choose to avail of the "Let It Ride High Roller" which is the world's highest coaster and is guaranteed to provide the ride of a lifetime. If that's not enough, then take the elevator back up to the "Big Shot." This knuckle-whitening ride shoots riders 160 feet into the air where they experience zero gravity before free falling back to the platform. The fact that the ride is 800 feet above the street also adds to the scream factor. Admission to the tower and both rides is USD16 (USD17 Friday and Saturday). Admission to the tower only is USD7 (USD8 Friday and Saturday). Booking ahead for the restaurant is recommended. ##HOther Attractions There are many, many other attractions to Sin City- apart from the many casinos and it is an idea to list some of them to give just a flavour of what the visitor can expect. So deep breath- here we go- The Treasure island Pirate show depicts a battle between the Royal Navy and a pirate ship every 90 minutes in front of the Treasure Island hotel, The Manhattan Express is a roller coaster, hitting 200 feet at times, that rolls around the perimeter of New York - you will be turned upside down and experience 'zero g's', a parachute jump for two is available with video, a lion habitat, may be seen complete with lion pride, Madame Tussauds's Wax Museum features life-like figures of Whoppi Goldberg, Frank Sinatra and others, there is rock climbing and bungee jumping, a half size Eiffel tower, the Guinness Book of Records Museum - features footage of the world's tallest man and in a manner you can expect of a museum in Vegas- an exhibit of the world's largest collection of fridge magnets. Visitors may also find time to view the family of dolphins in a million gallon tank and pop down to the Las Vegas Fire Department where children may be permitted to look inside the emergency vehicles. You may also hit a multi-million jackpot on a machine or lose all your money in the casinos- in the later case, it may be some consolation to know that the gambling taxes the state earns is spent on such institutions as schools. |