Las Vegas Tourist Attractions

We all know the line, right? "What happens in Vegas, STAYS in Vegas." But, there may be people out there unfamiliar with what Las Vegas is. Las Vegas is the ultimate destination if you want to do some partying, either alone or with friends or family.

The phrase "the city that never sleeps" is often applied to New York but is just as applicable to Las Vegas. Why? Simple, you can find anything you want at any time. But what is there to DO in Las Vegas, I hear you ask.

The short answer here is: it depends. The longer answer is, whatever you'd like to do. Naturally, it all depends on what you've come to Las Vegas to do. Sure there are the casinos and innumerable clubs and bars. But what if you're going on vacation with your family?

Well, you'll be pleased to know you've got a LOT of choice. For instance if you want to see a very different, intriguing and down right fun show, you can take a look at the world famous Blue Man Group (remember those Intel ads?), as of this writing playing at the Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip. This is family style entertainment. Another option is Lê Reve at the Wynn which is performed in a domed theater and is the only aquatic show in Las Vegas.

The beauty of Las Vegas is that there is something to do for the whole family, regardless of interest. Want to shop? Check out the Boulevard Mall, Miracle Mile Shops or the Forum Shops At Caesars. Each offers a wealth of vendors, boutiques, specialty shops and more.

Or if you'd prefer some nightlife, you can check out Cleopatra's Bar, the Privé or the Ghost Bar, which is set high above Las Vegas, and is a indoor-outdoor lounge with sky deck on the 55th floor of the Palms Casino Resort. The lounge gets its name from from 30 foot ghost shaped rotating soffit that hangs above.

If you're interested in checking out the Grand Canyon or the Hoover Dam, there are also many different packages one can pick. This can be a nice day excursion from the fun, but busy city.

Got a music fan in the family? Las Vegas has you covered there too, from rockers like Air Supply and Fallout Boy, to pioneers of the industry such as Elton John, and yes even Britney Spears, whatever style of music you're into, odds are they're playing in Vegas.

If you want to do some serious relaxing, a spa is the way to go. There are many choices from the Ritz-Carlton Spa to the Spa Costa del Sur, each with their own amenities and specialties. For example, the Ritz-Carlton focuses on treatments that address the effects of the high desert sun, while Spa Costa del Sur focuses on simplicity in relaxation from cascading waterfall showers to stone fireplaces.

What's New For Las Vegas in 2009?

In 2009, the biggest and brightest headlines in entertainment are major architecture adventures that are improving the skyline of sprawling Vegas with their foresight into what visitors to Sin City truly want in their stay, never mind the locals who expect the best in their city.

Steve Wynn, Las Vegas' favorite architectural entrepreneur, is about to open yet another jaw-dropping addition to the Vegas skyline, and its no coincidence that it will be eight feet taller than Trump's current Vegas record-holder. Encore Las Vegas is the latest hotel resort by Wynn Resorts, and it promises high class and luxury for a fair price. The $2 billion building features 2000+ suites with rooms divided by a swiveling 42" television in the center. The modern rooms feature an entire wall of mirrors. All this is mere accessory to the 70,000 square feet casino, 20-acre lake, and 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting facilities. The on-site restaurant will be Sinatra, an Italian restaurant that marks the first time Frank Sinatra's name has been allowed to be used corporately. (It didn't hurt that Steve Wynn is a family friend, of course.) The fine dining establishment will feature select, authentic Sinatra memorabilia, included his 1953 Oscar.

City Center offers a different kind of high-class living: you never have to leave home. No, seriously. MGM Mirage and Dubai World have dreamt up a city-within-a-city that will rival anything else 2009 has to offer the extravagance of Las Vegas. The $8 billion dollar project (so far) covers over 75 acres and offers the finest in Vegas shopping, living, dining, and entertainment-all without having to leave the grounds. In the end, the City Center will house 2,650 luxury hotel and condominium units; 500,000 square feet of shops, dining, and entertainment; a 61-story, 4,000-room hotel tower-just to get started. The complex also features the following residential towers: Vdara Condo Hotels, Veer Tower, Mandarin Oriental, and The Harmony Spa, Hotel, and Residences. Only adding to the convenience and splendor of City Center is its own permanent production of a Cirque de Soleil show, an Elvis Presley show unlike any other.

What's Really The Best of Las Vegas?

Each year, the local Las Vegas Newspaper, the Review Journal, publishes a special issue of "The Best of Las Vegas". The categories selected range from local businesses, entertainment, sports, locations, dining and hotels and related services. The selection process is nominations from the readers of the paper as well as their editor's picks.

To summarize the favorites selected, which will help you plan your next visit to Las Vegas, here's a recap:

The "Best Strip Hotel" selection is the Bellagio according to the readers and Caesars Palace as the RJ pick. The Bellagio continually is the readers pick while Caesars Palace continues to update and re-invent itself. For the Downtown area, the reader's pick is the Golden Nugget, the crown jewel of downtown which provided many updates this year such as the Shark Tank rising out of the swimming pool, new buffet, Lillie's Noodle House and more. The RJ pick for the downtown area is the Golden Gate Hotel with its 99-cent shrimp cocktails.

All of the hotels feature their own special dining choices, from buffets, coffee shops to gourmet rooms. The "Best New Restaurant" category went to the Hachi Modern Japanese located in the Red Rock Hotel Casino as the Reader's choice and the B&B Ristorante in the Venetian as the RJ's pick.

Other dining categories selected are: "Best Coffee Shop", the Café Bellagio as selected by both the readers and the RJ staff, "Best Seafood Restaurant" is Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab Restaurant in the Forum Shops, the Reader's pick, and Michael Mina at the Bellagio as picked by the RJ, "Best Gourmet Restaurant" is the Bouchon in the Venetian (Readers pick) and the Mix in Mandalay Bay (RJ), "Best Mexican Restaurant", Gardunos located in the Fiesta Ranch Hotel (Readers) and Casa Cocina in the Cannery Casino (RJ).

Other selections are: "Best Italian Restaurant" is Terra Rossa in the Red Rock Hotel Casino (Readers) and Terra Verde at Green Valley Ranch (RJ), "Best Steakhouse" is an old favorite, The Steakhouse located in Circus Circus (Readers pick) and the Canal Street in the Orleans Hotel and Casino. For Asian food, the readers pick was PF Chang's China Bistro in Planet Hollywood Hotel while the RJ's selection is Ping Pang Pong in the Gold Coast. Let us not forget the Las Vegas Hotels staple, buffets. The reader's pick for the "Best Buffet" is the Buffet at Ballagio and the RJ's pick is Le Village Buffet in the Paris Hotel. The reader's pick for the "Best Brunch is split between the Buffet at Bellagio and the Bally's Steak House while the RJ choice is the Broiler located in the Boulder Station Hotel on Boulder Highway.

For the best Breakfast specials, the reader's pick is any of the locations in Station Casino's but the RJ picked "Wild" at selected Station Casinos. Lastly, for food, let us not forget Shrimp Cocktails, a long time favorite in the Las Vegas casinos. The reader's picked the shrimp cocktail at the downtown Las Vegas Golden Gate Hotel while the RJ selected the Hacienda Casino by Boulder City.