Every year millions of people head to Las Vegas for vacation, but not all of them go there for what the city is most famous for, gambling. The casinos offer a lot more than slot machines and poker tables for visitors. There is a reason why this city is referred to "The Entertainment Capital of the World." There is a lot of entertainment available that has nothing to do with gambling for those wishing to forgo risking the over $400 that the average gambler looses in a trip to Las Vegas.

One of the biggest attractions is the shows. Some shows like Cirque du Soleil, which has various versions of their amazing circus running simultaneously at different casinos, have been running for years and grow more popular year after year. Popular entertainers play there, often for long runs. Celine Dionne recently ended a four-year run at Caesar's Palace. Elton John is scheduled for a few months in mid 2008 at the same venue.

Visitors also find Broadway musicals such as the wildly popular The Producers, top notch comedians, and compelling dramas on the stages at Las Vegas casinos and other venues.

Shopping is also a very popular activity for those who visit. While some of the high-end shops make window shopping necessary for many visitors, there is plenty of affordable shopping for those who want to spend their time in the stores. The Forum Shops at Caesars is home to 160 boutiques and shops, 13 restaurants and various specialty food shops.

At the Bellagio, the Via Bellagio offers high-end shopping, and the Pool Promenade has unique shops that cannot be found elsewhere. Bargain shoppers can find treasures outside of the casinos at the Las Vegas Premium Outlet that offers over 100 outlet stores or they can try their luck at the Fashion Outlets Las Vegas that offer many of the same brands that can be found in the hotel boutiques but for far less.

Another attraction for non-gamblers is the dining. Many celebrity chefs have restaurants in the city. Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck both have more than one restaurant in the casinos, and Bobby Flay has the popular Mesa Grill at Caesar's Palace. Celebrity chef restaurants aren't the only fine dining choices, however. There are many, many five star restaurants in the casinos and the surrounding area. It's also possible to get really good food in Las Vegas without the five star price tag at some of the other eating establishments. In a city that seems to be open 24 hours a day, there are lots of great places to get a meal any time of day.

Boxing matches also draw crowds to Las Vegas. The biggest ones are always held at the Las Vegas casinos, and it's not uncommon for the regular tourist to come face to face with the celebrities who attend these boxing matches. Other sporting events that Las Vegas caters to are kick boxing, WWE wrestling events, speed racing, and the occasional celebrity basketball game with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Las Vegas may not be the first vacation destination that people think of when they think of family vacations, but it is becoming an increasingly popular spot for families. The casinos and other businesses in the surrounding areas are adding more and more attractions for children. Many of the casinos offer live animal attractions such as Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef, The Mirage's White Tiger Habitat, and The MGM Grand's Lion Habitat.

A state of the art arcade called Game Works will appeal to kids of all ages, The Las Vegas Zoo offers hours of entertainment away from the casinos, and Circus Circus has been a family fixture in Las Vegas for years. The city boasts the world's largest indoor theme park, the five and a half acre Adventuredome. Families can find go-karts, kid-friendly shows, children's museums, and wax museums along with many, many other family oriented activities scattered all throughout Las Vegas.

Those wishing to get out from the confines of Las Vegas and its beautiful but flashy buildings can head outside for some fresh air. A visit to The Hoover Dam is easy by taking a tour bus that can be booked from Las Vegas. Bonnie Springs Ranch Old Nevada is just a short drive from the city, and visitors get to experience the Old West. Red Rock Canyon is a bit more of a drive, but it's a great place to get away from it all and do a little hiking. Of course, the area surrounding Las Vegas is littered with golf courses so no golfer has an excuse for not hitting a few while in Vegas.

By: Ti Stephanie Larkin
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to vacations and the travel industry such as Las Vegas Vacation | Las Vegas Vacations

Travel to Las Vegas and you'll likely hear plenty about nearby attractions like the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, and Lake Mead. There are even places right on the Strip where you can take part in guided tours of these places. These highly publicized attractions are well worth it and have many interesting sights and are great ways to escape the lights of Vegas. But in addition to these high traffic tourist spots, there are a couple of not so highly publicized areas that are well worth your time, and cost no more than a rental car and a camera.

Red Rock Canyon is located about 15 miles west of the Strip. It is just outside of the city - you can take Charleston Boulevard all the way there. Charleston crosses the strip just north of the Stratosphere. Hop on Charleston and go west. Once you pass Red Rock Casino and Highway 215, you're almost there.

When you first get to Red Rock, there is a visitor's center where you can get out and check out some of the history of the canyon. You can learn about the Native American's who first lived in the area as well as the animals and plants that populate the canyon.

The canyon itself is made up of red sandstone which is very striking in color when the sun bounces off the canyon walls. There are numerous hiking trails that you can stop and hike. They range from easy to difficult. The canyon is also popular to rock climbers, who can often be seen scaling the cliffs and rocks of the area.

From the visitors center you can take the scenic loop, which is a 13 mile loop that winds its way through the canyon with numerous places to stop to either hike or take pictures. One of the stops along the loop is the Ice Box Canyon trail which is a two mile moderately difficult hike that includes some rock scrambling. This trail works it's way back into a canyon which is known for the cooler winds that blow through the rocks. While hiking be sure to look up the canyon walls as you can often see the climbers scrambling up their lines.

Along with the desert vegetation you're likely to see different animals in the conservation area. Bighorn sheep and deer accompany the wild burros that roam the land. The burros are rather tame and will often come up to car windows looking for food - though it is recommended not to feed them as this increases their independence on the tourists of the area. A picture of a burro sticking his head in your car window is often a great picture to share with friends back home.

The great thing about Red Rock is that you can see the sights without ever leaving the air conditioning of your car - or if you're feeling a little adventurous you can venture out on one of the trails and make your way a little off the beaten path. Even though you are just outside the sprawling city of Las Vegas, a trip to Red Rock is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city - a great way to take a vacation inside your vacation.

By: Patrick Treadway
Patrick Treadway is a writer and new father that lives in Las Vegas. His blog can be read at http://100inonehundred.blogspot.com.

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If you are planning a Las Vegas travel vacation, then you should know that there's a lot more to see than just casinos. While the gambling is certainly a big attraction in Vegas, there's also plenty of other reasons to come to Vegas including world-class shows, fine dining, shopping and a variety of other fun things to see and do.

Some of the best shows of the world are here in Las Vegas and one which you will want to miss is the highly sought-after Cirque du Soleil. While they offer three different shows in three different hotels, you still want to get your tickets well in advance as these can be sold out. Combining aging, theater, music and strange and unusual costumes and makeup these unique extravaganzas pressured to impress anyone. Choose from the three shows 'O', 'Mystere' and 'KA' or see them all!

If you're an animal lover, you can check out white tigers at the Mirage or lions at the MGM Grand. The animals are displayed in replicas of their natural habitats and they're free to see.

If you prefer fins to four, then you'll definitely want to check out the dolphin habitat located at the Mirage hotel. Here you consider it at the bar while you watch dolphins swimming nearby. The Mandalay Bay has a 1,000,000 gallon reef tank that houses dozens of species of sharks - something any shark lover won't want to miss.

Any shopping aficionado will want to include a shopping trip or two on their Las Vegas travel itinerary. Here you can check out the latest Harry Winston designs, or drape yourself in the latest fashions at Versace. At the Venetian, you can take a relaxing gondola ride and end it with some great window shopping and if that isn't enough for you, you simply must visit the trilevel forum at Caesars Palace - with over a hundred stores you should find something you simply must have.

If you want to see some great natural scenery, then take a little ride over to Red Rock Canyon where you can thrill to the 80,000 foot peak mountains and watch red tailed hawks soaring from above. If you're into hiking, bring your hiking boots because you can hike on the trails and enjoy the awesome views from the red sandstone cliffs.

In town, you'll want to take a trip to Fremont Street where you can check out the new $70 million canopy that projects a dizzying array of lights and images. Of course, while you're there you can check out one of the many casinos and have a bite to eat, though you probably won't know whether to have lunch or dinner because this area boasts more neon lights than any other place this side of Hong Kong.

These days, Las Vegas travel isn't just about gambling - there's something for the whole family. With luxurious hotels to stay in, world-class restaurants and spas and pools arrival any other vacation place there's no reason not to come to Vegas!

By: Lee Dobbins
Get the latest on Las Vegas by visiting http://www.lasvegastravelscene.com - a website that offers information on where to go in Vegas from sightseeing interests to Las Vegas casinos to shopping and dining.

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Paris, the city of love is beautified with a lot of natural and artificial beauties. Paris Las Vegas Hotel, a dream place to be at, is no exception at all. It is basically a casino and hotel situated on the famous Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, which is both operated and owned by Harrah’s Entertainment. It consists of a half scale, 164.6m (540 feet) high replica of the gorgeous Eiffel Tower and neon sign in the size and shape of the Montgofier balloon, a La Fontaine des Mers replica and a two-third sized Arc de Triomphe. The building façade suggests the Louvre and the Paris Opera House.

Bally’s Entertainment originally announced the project. For Paris Las Vegas Hotel, ground was broken on April 17, 1997. Catherine Deneuve, French Actress turned on all the lights of Paris by flipping a switch. The building’s initial period was under Hilton Hotels. Bally Entertainment was purchased by Hiltons Hotel in 1996. Its casinos were consequently spun off. In 2000, Park Place Entertainment bought Caesars World and in 2004, modified its name to Caesars Entertainment. Then Hilton Hotels started the building, which was originally supposed to be called Paris Hilton, named after the daughter of Mr. Hilton and after that, it was changed to Paris Hotel and Casino. When it inaugurated, The hotel used to run hilarious television commercials all through the United States, which implies that, it had made sure the legitimacy of its reproductions of culture, cuisine and landmarks of Paris. When the replica of the Eiffel Tower was built, it was supposed to be a full scale model. But, as the airport was a bit too near, the model was not built as it was planned. US $785 million was needed to build Paris Las Vegas Hotel which occupies about 97,000 square meters.

The Paris Las Vegas Hotel, having a theme of Paris, has 2,916 rooms in total. It has a gaming space of 85000sq. ft. It has a permanent show named “The Producers”. Its main attractions are Experiencing Eiffel Tower and Risque de Paris. It has some magnificent Ortanique, Mon Ami Gabi, Eiffel Tower Restaurant and Les Artistes Steakhouse etc. The rooms of the Paris Casino and Hotel outperform most of the Las Vegas hotels by offering tremendously luxurious and relaxed chambers for the guests. It provides Desk, Air conditioning, In-room safe, Electronic door locks and many lavish facilities. The shopping has reached to a whole new level by the Las Vegas Hotel.

Paris Casino Las Vegas Hotel, comfortable and stylish place to lay bets, fulfilled with fountains, gigantic doorways with lights and a lush interior which is designed to make a person as relaxed as he/ she wants to. This is surely the ultimate place to pass some time if anyone wants to pass a late afternoon within the town.

So, Paris, the city of love is also the city of hotels and casinos, when it comes to Paris Las Vegas Hotel. Whether a person is young or old, he/ she definitely wants to pay a visit there.

By: Wouter Van Dyck
Wouter Van Dyck wrote many articles about different topics. He has experienced dozens hotels all over the world himself. You can read more about him and more about hotels on his website:
http://www.malangregentsparkhotel.com.

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Within the heart of the Grand Canyon lies peace and tranquility, pumping life into perhaps some of the most stunning scenery in the world. These characteristics allow a rare blend of spirits between earth and people and it is this blend that makes the Grand Canyon such a sacred place to visit. We recognized this at Grand-Adventures.com and knew that we had to design a tour that respects this blend between people and nature.

Our staple tour at the South Rim includes a four-hour Grand Canyon guided walking tour, a picnic lunch on the rim, a CD slideshow of your trip, a McDonald's breakfast, small groups of 10 or less, a photo stop at Hoover Dam, and a free t-shirt. We first recognized that we could not be commercial and still allow you to feel the true spirit of the Grand Canyon. Our conclusion was to remove all commercial handcuffs like the IMAX theatre and a buffet. We also know that "intimacy" means being close and the right way to start building intimacy between people and nature is to start with the group itself. We cap our group sizes at 10. We feel that trying to blend a large, informal group into such an intimate place as the Grand Canyon is awkward and commercial. Smaller groups allow us to establish intimacy, travel much faster, and give you more time at the Grand Canyon.

We'll start our day by picking you up between 6-6:30am at the main entrance of your hotel or casino. It's short ride to Boulder, Nevada, and we'll stop here to eat our McDonald's breakfast. You can order as much as you like because we feel it's important to feed you right! Once we finish this meal we'll round the corner out of Boulder and stop at Hoover Dam.

Hoover Dam is located just outside Boulder, Nevada. It was built between 1931 - 1935 and is an engineering masterpiece. We'll stop here for about 15 minutes, take some pictures, then get back onto our journey to the Grand Canyon.

It takes about five hours to drive to the Grand Canyon but the easy flow of traffic and steady change in scenery makes it quick and comforting. We'll arrive at Grand Canyon Village between 11:30 and 12 noon. We use 15 passenger vans (but only allocate 10 people per van), SUV's, and minivans.

Your four-hour Grand Canyon guided walking tour will begin at Bright Angel Lodge and follow the trail WEST of Grand Canyon Village. This is very important because this part of the park is not accessible to any of the commercial tour buses. This means that the lookout points and trails are less crowded (the lookout points EAST of Grand Canyon Village have over a hundred people on them in the summer months). The walking trail is rated at 2/10 and is a very easy, flat, paved trail. We'll stop for your picnic lunch about 30-45 minutes into the walk unless the group is not ready to eat yet. We will convene at Hopi Point to determine if the group would like to see more of the park or return to Grand Canyon Village. Lucky for you, we won't return by foot! We'll use the free Grand Canyon National Park shuttle service and return quickly to the village. Here, you'll have plenty of time to shop, get an ice cream cone, or even have a cold beer in the pub.

The picnic lunch is a REAL PICNIC. It's not a box that is stuffed into your hand as you are getting off of the bus. Our tour guide will break out the blanket and set up a spread right on the rim of the Grand Canyon. We know you won't find a better dining establishment with a better view! We serve a gigantic deli sandwich, fresh California grapes and cantaloupe, cheese and crackers, gourmet cookies, bottled water, and chips and pretzels. We know that you are interested in seeing the Grand Canyon so our tour is designed to put you right on the rim while you eat, not in the line of some buffet.

The CD slideshow is custom and personal to your trip. We do not use stock photos and we only include pictures of you and your significant other. There will be one or two photos of the group but it will emphasize your trip. You can view samples of our CD slideshows at grand-adventures.com/canyonslideshows.html The free t-shirt is our final "thanks" to all of our guests for supporting our service. They are durable Hanes t-shirts and you can go home and tell everyone how Grand-Adventures.com got "their Hanes on you".

We know that we've put together the perfect Grand Canyon tour that allows our guests to blend with the stunning peace and beauty of the Grand Canyon. We have had thousands of extremely satisfied guests who came as guests and left as friends. This is the perfect business model in our mind so we encourage you to become our friends by taking our Grand Canyon tour.

You can visit our website at grand-adventures.com or grand-adventures.biz to view sample slideshows, a photo gallery of pictures taken during our tours, and to read our testimonials. We always allow our friends to speak for us!

By: Darryl Gariglio
You can visit our website at www.grand-adventures.com or www.grand-adventures.biz to view sample slideshows, a photo gallery of pictures taken during our tours, and to read our testimonials. We always allow our friends to speak for us!
Darryl Gariglio founded Grand-Adventures.com in 2005 after recognizing a need for tours that were not commercial. He has a very strong background in sales and customer service, working as an officer in the US Army and for Flagstar Bank for most of his professional career. His goal with all tours at Grand-Adventures.com is to make sure that all of your pictures are snapshots of fond memories, not reflections of disappointment.

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Booking a Las Vegas tour can open the possibilities to more than just visiting a bunch of casinos and catching the nightly shows, though those are still fun things to do when visiting Vegas. What else is there to do than sit at a blackjack table or a slot machine? I'm glad you asked. Let's take a look.

Las Vegas (often informally abbreviated to "Vegas") is one of the most dynamic cities in the world. It has "reinvented" itself as an internationally known vacation, shopping, entertainment, and gambling destination. In short, it has become a hotspot for dining, vacationing and shopping over the years. Much more than just casino's.

The Grand Canyon

For the geographically challenged you'll be pleased to note that visiting the Grand Canyon is available while on a Las Vegas tour. The park was founded as Grand Canyon National Monument in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt, and became a national park in 1919.

The Grand Canyon we visit today is a gift from past generations. It is a massive canyon carved over several million years by the Colorado River. One of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world, Grand Canyon is unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers to visitors on the rim. Visit the south rim of the Grand Canyon and see just where they get all those great shots on the post cards, or take a helicopter trip 4,000 feet down to the base and have a picnic.

While down there you could take the time to explore some American Indian land. The Grand Canyon is among the most popular of camping and hiking destinations, and is more than 217 miles long. At its narrowest it is a mere 4 miles across, while some pieces of it stretch a yawning 18 miles wide. Try your hand at whitewater, or calm water, rafting in the Colorado River that flows along the base of this amazing canyon.

Ghost Towns

Ghost towns are another popular choice when taking a Las Vegas tour, with Potosi Ghost Town being one of the first ghost towns in Nevada. Originally settled by Mormon pioneers, it was their drive for self-sufficiency economically that led to them mining for lead. About 9,000 pounds of lead was recovered from the "Mountain of Lead" 30 miles southwest of the mission at Las Vegas Springs before smelting difficulties forced the remote mine to be abandoned in 1857. In 1861 interested parties in California reopened the Potosi mine and what is now called the Union Pacific was built through the area in 1905. A lot of history resides in these old ghost towns you can visit during a Las Vegas tour.

Secret Garden of Siegfried & Roy and the Dolphin Habitat

Fun choices for the animal enthusiast on a Las Vegas tour, the Secret Garden is a natural habitat that allows you a chance to get a closer look at the rare breeds Siegfried and Roy use in their nightly shows. Catch a glimpse of the famous Royal White Tigers, Bengal tigers, the panthers and snow leopards as well as an Asian elephant. Right next door at the Mirage Hotel you can watch the dolphins play in a habitat that is as close as you can get to natural in the middle of a desert. If your Las Vegas tour doesn't include these sights in the plan, you might stop by to see them anyway, as the admission covers both locations.

Elvis-A-Rama Museum

Interested in seeing a massive homage to one of the biggest musical stars of all time? Check out the Elvis-A-Rama Museum on your Las Vegas tour and see over $3 million worth of Elvis memorabilia in this unique tribute located behind the Fashion Show Mall. Among the more notable pieces in this collection are the 35kt red star ruby ring and many custom designed Hollywood movie outfits he wore. Even his fantastic automobiles and first ski boat are on display, along with an 80 foot long Elvis-A-Rama mural by artist Robert Shappy which is noted as the world's largest tribute to the "King".

With a shark reef inside Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, circus shows inside Circus Circus, and tropical birds to be seen in the Tropicana you rarely need to leave your hotel to see interesting sights. But for the best in Las Vegas adventure, be sure to book yourself a Las Vegas tour.

By: Darlene Berkel
Discover the best places to go on a tour at http://tours.every1loves2travel.com. Traveling with pets? We recommend traveling-with-pets.com/2006/07/13/las-vegas-here-we-come/ for great pet travel tips and adventures. Happy Travels!

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