Travel Destination - Las Vegas, Nevada
Las
Vegas is Spanish for 'The Meadows'. The 'Vegas' of today began after
World War II when the idea of large hotels along the brand new Strip
was developed. Tourism and gaming are the two major employers.
Manufacturing, Nellis Air Force Base and other government agencies,
warehousing, and trucking are secondary industries. The city proper
is an 135,618 sq km (84,272 sq mile) enclave surrounded by Clark
County.
The Las Vegas Strip is best
seen at dusk when it is lit up in neon lights. Children will enjoy
Wet 'n' Wild, a water park on the Strip, and the Lied Discovery
Children's Museum. Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian mall
dominated by gaming with a spectacular light show every night. For
something different, the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History
houses exhibitions of the archaeology and natural history of the
Mojave Desert. The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort Historic Park is the
site of the first settlement of Las Vegas, and the Nevada State
Museum and Historical Society explains southern Nevada's history.
The Liberace Museum contains memorabilia from the world-famous
pianist. The Guinness World of Records Museum is an interesting
exhibition based on the famous book. The Circus Circus - Grand Slam
Adventuredome theme park provides circus acts daily from 11:00am
until midnight (free of charge) and thrilling theme park rides.
Not to be missed is the
stunning display of over 1000 fountains, choreographed with light
and sound at the Bellagio Resort (daily every 15 minutes after
dusk). The 3049-room Mirage Hotel-Casino displays a man-made
volcano. Treasure Island features Buccaneer Bay with a full-scale
pirate ship and British frigate engaged in battle. The MGM Grand
Hotel & Theme Park is the largest resort hotel in the world. New
York, New York duplicates the Big Apple's skyline while the Las
Vegas Hilton Hotel & Casino offers an interactive Star Trek
experience with virtual reality stations, a themed bar, and Star
Trek memorabilia. There is also the Excalibur, built in the style of
a medieval castle, and the Egyptian-themed Luxor, a full-scale
pyramid watched over by a sphinx.
More than 45 wedding chapels
operate throughout the metropolitan area including some in the major
hotels. The Little White Chapel, 1301 Las Vegas Boulevard South, has
a 24-hour drive-through window.
Vast malls display a wide
range of products: the Forum Shops at Caesars, the Fashion Show
Mall, the Desert Passage at the Aladdin Resort, the Grand Canal
Shoppes at the Venetian Resort (includes a reproduction of Venice's
Grand Canal, complete with gondolas), the Boulevard Mall (the
largest shopping center in Nevada), the Meadows Mall (with 140 shops
and restaurants), and the Belz Factory Outlet World are all popular.
The Las Vegas McCarran
International Airport (LAS), which has slot machines in the
terminal, is 1.6km (1 mile) from the Strip, and 8km (5 miles) from
central Las Vegas. There are nearly 1000 cabs, 325 limousines, and
16 bus and/or charter firms serving the area. The Citizen Area
Transit (CAT) is a public transportation company that operates 31
routes throughout the Las Vegas metropolitan area.
Source: TAedge.com
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