 Experience real fear atop Stratosphere
Check out the rides atop the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower. If the tallest free-standing observation deck in the United States at over 100 stories isn’t enough to make you go weak at the knees, then the four thrill rides wrapped around the top of the tower should. Get the adrenalin pumping on the worlds highest roller coaster or ride the X Scream, an open vehicle that literally takes riders head first over the edge of the Tower before dangling them there. If these aren’t enough for you, then try the Big Shot, which shoots passengers 49 metres in the air with the force of 4Gs before falling back to the launch pad. If you’ve still not had enough, get aboard the Stratosphere’s newest ride, aptly named Insanity, which suspends riders in a contraption over the edge of the tower before twirling them around faster and faster until they experience 3Gs of force.
Soar above the Strip
One of the best ways to appreciate the otherworldliness of the Strip is by sweeping above it aboard a luxury helicopter during a Strip night flight. Ever the most cynical traveller will marvel at the mix of world famous icons on one Boulevard when the pilot flies over legendary landmarks such as the New York skyline, the Bellagio fountains and the pyramids of Luxor.
Downtown nostalgia
When businesses wanted to draw tourists from the booming Strip back to the original Las Vegas downtown what did they do? They built a canopy that spans four city blocks where 12 million LED lights and a state-of-the-art sound system create a unique light and sound show. The result is a one-of-a-kind view where visitors can watch animated images move across the canopy perfectly synchronised to music.
Mix it up at THEhotel
Not to be outdone by GhostBar, the floor-to-ceiling windows on the 64th floor at Mix provide breathtaking views. The sophisticated restaurant and lounge is located in the ultra-flash THEhotel at Mandalay Bay and is the ultimate location to wine and dine while watching the sun set over the Las Vegas valley.
Desert oasis 
It hard to believe that a real oasis exists only 30 minutes away from the city that rises from the Nevada desert. Lake Las Vegas is where the likes of Celine Dion live while performing in Las Vegas and visitors to the Lake Las Vegas resort will understand why. The palm-tree lined driveways, 320-acre lake and three championship golf courses create a tranquil location. Guests at the Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort can stay in the suites Julia Roberts or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas stayed while shooting the movie ‘America’s Sweethearts’ at the resort. Or head across the Lake and play 36 holes at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas on a championship course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf.
Tuscan dreaming
Watching thousands of fountains dance as the water sprays 70 metres in the air in time with operatic, classical and whimsical music at the Bellagio is truly a dream-like experience. Be transported to another world at the Fontana Bar at the Bellagio. The outdoor balcony looks over the lake and provides the perfect location to sip a cocktail and watch the water ballet.
Find your true love atop the Eiffel Tower
Romantics will be drawn to the replica of one of Europe’s most famous landmarks where they can ride the glass elevator to the observation deck and swoon over the panoramic view of the Las Vegas valley from 140 metres above the ground. All the intricate details of the Eiffel Tower were researched to recreate the 50-story, half-replica reproduction at Paris Las Vegas.
Day trips from Las Vegas
When most people think of Las Vegas, they usually picture neon lights, gaming tables and monolithic hotels. However, the destination also features a wide range of scenic attractions and adventure activities.
Here are just some of the options for day trips from Las Vegas:
The Grand Canyon
Only a half-day drive or one-hour flight away, Las Vegas is the ultimate base for anyone wanting to take in the grandeur of one of the world’s natural wonders. Tours depart from Las Vegas for half-day, full-day and overnight excursions. Transportation options range from the comfort of an air-conditioned helicopter to the thrill of an off-road Hummer.
Tours to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas are sure to become even more popular with the opening of an ambitious new attraction later this year. Brave visitors will be able to walk out onto The Skywalk, a glass bridge 1200 metres above the ground on the West Rim of the Canyon. Final strength tests conducted in May 2005 established that the structure could safely hold the weight of 71 fully loaded 747 aircraft and sustain winds of over 160 km/h.
Hoover Dam
If anything can make a Las Vegas resort look small, it is the majestic Hoover Dam. This engineering marvel is just 60km southeast of Las Vegas on the Nevada/Arizona border making it an easy drive from the neon city. The man-made creation tamed the Colorado River with arch-gravity walls as thick as they are high.
Visitors can drive over the dam or get a closer look by taking a tour through the facility. Alternatively, for a more unique perspective, tourists can take a raft tour to Black Canyon. Formed by the Colorado River, this canyon lies just below the Hoover Dam where the canyon walls rise nearly 610m from the river’s edge. Raft tours are available for individuals or groups and include a chance to swim, explore or eat lunch on the shores of the Colorado River.
Lake Mead and Boulder City
Not to be outdone by the dam which created it, Lake Mead is North America’s largest man-made lake and the ideal getaway from Las Vegas. Only 40km from Las Vegas, at its closet point, Lake Mead Recreational Area offers outdoor enthusiasts 880km of shoreline providing year-round opportunities for swimming, waterskiing, camping and fishing. If visitors prefer to keep their feet dry, paddlewheel boats offer romantic, dinner and dancing or general sightseeing cruises.
On the way back to Las Vegas from Lake Mead, stop at Boulder City – the only Nevada city without legalised gaming. Built in the ‘30s for Hoover Dam construction workers’ families, it is home to many quaint shops, several of which feature works by Native American jewellers.
Red Rock Canyon
Just 24km west of Las Vegas lies the stunning Red Rock Canyon, named for the striking red sandstone formations. Open to the public year-round, the canyon is a popular destination for hikers, bikers, joggers and rock climbers. Visitors can take in the area from a one-way 20km scenic drive or stop at the Visitors Centre for more information about recreation opportunities, wildlife, vegetation and geology. Observant visitors may be lucky enough to spot feral horses, bighorn sheep or coyotes.
Those who prefer the rugged outback of Red Rock Canyon to the neon lights of Las Vegas, but still want to experience the luxury of a Las Vegas resort can stay at the new Red Rock Station opening early 2006. The hotel will feature the usual trappings of a Las Vegas resort but the highlight will be the breathtaking views over Red Rock Canyon.
Mt. Charleston
Savvy Las Vegans know the best way to escape the desert heat during summer is a trip to Mt. Charleston. An hour away from Las Vegas, Mt. Charleston is almost 4000m at its peak and can be ten to 15 degrees cooler than in Las Vegas. Horseback riding, hiking trails, picnic and camping facilities are available or just take a drive up the mountain to watch the desert landscape slowly change into an alpine forest. During the winter, peaks turn into a winter wonderland where skiers and snowboarders can hit the slopes on a range of easy to difficult ski runs.
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