Attractions in Las Vegas

The water show in front of the Bellagio; St. Mark's Place and the canals within the Venetian; the Eiffel Tower replica at Paris Las Vegas; the lion habitat at MGM Grand; nightly volcano eruptions at the Mirage; the Luxor pyramid; the Roman streetscape at the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace; the Mardi Gras-style Show in the Sky at Rio's Masquerade Village; the view from the observation deck at the Stratosphere Tower; the Fremont Street Experience. This is Las Vegas!

Aladdin
3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip
Apropos of the ever-changing world that is Las Vegas, today's Middle Eastern-themed Aladdin will become tomorrow's Planet Hollywood Resort & Hotel. The 2,567-room Aladdin went into bankruptcy, and its new owners plan substantial construction beginning in 2005. Desert Passage, the 140-store mega mall surrounding Aladdin, replete with eight-story mountain and full-sized freighter anchored alongside a replica of a North African harbor, started remodeling in summer 2004 and will relaunch in October 2005.

Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip, Las Vegas.
An 8-acre lake provides a choreographed display of fountains, lights and rousing music every half-hour 3-8 pm, and every 15 minutes 8 pm-midnight. For the most spectacular visual effects, see the complex after dark. The Via Bellagio shopping avenue features such famous names as Gucci, Prada, and Chanel.

Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
The city's first themed casino, it opened in 1966. Two outstanding additions include the 4,100-seat Colosseum, home to resident performer Celine Dion, along with "part-timers" such as Elton John and Jerry Seinfeld; and the Forum Shops, a series of Roman streetscapes with ever-changing "skies" that move from dawn to dusk to night, filled with haute couture, restaurants, the unusual and the ornate. There are also two free shows within the Forum Shops at the Festival Fountain, and Atlantis, with laser special effects and animatronic Roman characters, plus a new 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium.

Circus Circus
2880 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
The free attraction is the varied daily circus shows, and that's why it's a must for families. Trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, acrobats and jugglers from around the world perform every 30 to 45 minutes on the Midway Stage: 11 am-10:30 pm. The non-free attraction is the Adventuredome Theme Park, the largest indoor theme park in the U.S., with a variety of thrill rides, IMAX movies, laser tag and more. The three casinos feature table games, slot machines, poker and more.

Hard Rock Casino
4455 Paradise Road at Harmon
This casino is filled with sound! It features rock memorabilia and attracts the world's hottest music stars to perform in The Joint, which seats 1,400 people. A chandelier with 32 gold saxophones dangles in the entry. The outdoor hotspot is the lagoon pool, replete with floating craps table and a waterslide; it also doubles as an outdoor nightclub in warm weather.

Luxor
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Named after the ancient city of the same name in northern Egypt, Luxor's black-glass pyramid is one of the most striking big-casinos from the outside. At night, the world's brightest beacon shoots straight up, so that even high-flying planes can see where they are. Inside, Egyptian artifacts and hieroglyphics line the walls of the 30-story pyramid. The replica of King Tut's Tomb is interesting and a more thorough re-creation than most theme attractions in Las Vegas. The Pharaoh's Pavilion has IMAX theaters that show a variety of features, including some in 3-D.

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., South Strip, Las Vegas.
Mandalay Bay has an understated South Seas/Far East feel. The main floor of the casino has lots of wide walkways and tropical greenery inside and out. Behind the complex, there's a lagoon, an enormous sandy beach, a man-made river and a water complex that includes a wave pool. The main sightseeing activity is the Shark Reef aquarium, which features creatures sharks, moray eels, stone fish, crocodiles, pythons and piranhas. One of its key entertainment venues is the legendary House of Blues, playing an eclectic mix of live music in its 1,800-seat facility. Mandalay Place is the new shopping complex, located on the bridge between Mandalay Bay and Luxor. A free tram runs between Mandalay Bay, Luxor and the Excalibur

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., South Strip, Las Vegas.
Features the Lion Habitat, with lions trucked in each morning from a nearby ranch (like other Vegas stars, they're primped and groomed prior to making an appearance). Other activities center on nightlife (two large theaters for limited engagements and a smaller showroom that hosts a revue and the Studio 54 nightclub) and shopping (the Studio Walk shops). Television City in the Studio Walk area is a free attraction with CBS videos and logo merchandise. The MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park is now available only for group events.

Stratosphere Las Vegas
2000 Las Vegas Blvd. S., North Strip, Las Vegas.
At 1,149 ft. high, the Stratosphere Tower is America's tallest freestanding observation tower and the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Take a 100-story trip to the top for breathtaking 360-degree views. You can add to your high-altitude experience on three thrill rides: The High Roller/roller coaster makes several rotations around the top of the tower, the Big Shot is a 160-ft. free-fall experience, and the new X Scream is a teeter-totter ride that hangs 29 ft. over the edge of the building and 866 ft. above the Strip. Various price packages are available that combine the ride and tower admission fees, including an all-day unlimited pass.

TI-(formerly Treasure Island)
3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip, Las Vegas.
Adjacent to the Mirage, this resort started off using Robert Louis Stevenson's novel of the same name as its jumping-off point. Now, however, it has adopted the name "TI" in an attempt to revamp itself. The overall theme is changing from pirates to a hip and trendy resort. The highlight for those on a walking tour of the Strip is the free new "pirates and sexy ladies" show that takes place in Siren's Cove,, at 7, 8:30, 10 and 11:30 pm. Inside is the original Cirque du Soleil production of Mystere, with clowns who mingle with the audience, roving devils, compelling music and,mind-boggling acrobatic performances.

The Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd.
Billing itself as one of the more upscale Vegas properties, the Venetian immerses visitors in a luxurious European ambience. Gracefully arched bridges, flowing canals, vibrant piazzas and stone walkways faithfully re-create Venice's Bridge of Sighs, Rialto Bridge and Campanile. St. Mark's Square, lined with restaurants and shops, is the scene of street-style entertainment. You can take a gondola ride through the canals while being serenaded by a singing boatman.