The Las Vegas Strip is the legendary portion that most travelers associate with Sin City. It is only four miles long, and is flanked on the north end by the Stratosphere and on the south end by the famous Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. By default, this makes these two landmarks absolute must sees on the Las Vegas Strip. The Stratosphere is easily recognizable since it is shaped like an observation tower. This relatively new casino – it was partially completed in 1996 – is world famous for the thrill rides that make good use of the tower’s height. Featuring the Big Shot, XScream, and Insanity, these rides alternately dangle passengers over the edge of tower or dropping them to a predetermined height. While the rooms at the Stratosphere are on the lower end of the fee scale, the room rates at the Mandalay Bay are on the upper end. Not only a resort but also a convention center, this resort incorporates luxury, functionality and priceless amenities. On site beaches make this resort a must see location, but what really keeps the onlookers around are the attractions within the resort proper, such as the House of Blues, Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant, as well as the much loved stage production of Mamma Mia!

Of course, there are other top places to see when on the Las Vegas Strip. For the sake of its being a piece of Las Vegas’ history, the Flamingo should be on anyone’s tour agenda. Its disastrous beginnings led to the untimely death of mobster Bugsy Siegel, but the unlike the person who championed the building of the hotel and casino, the Flamingo survived and is now home to Jimmy Buffett’s famous restaurant Margaritaville. Another casino with a lot of history is Caesar’s Palace. Home of the Mesa Grill and show great Celine Dion, this resort is built to resemble the opulence of a Roman court. Over the decades, Caesar’s Palace was home to such show greats as Liberace, George Burns, and Frank Sinatra. Later on boxing became a magnet for this establishment, and aficionados of the sport will forever connect Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns with this casino.

While Caesar’s Palace should be on everyone’s to do list simply for its historic value to The Strip, the Bellagio hotel and casino should be included simply because of its present day allure. The brainchild of Steve Wynn, this monument features the famous fountain show outside, as well as the much talked about Cirque du Soleil production entitled “O” inside. Catering to the sophisticated clientele, the Bellagio is also home of the Gallery of Fine Art. Another reason to visit this new resort is the fact that it stands on the parcel of land previously home to The Dunes Hotel, which was imploded in 1993.

Another must see that is located on the site of an old casino from yesteryear is the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino. Once the parcel of land taken up by the Sands Hotel, this piece of property is now once again inhabited by an alluring establishment. The Sands was the playground of the Rat Pack as well as of the political who’s who of the day. Today’s Venetian is a study in culture, awe inspiring architecture, and the adherence to a theme that all but seems impossible. When you visit the Venetian, be sure to stay for a performance of the Blue Man Group and also take a peek at the art displayed in the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum. More than anything, the perfection with which this resort has been designed and the amazing attention to detail that goes into the day to day operations of every aspect of the casino is well worth the trip.

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