Las Vegas - Overview

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Las Vegas is situated in the lower part of the state of Nevada and sits in the center of the Mojave Desert. Who would have guessed to find in the desert, a city of lights, and all you can eat buffets, casinos and the ultimate city of entertainment?

Las Vegas (often informally abbreviated to 'Vegas') is the most populous city in the state of Nevada, United States, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally known vacation, shopping, entertainment, and gambling destination. It was established in 1905 and officially became a city in 1911. It is the largest U.S. city founded in the 20th century.

The name Las Vegas is often applied to the unincorporated areas of Clark County that surround the city, especially the resort areas on and near the Las Vegas Strip. This 4½ mi (7.2 km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard is mostly outside the Las Vegas city limits, in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester.

The center of gambling in the United States, Las Vegas is marketed as The Entertainment Capital of the World, also commonly known as Sin City or Vice City, due to the popularity of legalized gambling, availability of alcoholic beverages at any time (as is true throughout Nevada), and various forms and degrees of adult entertainment. The city's glamorous image has made it a popular setting for films and television programs.

The skyline of Vegas is an eclectic array, dreamed up by the moguls of the fabulous theme hotels, you'll see an Ancient Pyramid, the Statue of Liberty, a few blocks down the Eiffel Tower and an exploding volcano.

Downtown Las Vegas is the nostalgic part of Las Vegas with brightly lit and sparkly neon signs that illuminate the night sky. It’s only fit that the first neon sign was lit here in 1929. The famous cowboy neon sign stands here and this stretch is also home to the Binion’s Hotel & Casino that holds the infamous World Series of Poker event.

The casinos in Las Vegas are almost as famous for entertainment as they are for gambling. But we’ve come a long way from cookie-cutter chorus girls on every stage, although you can still enjoy them at nostalgia productions like Jubilee! at Bally’s and Folies Bergere at the Tropicana. Now, every taste can be accommodated. You like amazing acrobats? Try any Cirque du Soleil show. Magic? Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo is the king with Siegfried & Roy on permanent hiatus. Golden-throated vocals? Clint Holmes at Harrah’s is one contender for Wayne Newton’s crown. Musical impressions? Few people alive can match the range and variety of Danny Gans at the Mirage. And that just scratches the surface. If your pocketbook can take the strain, you can reserve seats noon to midnight for an entire long weekend in a place like Vegas, and you’ll still leave several shows unseen.

Just be prepared to rise at noon and feast on endless amounts of food at 3am. Vegas is about fun. As they say, 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. So live it up in Vegas!