|
|
| USA :: USA Travel Guide |
USA Travel Guide |
| USA - Places of Interest |
|
| |
| CANADA - Places of Interest |
|
| |
|
| LAS VEGAS |
 Las Vegas is all about glamour for its own sake, over-the-top hustle and flash as means and end. It’s crowds of people in polyester pantsuits, big hair and gold chains, staring at neon signs and spinning lemons like deer hypnotized by headlights.
Not that Vegas doesn’t have a serious side – billions are at stake on the tables and in the theme parks – but you’re given enoughdistractions to ignore it, until you lose. If you tire of tugging on the slot machines, the surrounding area has some of the region’s most beautiful scenery.
ATTRACTIONS
The Strip
The Mirage is interesting for the action going on outside: a fake volcano, surrounded by an artificial lagoon, erupts every 15 minutes, belching smoke and fire, and 54 artificial waterfalls cascade down the exterior. Not that there isn’t glitz galore inside. You enter through a miniature tropical rainforest. For a small fee you can watch dolphins frolic in a giant tank. Should you actually check in, you’ll do so at a counter backed by a long aquarium filled with over 1000 fish. The Mirage is the bete noir of water conservationists; it uses over four million litres of water a day. No wonder Nevada is running dry.
 One of the original casino-cum-theme-parks, Circus is tackiness incarnate. You can take in the free circus arts in the tent-like interior, a ‘midway’ with carnival attractions, and roomful of video games. Adventure dome is a mini amusement park in a giant dome behind Circus. It boats a roller coaster, flume rides, fake dinosaurs and a water slide. Circus is located on the northern half of the Strip and attracts a lot of families (i.e. rambunctious kids), so either head for or avoid it accordingly.
Car buffs won’t want to miss the imperial Palace Auto Collection, which includes rare models and dozens of vehicles once owned by the rich and infamous. There’s Czar Nicholas II’s 1914 Rolls Royce, Japanese Emperor Hardhat’s 1935 Packard and Adoft Hitler’s 1939 Mercedes. You can also see the cars of several US Presidents, and Howard Hughes’ 1954 Chrysler (the air purifier cost more than the car). About 200 vehicles are on display. The museum is located in the Imperial Palace casino, on The Strip.
Grand Canyon
Yes, ok, when all is said and done it’s just a big hole in the ground. A very big hole. But to stand at the top of the crater as the sun sinks and water the light fade across the rock face is one of he most awe-inspiring sights on earth. Visiting the Grand Canyon should definitely be on every body ‘before-I-die’ list.
Hoover Dam and lake Mead
Few dams are artistic achievements, but Hoover Dam is an architectural gem, with a simple form and Art Deco embellishments and design. The sensuous geometry of the high concrete wall contrasts sharply with the rugged red rock of the canyon walls. Since the September 11 terrorist attracts against the USA only dam personnel are allowed to enter the structure. Everyone else is limited to seeing a movie on the history of the dam and exhibits on its construction and inner workings in the visitor center.
Stretching to the north and east of the dam is the artificial body of water it created: Lake Med. It’s a good spot for boating, water-sakiing, fishing and even scuba diving. Hoover Dam is a hour’s drive southeast or downtown Las Vegas, from where several companies offer bus tours. |
| |
|
| |
|
Home 
