[Convention Extra] Exploring the 'Adult Disney World'.

Of all the cities in America, Las Vegas seems to be the one that needs the least amount of advertising. What adult wouldn’t want to travel to a sparkling, desert oasis that’s open 24 hours a day, offers non-stop dining and entertainment options, and provides visitors with the possibility of striking it rich with one pull of a slot machine?

All one needs to do to find fun in Las Vegas is walk out of their hotel room and onto the Strip. Chances are, they won’t even have to go that far, as their very own hotel lobby will most likely offer countless distractions to keep them occupied for hours.

Known by many as being the “Adult Disney World,” Las Vegas still clearly lives up to its reputation of being an amusement park built for the older generation.

Sure, like Disney’s Epcot, you can find yourself in Italy one moment and then France the next, but only in Las Vegas can you jump from Rome, to Egypt, to New York in a matter of minutes and arrive in a high stakes casino when you get there.

There really is no place like Vegas, and although it doesn’t need any help advertising, you, as the visitor, might need some help navigating.

CAN’T-MISS ATTRACTIONS.  As anyone familiar with Vegas knows, this city is not famous for being cheap. That’s why it’s always a good idea to try your luck on the casino floor if you need a little help funding the rest of your trip. The legendary Caesar’s Palace, home to Las Vegas’ largest poker room, should definitely be any gambler’s first stop. With the addition of a Pussycat Dolls-themed gaming area that features go-go dancers performing in bronzed cages, you’re sure to be distracted during your blackjack game, which can either be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your outlook.

When your luck has run out at the casinos and you find yourself still strapped for cash, Vegas actually offers a surprising amount of free attractions throughout the area, many of which are family-friendly.

Wandering down the Strip is like an attraction in itself, as you travel to the four corners of the world and see all the famous landmarks…or at least, gaudy replicas of them. Yet seeing them all in one location without the added travel expense makes the Vegas Strip a welcome alternative for frugal travelers.
In celebration of their famous mascot, The MGM Grand is home to a lion habitat that is free and open to the public. The Bellagio also offers a free, less carnivorous attraction, with its breathtaking Conservatory & Botanical Garden, which changes with the seasons and is open 24 hours a day.

Although undoubtedly tacky, Treasure Island does offer a free, nightly show called “Sirens of TI,” as a replacement for the pirate battle that used to be performed. Get ready to experience a story “of song and dance, seduction and danger,” as stated on the Treasure Island Web site, when beautiful sirens attempt to lure pirates into their mystical cove.

If you find yourself resistant to the lure of the sirens, the nightly/hourly eruptions of the Mirage Volcano are sure to entertain.

There is also entertainment to be found if you travel off the Strip and over to downtown Las Vegas for the Fremont Street Experience. Here, you can see nightly light and sound shows that are projected on a 90-foot-high canopy that runs along the top of the street.

HIGH-CLASS DINING. Although it’s true you can still find the occasional $12 lunch buffet, Vegas also is acclaimed for its impressive dining options.

Upscale dining is easy to come across in Vegas, with the likes of famed chefs Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay, and Wolfgang Puck all owning world-class restaurants. Puck seems to have almost made Vegas his second home, operating five different restaurants in Vegas alone. Each offers a different type of menu, ranging from classic American fare with global accents, to fine steaks, California- and Asian-inspired foods, and even Italian recipes. Whatever your desire, Wolfgang Puck is sure to have something to satisfy your appetite.

If you’re a high roller who likes the finer things in life, then check out Joël Robuchon, located in the MGM Grand. Robuchon, known as “Chef of the Century,” came out of retirement to open his first French restaurant in the U.S., which offers traditional French cuisine at an elevated price. Fans of French food who are operating on a smaller budget should head to world-renowned chef Thomas Keller’s restaurant Bouchon, located in the Venetian. Keller’s restaurant offers classic French bistro food at a modest price.

Those still searching for a buffet in Vegas should head to Le Village Buffet at the Paris Las Vegas. Though significantly more expensive than a traditional buffet, Le Village features five different food stations, each representing a different province of France and serving food that is fresh and made-to-order.
Of course, for the best views in the city, the only dining option is the Top of the World Restaurant at top of the Stratosphere Tower. The restaurant, serving a wide variety of seafood and steaks, revolves 360 degrees every 80 minutes, offering unparalleled views of Vegas.

NON-STOP ENTERTAINMENT. Las Vegas has always been known for its wide variety of shows, whether it’s Donny and Marie performing at the Flamingo, or Barbara Streisand and Frank Sinatra impersonators performing, “The Concert that Never Was.”

And if Wolfgang Puck dominates the restaurant world in Las Vegas, then Cirque du Soleil dominates the entertainment world. With six different shows performed in Las Vegas alone, it seems almost impossible to avoid going to at least one of them.

“O”, being performed at the Bellagio, features, swimmers, acrobats, and divers all performing in, on, and above water, to create a truly mesmerizing stage performance.

Those who are fans of Beatles music will surely enjoy “The Beatles LOVE” show at the Mirage. In the show, a cast of 60 international artists perform to classic songs that were made famous by The Fab Four.

For one final dose of Cirque du Soleil, some might be interested in experiencing the show voted the 2009 “Las Vegas Show So Bad It’s Good,” by readers of The Las Vegas Review Journal. The show is billed on Cirque du Soleil’s Web site as being “a haunting exploration deep inside the inventive mind of mystifier Criss Angel,” which for anyone who has seen his show knows is not something worth exploring. However, knowing how strange both entities are on their own, one can only imagine the wonderful weirdness that will ensue when they are combined.

And of course Vegas still offers the kind of entertainment that many visitors have come to expect when thinking of this iconic city. You can still enjoy the classic “Folies Bergere” stage show, complete with showgirls and vibrant musical numbers, performed nightly at the Tropicana.

VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE.  Everyone knows Vegas is at its best at night, so of course there are plenty of options when it comes to the club scene.
Open since 2007, LAX is one of the hottest clubs you’re likely to find in Sin City. Located in the Luxor, LAX was voted “Best Place to Spot Celebrities” in 2008 by the Las Vegas Review Journal. Outfitted with a state-of-the-art sound system, 26,000 square feet of space, and two floors, this nightclub is sure to impress. Deep red, blue, and purple lights create a smooth, yet vibrant atmosphere. So if you want to see and be seen at one of the hippest, trendiest clubs in the city, LAX is definitely the place for you.

If LAX doesn’t quite get your blood pumping, head to PURE at Caesar’s Palace. PURE is actually four venues in one, stretching 40,000 feet and featuring a different DJ in each area. This club also offers some of the best panoramic views of the city from atop its 14,000-square- foot Terrace. Still haven’t got your fill of Vegas nightlife? Then head over to Privé nightclub at Planet Hollywood. The South Beach-style atmosphere keeps things laid back and cool, while surprise performance and celebrity guests keep you entertained. As a bonus, this venue features an open main room with no roped off VIP areas, so everyone feels like they are one of the elite.

OUTSIDE THE EXCITEMENT. Even for the most experienced Las Vegas traveler, the bright lights of the city are sure to wear on you after awhile. But not to worry, because there are plenty of fun places to go when you need to escape the Strip.

Located just 35 miles from Las Vegas is Mt.Charleston, which offers the perfect setting for hiking, picnicking, and horseback riding.

When in the Vegas area, take time out to visit the breathtaking Hoover Dam. Depending on which type of tour you take, you can enjoy anything from a simple narrated walking tour of the dam, to a rafting tour on the Colorado River.

ENJOY THE RIDE. Whether you’re interested in trying your luck at the gaming tables, taking part in a high-end dining experience, or watching an over-the-top show, Las Vegas has what you’re looking for. And even if you’re not into the hard-partying lifestyle like the guys from “The Hangover,” you are still sure to find something, either within the city or just outside it, that makes you feel lucky.

The author is a Wooster, Ohio-based contributing writer.

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CELEBRITY WEDDINGS: VEGAS STYLE

With approximately 120,000 marriage licenses being issued every year, it’s no surprise that Las Vegas has long been tagged as “The Wedding Capital of the World.” Perhaps more surprising, are some of the famous celebrities who have chosen Sin City as the place to legalize their quickie unions.

Famous movie star and the face on your ranch dressing, Paul Newman and longtime wife, actress Joanne Woodward were married at the El Rancho hotel-casino on January 29, 1958.

Turns out Golden Girl Betty White was a little wilder in her younger years, as she married Allen Ludden, host of television’s “Password” and “Liar’s Club,” at the Sands hotel-casino in 1963.

On July 19, 1966, Las Vegas regular Frank Sinatra married actress Mia Farrow at the Sands, only to divorce a short two years later.
Before Angelina Jolie traded in her vials of blood for six children and Brad Pitt, she was marrying Billy Bob Thornton on May 5, 2000 at the Little Church of the West.

Classic Hollywood stud…Mickey Rooney was married an astonishing seven times in Las Vegas, singlehandedly keeping hope alive that even men who look like Mickey Rooney can be married seven times, if only in Vegas.