Las Vegas: In the heart of the Nevada desert lays a city with over a million lights its Las Vegas a city that’s burning bright in the night like a shining diamond against an otherwise dark background. It is also know as sin city-one that never sleeps.
Las Vegas has just one purpose to let you have a lot of fun, whatever may be your idea of fun. Music, dance, drama, fashion and sex are offered round the clock to those who seek it. And, of course, there’s gambling-its lifeblood and validation.
According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, around 43 million people visited the place in 2016, bringing in some $6.3 billion dollars of revenue for just the casinos on the Strip, which houses most of the well-known gambling joints. Compare this with another of the world’s top tourist destinations, London, which attracted around 20 million tourists only in last year.
Surrounded by mountain ranges on all sides, the area was named Las Vegas, which in Spanish means “the meadows”. The iconic “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign, was created in 1959 by Betty Willis, who never copyrighted it.
Las Vegas thrives on glitter and glam. There are always top-level musicals or sport shows happening here. Whether it’s Celine Dion or Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears or Ricky Martin, or top names in boxing, they have all been there and done that.
The main activity, of course, is inside the casinos on the green felt tables where you can bet from $1 or less to a thousand dollars (or a million if that’s your style) in the hope of making more.
The gambling arena in some of the casinos reminds one of James Bond movies. Well-dressed men and women with a glass of liquor in hand completely engrossed in trying to beat the odds.
The casino capital of the world makes people feel at ease. Dancing fountains, colourful, well-lit streets, live songs and music at every corner of the city make it a dream destination for visitor.
The attraction of the city is such that many visitors come here again and again. septuagenarian Suzanne from Boston said “Me and my husband have been coming here for the last 25 years and still loves to roam around the city and enjoys standing by the dancing fountains, shooting video.
Beside this If you get tired of the gaming tables or machines, you can always imbibe other attractions in the city-wax museum of Madame Tussaud’s at the Venetian with statues of famous and the notorious, the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay or the High Roller-a giant ferris wheel at The LinQ. For those who want an extra high, not necessarily from the flowing liquor, there’s the Stratosphere the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States.
Las Vegas may be fun, but it’s expensive fun. Go there with your wallet full and with money you can lose. Or just visit the Grand Canyon-four hours away-and avoid the epicurean and libertine centre of the world.
