For die-hard gamblers it is a mecca of delight guaranteed to send them into spasms of pure rapture. After all, who can resist the lure of flashing lights, the ringing bells of the slot machines, the exotic and complimentary drinks served literally on a silver tray, and, of course, the smell of money in the air. Money to be made and money to be lost. Got to remember the word moderation when you enter the hypnotic world of the casinos.

Fortunately Las Vegas offers plenty to do besides gambling. Why the sightseeing opportunities alone are enough to keep you occupied for days on end, not to mention the eating, drinking, and endless round of shows and various amusements available. Yes, it is true that Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world!

For my friend Lauren and I our journey to Las Vegas began on a Sunday evening, with a six hour nonstop flight from Philadelphia compliments of US Airways. Although still suffering from a touch of plane-fatigue, we immediately revived upon being awakened from our naps to hear that the plane was at last above Vegas, and it was time to prepare for descent. As the plane began its descent we could look out the window and see Las Vegas pulsating beneath us.

Even from the air the city was a visual feast, and Lauren and I began excitedly pointing out the various famous landmarks, The Stratosphere, MGM Grand, etc.

We landed in Las Vegas about 9:00 AM in the morning with our luggage, cameras, pamphlets and guide books, and a small budget earmarked mostly for entertainment which did not include gambling. This had nothing to do with any feelings of morality on our part, but was simply a concession to the realities of our financial situation. Sure we planned to do a little gambling, but we had to set strict limits for ourselves so as not to get carried away and spend more than we could afford.

Exiting the airport, we walked instantly into what felt like a dense wall of heat. The shock of these extreme temperatures , 90's and heading to triple digits , after the comfortable coolness of the airport interior was almost disorienting. We had to remind ourselves that this was to be expected, as we had arrived in the middle of the Nevada desert.

Checking into the Imperial Palace Hotel, we were glad that we had pre-booked a room. The clerk at the front desk informed us that due to an unusually high volume of tourists needing rooms immediately, we would've had to wait until next week before a room with two beds became available.

First Day in Vegas

The next day, our first full day exploring Las Vegas, we decided to learn the ins and outs of the land of glitz and glamour by taking the monorail to all the stops. Tickets for the Las Vegas Monorail are available in the hotels at machines, and at the stations themselves at machines. We each bought a one day (24 hour) ticket for $15, which is good for anywhere you want to go. The Monorail is the perfect way to get a bird's-eye view of this magnificent city, and its many offerings without wearing yourself and your feet out.

Now Lauren and I are both huge Start Trek fans, so out of all the marvelous attractions waiting for us, what do you think was the first place we set off for? If you guessed the Las Vegas Hilton and its famed Star Trek Experience, give yourself a pat on the back for being right.

And it is quite an experience, although for true devotees like ourselves only being rocketed directly into outer space on the Enterprise itself with Captain Kirk by our side would have provided complete satisfaction. We managed to make due, however, with the 2 available rides, The Klingon Adventure and the Borg Invasion, plus pouring over the Star Trek museum displays. These provided an interesting distraction for killing time while waiting in a long line.

The Klingon Adventure, a simulated ride, was quite lively and won't disappoint anyone brave enough to go on it. Here I feel I must add a word of caution, however, for those with weak stomachs as it can be a rocky road from beginning to end.

"The Borg Invasion," was in 4D, (for the uninitiated, that's 3D with a seat that bounces and jolts very realistically so that the physical experience matches the one seen on-screen). The special effects are remarkable, and Lauren and I enjoyed it tremendously.

Our adrenaline high crashed soon after this, and jet-lagged and weary, we were more than ready to retreat to our room in the hotel and get some badly needed rest.

Day #2 in Vegas

The next day dawned with temperatures rapidly rising to triple digits, and heat so strong the entire city seemed enclosed in a capsule of haze. We had no trouble deciding to spend our day indoors touring the artificially cooled Wynn Hotel and letting the outside world manage on its own. After a quick breakfast, we walked over to the Wynn and immersed ourselves in its luxurious beauty.

We began by paying a reasonable fee to view Steve Wynn's private collection of Impressionist art and the painting Andy Warhol did of him. It was an interesting collection but surprisingly small with only about 10 paintings; a Rembrandt, 2 Picassos, a Degas, a Monet of lilly pads and a bridge, a Manet portrait, and a Mandrian. All of this, naturally, was topped off by Warhol's portrait of Steve Wynn.

Next came a visit to the Wynn Esplanade, a collection of unique and lavish boutiques, among them Oscar de la Renta and the world's first Rolex-only store, Wynn & Co. Watches. Lesson learned from visiting several of these stores out of curiosity , if you have to ask how much something is, not only can't you afford it, but you shouldn't be here, where prices go from exorbitant to over the moon in the blink of an eye.

We returned to our hotel for a short rest that afternoon, and by evening were ready for some dinner and entertainment. Unfortunately, the cost of a meal at Planet Hollywood put an end to any ideas we'd had about finding a cheap show to see. Even the price of a hamburger made our wallets tremble. But that's how it is in Las Vegas. The cost of food and entertainment is always triple what it would be anywhere else. It's just part of the town, much the same way the casinos and neon lights are.

Third Day in Vegas

Ceasars Palace was the destination for today, and we decided to begin with some shopping. The shops at Ceasars Palace Forum are a testament to architectural talent given free reign. The theme is Roman complete with large statues like those found in the gardens and homes of ancient Rome, and ceilings painted with breathtakingly lovely murals. Oh yes, there is plenty of atmosphere here! The entrance is four stories high and holds an enormous floor to ceiling atrium that is a wonder all by itself.

The carefully selected shops were definitely chosen for those with deeper wallets than ourselves, and contained all the famous brand names, such as Gucci, Versace, Lalique, etc. Although we couldn't make many purchases, we did have a grand time going from store to store and browsing to our hearts content.

Next we elected to see one of the light and sound shows that Ceasars is famous for. There are several to choose from.

The shows are unique in that they feature animated statues in the fountains in the rotundas that cover the length of the mall. Having seen these shows on television and been intrigued by them, I'd always wanted to see one in person. The last one in the back of the mall, built interestingly enough over a large aquarium, is also the best and most exciting, with explosions and marvelous lighting effects.

Day 4, Egyptian Vegas

The next day, our fourth in Vegas, Lauren and I determined to visit the Luxor, known, of course, for its Egyptian theme. Since we'd both had a fascination with ancient Egypt for several years now, we knew that we certainly couldn't pass up the opportunity to view Las Vegas' tribute to that long ago time and place.

At the Luxor we took turns having our picture taken standing between the giant paws of the Sphinx, then went inside and had a drink, cruised through the gift shops unable to resist picking up a few presents for our friends at home, and then went through the King Tut's Tomb exhibit.

They have authentic replicas of many of the objects found in King Tut's tomb, and a life-size "tomb" with viewing windows to peer through. There is no better way to get a feel for the size of the original tomb other than actually being there inside of it.

Afterwards we spent some time playing the slot machines, without having any success, but enjoying ourselves anyway.

Winding Up Our Stay

Saturday was our final day in Vegas so we decided to make the most of it. First we visited the New York, New York hotel/casino, which on the outside is an exact reproduction of the New York City skyline, with a miniature New York City built in great detail inside. They also have a roller coaster that runs all around the entire building with a terrific roar. We, or rather, I made the mistake of riding it, and while Lauren fared quite well, I became extremely ill. It didn't really surprise me though, as I have had a love/hate relationship with roller coasters for most of my life for that very reason.

Once I'd recovered enough to safely move around, we gave the place a quick once-over and played a few last rounds on the slot machines. Undaunted despite our winless status, we vowed that one day we'd be back and tackle the casinos once again.

We rode the Trolley home. The Trolley is really just as good as the monorail in its own way. It goes around the Las Vegas Strip circuit from the top of the Strip at the Stratosphere to the bottom of Mandalay Bay. You can get on and ride all the way around for only two dollars, which since the entire distance takes roughly two hours amounts to just a dollar an hour. Great deal!

Our return journey home began that night at what I considered to be the ungodly hour of twelve, with another non-stop 6 hour return flight. So much flying at one time left me feeling punch drunk when we deplaned in Philadelphia, but, nevertheless, happy to be back home. Both Lauren and I had had a wonderful time and didn't regret a moment or a dime spent on this fantastic trip. In fact, we were already making plans for our return trip, but home was home and we'd had enough of being tourists for the time being.

Yes indeed, it was good to be back!