Fodor's Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe 2000

by FODOR'S

• ISBN13: 9780679003601
• ISBN10: 0679003606
• Edition: Map
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 1999-12-28
• Publisher: Fodor's

Summary

Fodor's Las Vegas 2000"Fodor's guides are always a pleasure."- The Chicago Tribune "Teeming with maps and loaded with addresses, phone numbers, and directions."- Newsday Experienced and first-time travelers alike rely on Fodor's Gold Guides for rich, reliable coverage the world over. Updated each year and containing a foldout Rand McNally map, a Fodor's Gold Guide is an essential tool for any kind of traveler. Insider info that's reliable and smart Local experts show you all the things to see and do -- from top sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from sports to shopping, from nightlife to recommended walks. Hotels and restaurants in all price categories From B&Bs to luxury hotels, from casual eateries to elegant restaurants, we list hundreds of detailed reviews that show what is distinctive about each place. Practical info that's completely up-to-date Useful maps and background information; key contacts; how to get there and get around; when to go; what to pack; local do's and taboos; costs, hours, and tips by the thousands. Here's a suggested complement toFodor's Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe 2000. To learn more about it, just enter the title in the keyword search box.Fodor's Compass American Guides: Las Vegas: A full-color guide, providing in-depth coverage of the history, culture and character of Las Vegas.

Table of Contents

On the Road with Fodor's Don't Forget to Write Smart Travel Tips A to Z Destination

Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe Vegas

The Family Resort? New and Noteworthy

What's Where Pleasures and Pastimes Great Itineraries Fodor's

Choice Festivals and Seasonal Events Playing the Games Casinos

Exploring Las Vegas South Strip Center Strip North Strip

Downtown Exploring Las Vegas with Kids

Dining Lodging Nightlife and the Arts

Outdoor Activities and Sports Shopping Side Trips from Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon Mt. Charleston, and Kyle and Lee Canyons Boulder City, Hoover Dam, and the Lake

Mead Area Laughlin, Nevada Grand Canyon National Park

Southwestern Utah Death Valley, California Reno with Virginia City and Carson City Reno Virginia City Carson City Lake Tahoe

The California Side

The Nevada Side Portrait of Las Vegas

Index Maps and Charts

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Destination: Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe

For 50 years, up until the early 1990s, the name Las Vegas was instantly recognized around the world as a fantasyland for adults, a place that existed for one reason and one reason only: gambling. Then Las Vegas went through an abrupt transformation, as the traditionally X-rated city strove for the big "G" of general admittance, and tried to attract adults, children, friends, baby-sitters, grandparents, nongamblers, and nonsmokers -- in short, everybody. These days, fabulous theme hotels such as Luxor, New York-New York, Venetian, and Paris, and amusement parks such as Wet 'n Wild, Grand Slam Canyon, and MGM Grand Adventures all provide a minivacation's worth of excitement -- without visitors ever having to step up to a slot machine or blackjack table.

Why did Las Vegas seemingly abandon its adults-only image in favor of appealing to a wholesome family market? For one thing, gambling was spreading around the country, and the world, at such a furious pace that Las Vegas felt it had to broaden its appeal to maintain its edge. Secondly, the demographically powerful baby boomers began having children, which changed the shape of their vacation demands. Finally, Las Vegas cast its wanton gaze toward the No. 1 tourist destination in the country, Orlando. In 1995, for the first time ever, Vegas glitter outpulled Mickey Mouse.

Despite the new focus on families, every year tens of millions of visitors still come to Las Vegas for the traditional reason -- to seduce the goddess of chance. You are constantly reminded of this fact as you walk or drive along the Strip or stroll the pedestrian mall on Fremont Street. There are no supermarkets, post offices, video-rental stores, or other conveniences of everyday life, only places where you can buy a hamburger or a souvenir, get married, and lay down a bet.

Winning and Losing

Times are changing, but gambling is still the thing to do in Las Vegas. The first-time visitor is faced with a terrifying choice of possible bets, what seems like 1,001 different ways to part with your hard-earned dollars. But once you know your way around the casino, you'll quickly settle on your wagering thrill of choice. Blackjack and video poker offer the best odds for winning in a Vegas casino. The average bankroll of a Vegas gambler is $500, but you can experience either the excitement of winning or the frustration of losing for a lot less. The smaller casinos off the Strip are often the best bet for the amateur gambler; the pressure is less intense, the minimums are reasonable, and the staff is friendlier.

The Las Vegas Buzz

Besides the renowned enticements of Las Vegas, there are other, more subtle ones. There's the twisting of time, noticeable, for example, in coffee shops, when at any hour some people are having breakfast, others lunch or dinner, and still others snacks or coffee. There's the unmistakable air -- sounds, smells, sights -- of a casino. And there's the phenomenon of a city that never closes or seems to sleep, that galvanizes and emblazons the familiar activities of daily life.

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Excerpted from Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe 2000: Expert Advice and Smart Choices, Completely Updated Every Year, Plus a Full Size Color Map by Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. Staff
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.