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MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS
Set in the middle of a barren desert, Las Vegas dazzles with miles of neon and a kaleidoscope of fantasy attractions. |
Built in the fifties from the grit up in the middle of Nowhere, Nevada, Las Vegas bloomed practically overnight into a full-blown, neon-lit fantasy of round-the-clock impulsiveness. Now an oasis of luxury hospitality and entertainment, Las Vegas still cheats time, stamina and geography, though not Lady Luck. Take off your watch, put your party mode into overdrive and set your mind "blowing at the peak of a wonderfully satisfactory free idea" (to borrow from Jack Kerouac, connoisseur par excellence of roadside attractions). Las Vegas offers the best: jaw-dropping casino hotels that defy description are lined up like a giant's fairground midway along Las Vegas Boulevard, locally referred to as the Strip.
Over-the-top hotel exteriors belie the sophistication of the facilities within. Eye-popping forecourts of architectural wonders give way to traditionally gracious suites, tastefully elegant restaurants and every amenity suited to a romantic interlude. A new standard of elegance has been set, much to the delight of couples drawn to the city's bright lights and almost-anything-goes atmosphere. With more than 100,000 couples obtaining marriage licenses each year, Las Vegas is the marriage capital of the world. Not surprisingly, you can hold your fantasy wedding here, quite literally, whether it's setting your reception in another place and time or simply treating yourself to first-class service. What's more, you can make your wedding arrangements quite easily from home, thanks to an army of Las Vegas-based wedding planners, some associated with hotels, who are experienced in making wedding plans happen regardless of where the bride-and-groom-to-be are living.
HOT TIPS
What's a trip to Las Vegas without an Elvis impersonator singing a love song to you? Jesse Garon is the real thing: a sweet fellow with a honey-coated voice to match and a face that's a dead ringer for the King in his youth. He can be booked to croon "Love Me Tender" (his most requested song for nuptials) at your rehearsal dinner or even the ceremony. Call him direct at (702)-474-9227.
When you're in the mood to get away from it all, take a day trip to explore the extraordinary countryside. Options include the awe-inspiring Hoover Dam (just 30 miles south of Las Vegas) and Lake Mead, the largest man-made lake in the Western hemisphere (thanks to the dam), which offers houseboating, swimming, skiing, sailing, diving, windsurfing, canoeing and yacht tours. Scenic drives in the vicinity include a journey through the Valley of Fire State Park with its spectacular views of the wind-and-rain sculpted red sandstone, an hour north of the city and Red Rock Canyon, just 20 miles west of Las Vegas. For the ultimate in natural sight highs take a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, with pickup service from your hotel.
Imagine your first night in Las Vegas, perhaps a giddy rehearsal dinner or a party for your bridesmaids and groomsmen. As mind-boggling as this city appears during the day, the city ups the ante at night, transmogrifying into a megawatt kaleidoscope of sights and activities. Glamorous casinos crackle with excitement. Stages light up with world-class talent. Restaurants buzz as champagne corks fly and heads swivel, taking in Las Vegas's best free show: people-watching. Outside, the hot desert air is cooled by a fresh breeze, and the moon tries to out-glow the shower of neon stars forever falling from the legendary Stardust marquee. At midnight, it might as well be high noon: the Strip is jammed with cruising cars and everyone's thoughts are cast wide with a collective "Wow."
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