Best Ideas for a Las Vegas Vacation

By Chris Linch

What do you think of when you imagine Las Vegas? The city conjures up different images for different people. Some people know Las Vegas better as Sin City, picturing debauchery, drinking and gambling all night long. Others consider a trip to Las Vegas the perfect family vacation. Tourism in Las Vegas hit an all-time high in the late 60s and early 70s, when it was marketed as the ultimate playground for aduts.

Back then, Las Vegas was filled with brightly-lit casinos, over-the-top stage shows, and places to drink all day and all night. In those days, a vacationer could see a performance, hit the slots from sun-down to sun-up, shoot liquor for breakfast and hit the sack until noon just to start all over again.

Las Vegas vacations took on a different connotation starting in the early 90s when the city casinos began attracting entire families. This was done to compete with newer attractions like the New York New York roller coaster and the MGM Grand, with a family-focused environment.

The casino management caught on to the possibility of attracting families, who had vacation money to spend, while continuing to serve their high rollers and devoted gambling clientele. That caused the rise of family-oriented entertainment, including restaurants, shows and other places focused on kids. Even many casinos started offering childcare services to parents, in order to allow them to continue gambling and drinking while their kids played.

Now the typical vacation to Las Vegas is caught somewhere between a child and an adult's wonderland. It's not unusual to see amusement park rides swarming over the heads of slot machines and card tables. Now that prostitution is legal in Vegas, you will even see advertisements on cabs for topless shows and fliers all over the place for escort services, right next to the latest commercial for Sponge Bob Square Pants.

The aura of the adult playground still permeates, despite the strip's re-branding as a family vacation spot. The city flows with money and champagne, as it remains host to the greatest number of fine restaurants and dance clubs to be found in any place in the U.S.A. - 30230

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here