The itineraries outlined here are for adults.

If You Have 1 Day

Spend most of the day casino-hopping. These are buildings like no other (thank goodness). Each grandiose interior tops the last. Be sure to see The Venetian, Bellagio, The Mirage (including the white tigers), Treasure Island, Paris, Caesars Palace (including the Forum Shops and the talking statues), New York-New York, MGM Grand, Luxor, and Excalibur. Then at night, take a drive (if you can) down the Strip. As amazing as all this is during the day, you just can't believe it at night. Aside from just the Strip itself, there are Bellagio's water fountains, which "perform" to various musical numbers, the pirate battle at Treasure Island (consider watching it from the Battle Bar), and the volcano explosion next door at The Mirage. Eat at a buffet (details in chapter 6) and have a drink at the top of the Stratosphere, goggling at the view from the tallest building west of the Mississippi. Oh, and maybe you should gamble a little too.

If You Have 2 Days

Do more of the above since you may not have covered it all. Then do something really Vegasy and visit the Liberace Museum. The Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage is also worth a look. At night, take in a show. We think O and Mystère, the productions from the avant-garde Cirque du Soleil, are the finest in Vegas, but there are plenty to choose from. Though buffets are still the most Vegas-appropriate food experience, genuine haute cuisine by celebrity chefs has invaded the town and you should take advantage of it. Le Cirque, Renoir, and Picasso are our top choices, but you can't go wrong with anything by Emeril Lagasse, plus there are branches of Onda, Olives, Aqua, Circo, Pinot, Star Canyon, and the Border Grill. Be sure to leave some time to go Downtown to check out the casinos in the classic Glitter Gulch and to visit the Fremont Street Experience light show.

If You Have 3 Days

By now you've spent 2 days gambling and gawking. So take a break and drive out to Red Rock Canyon. The panoramic 13-mile Scenic Loop Drive is best seen early in the morning when there's little traffic. If you're so inclined, spend some time hiking here. If you want to spend the whole day out, have lunch at nearby Bonnie Springs Ranch. After lunch, enjoy a guided trail ride into the desert wilderness or enjoy the silliness at Old Nevada .

If You Have 4 Days or More

Plan a tour to Hoover Dam. Leave early in the morning, returning to Las Vegas after lunch via Valley of Fire State Park, stopping at the Lost City Museum in Overton en route. Alternatively, you can rest up by spending the day by the hotel pool or going to the hotel spa. At night, presumably refreshed and toxins purged, hit the casinos and/or catch another show. If you aren't tired of magic, Lance Burton is a wonderful show for a reasonable price, or there is the arty weirdness of the Blue Man Group at Luxor, or Jubilee! if your trip won't be complete without a topless revue. You can also feast at dinner, since you certainly haven't tried all there is. If you want a good dinner with a great free show, go to Treasure Island's Buccaneer Bay Club, which overlooks that hotel's new Sirens of TI production.

As you plan any additional days, consider excursions to other nearby attractions such as Lake Mead, the Grand Canyon, or even Area 51. Inquire about interesting tours at your hotel sightseeing desk.