Flight Direct

It is famous for its glittering Strip, populated by numerous casinos and hotels where guests fritter away billions of dollars year after year for fun or in the hope that luck may smile on them, but Las Vegas offers much more than legalised gambling.

 

From fine art to thrill rides, the city dubbed the entertainment capital of the world provides a diverse range of experiences to suit all tastes and interests.

 

Described by the local tourist board as Las Vegas' premier exhibition venue, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art hosts rotating displays of works by some of the most influential and celebrated figures from the art world, with previous shows featuring pieces by the likes of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.

 

Throughout 2012, the venue will celebrate one of the great French artists with the exhibition Claude Monet: Impressions of Light.

 

Visitors can see 20 works by Monet spanning four decades of his career, as well as eight canvases by some of the painter's contemporaries, including Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Camille Pissarro and Eugene Louis Boudin.

 

Cirque du Soleil, one of the world's most famous and prestigious entertainment companies, is currently performing seven shows in Las Vegas, including Mystere at Treasure Island. This production features impressive athleticism, acrobatics and distinctive imagery, as well as signature acts such as the Chinese poles, hand-to-hand balancing and the aerial high bar.

 

Music fans can pay a visit to the Mirage to see The Beatles LOVE, which celebrates the legendary band's legacy through their original recordings. The show is performed by a young cast of 60 international artists and features panoramic sound and visuals.

 

Las Vegas visitors can also see Cirque du Soleil's "gravity-defying" production KA at the MGM Grand or head to the Aria Resort and Casino to celebrate the life and music of Elvis Presley at Viva ELVIS.

 

At a height of 1,149 feet, the Stratosphere Tower is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. As well as offering panoramic views of Las Vegas, the tower boasts attractions including a collection of four thrill rides.

 

SkyJump offers an experience similar to a bungee jump, with participants being attached to a wire before plummeting more than 850 feet towards the ground. The tower is also home to the three highest thrill rides in the world - Big Shot, Insanity and X-Scream.

 

Visitors looking for a more relaxing experience can head to some of the landmark's dining venues, such as the Top of the World restaurant, which is located at an altitude of 800 feet and revolves 360 degrees as guests are eating.

 

Hoover Dam is located just outside Boulder City, which is approximately 20 miles from Las Vegas. The concrete arch-gravity dam was built between 1931 and 1936 and is now a major tourist attraction.

 

Tours of the site and its power plant have been in operation since 1937 and welcome nearly a million people every year, with millions more driving across the dam.

 

On the guided power plant tour, visitors can learn more about Hoover Dam and its specific functions through audio and film presentations, exhibits and other media, while the dam tour provides information on some of the lesser-known parts of the facility.

 

Other attractions on offer to holidaymakers planning to take some day trips out of Las Vegas include Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Grand Canyon, which is about four hours away by car.

 

The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat is part of the Flamingo resort on Las Vegas Boulevard and is home to a flock of the colourful birds with which the complex shares its name.

 

Animal lovers visiting the attraction can also see swans, ducks, turtles, koi carp and other colourful creatures that are cared for by experts. The habitat encompasses islands and streams surrounded by waterfalls and foliage.

 

Another highlight for wildlife enthusiasts visiting Las Vegas is Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, which is the only predator-based aquarium and exhibit in North America. The site is home to more than 2,000 animals, including several shark species, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, piranha and rare golden crocodiles.