Situated east of California, Nevada is split up into territories such as Cowboy Country, Pioneer Territory and Pony Express Territory. This is the great American marketing machine putting a gloss on the fact that the majority of the state is a fairly desolate desert only capable of supporting snakes, lizards and cacti. The better land is used for grazing hardy cattle, while the least forgiving is used by the military for testing nefarious weapons like stealth fighter bombers and atomic bombs.

For the millions passing through on their way to California, their image of Nevada is of long, empty roads and dusty ghost towns, often little more than a gas station and 24-hour store with a few slot machines in the corner. Lacking any natural assets, it is fortunate that 'Lady Luck' descended on this state to give hundreds of thousands of people a man-made reason for visiting. This is casino country, centred on the capital of kitsch, Las Vegas, and the other smaller towns where the main income earner is gambling. Carson, the sleepy state capital, has tree-lined streets and some handsome old buildings and hosts the Nevada State Museum, which covers the geology and natural history of the Great Basin desert: enough distraction for a few hours - but not much more. Reno is a smaller and less glitzy version of Las Vegas, packed with casinos and pawnshops, and has easy access to Lake Tahoe, over the border in California.

The state does have a few scenic attractions of interest to visitors. Around Las Vegas, Lake Mead is popular with fishermen and water sports enthusiasts, while both the Red Rock Canyon and the Valley of Fire State Park have magnificent desert scenery, which has been used as the backdrop for many famous movies including . The sandstone has been eroded into wonderful shapes over millions of years and at sunset these great natural monuments turn every shade of red.

Venetian Hotel and Casino

Address: 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard

Admission: Hotel and Casino admission is free. Madame Tussauds: $25 (adults), $15 (children 7-12) Hotel and Casino: daily 24 hours. Madame Tussauds: opening hours vary depending on the season, but generally daily 10am to 11pm

Telephone: (702) 414 1000

Bellagio Hotel and Casino

Address: 3600 S. Las Vegas Boulevard

Admission: Free (hotel and casino); $15 (fine art gallery) Daily 24 hours. The art gallery opens daily 10am to 6pm, 7pm on weekends.

Telephone: (702) 693 7111

The Mirage

Address: 3400 S. Las Vegas Boulevard

Admission: Free Daily 24 hours

Telephone: (702) 791 7111

Valley of Fire State Park

Admission: Visitor centre open daily from 8:30am to 4.30pm

Telephone: (702) 397 2088

The Luxor

Address: 3900 South Las Vegas Boulevard

Admission: Free Daily 24 hours

Telephone: (702) 262 4444

Liberace Museum

Address: 1775 East Tropicana Avenue

Admission: $15 (adults), children age 10 and under free. Concessions available Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm; Sunday 12pm to 4pm. Closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Telephone: (702) 798 5595

Imperial Palace Auto Collection

Address: Imperial Palace Casino, 3535 South Las Vegas Boulevard

Admission: Free entrance vouchers are easily available at the Imperial Palace casino, otherwise tickets are $6.95 Daily 9.30am to 9.30pm

Telephone: (702) 794 3174

Fremont Street Experience

Address: 425 Fremont Street, Downtown Las Vegas

Roller Coasters

The Grand Canyon

Admission: $25 per vehicle, $12 for pedestrians and cyclists, valid for both rims for 7 days South Rim is open 24 hours daily, all year round. The Information Plaza is open from 8am to 5pm. The North Rim is open from 15 May to 14 October 8am to 6pm

Telephone: (928) 638 7888

Hoover Dam

Admission: Hoover Dam Discovery Tour: $11; Lake Mead Recreational Area: $5 per vehicle, or $3 per individual, for 5 days Daily 8.30am to 4.30pm (visitor centre)

Telephone: (702) 293 8906

Red Rock Canyon

Admission: $5 per vehicle Visitor Center: 8am to 4.30pm. Scenic drive: 6am to 5pm (November to February), 6am to 7pm (March and October), 6am to 8pm (April to September)

Telephone: (702) 515 5350

Adventuredome

Address: Circus Circus Hotel, 2880 South Las Vegas Boulevard

Admission: Per ride, $4-7; Day pass $24.95 (adult), $14.95 (child) Monday to Thursday, 11am to 6pm; Friday to Saturday, 11am to 12am; Sunday, 10am to 9pm

Telephone: (702) 794 3939

Doolittle Pool

Address: 1950 North J Street

Admission: $2 (adult), $1 (child) Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 5pm. Closed Sundays

Telephone: (702) 229 6398

Buffalo Bill's

Address: 31900 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Admission: Monday and Thursday, 12pm to 6 pm; Friday and Saturday, 10am to 12am; Sunday, 10am to 6pm; closed Tuesday and Wednesday

Telephone: (702) 679 7433

Blue Man Theater

Address: Blue Man Theater, Venetian Casino Resort, 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Admission: Ticket prices vary depending on show and seating Tuesdays and Saturdays, 7pm and 10pm; Friday, 7pm

Telephone: (702) 414 1000 or (702) 414 9000

Grand Canyon Helicopter and Ranch Adventure

Address: 3750 E. Diamond Bar Ranch Rd, Meadview, Arizona

Admission: 7am, 8.45am, 10.30am and 12.45pm daily

Telephone: Grand Canyon West Ranch, (702) 736 8787; Heli USA, (702) 736 8727

Andre's at Monte Carlo

Address: 3770 Las Vegas Blvd.

Food Type: French

Pamplemousse

Address: 400 East Sahara Avenue

Food Type: French

Golden Steer Steakhouse

Address: 308 W. Sahara Avenue

Food Type: American

Marrakech

Address: 3900 Paradise Road

Food Type: Moroccan

Mon Ami Gabi

Address: 3655 S. Las Vegas Boulevard

Food Type: French

Rosemary's Restaurant

Address: 8125 West Sahara Avenue

Food Type: American

Chicago Joe's

Address: 820 South 4th Street

Food Type: Italian

Okada

Address: 3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Food Type: Asian

Gonzalez y Gonzalez

Address: New York-New York Hotel and Casino, 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Food Type: Tex-Mex

California Pizza Kitchen

Address: Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Food Type: Pizzeria

Le Cirque

Address: Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Food Type: French

Mr Lucky's

Address: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 4455 Paradise Road

Food Type: American