Set in the middle of the vast Mojave Desert, Las Vegas was created entirely to entertain and has been described as the world's largest theme park. This psychedelic city of sin is home to over a million people and welcomes 35 million more each year to its lavish hotels and casinos. Visitors today are amazed that only 70 years ago this thriving metropolis was a backwater with less than a thousand inhabitants whose only guests were railway passengers stopping off to stretch their legs on the long journey between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.

Things started to change in March 1931 when the State of Nevada legalised gambling; one month later the City issued six licenses. Then in 1946, Mafia don Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel opened the sensationally lavish Flamingo Hilton on Highway 91. Las Vegas Boulevard was born and the city would never be the same again.

Soon stars like Elvis, Liberace and Sinatra were making the pilgrimage to what was fast becoming America's premier entertainment centre. In the early days the Mafia dominated the gambling industry but in the 1960s their influence waned and soon all the large hotels and casinos were controlled by big business.

Las Vegas has 18 out of 21 of the largest hotels in the world and walking down 'The Strip' visitors will see the skylines of New York and Paris, discover the canals of Venice and the Pyramids of Egypt and, at Treasure Island, see a full on-sea battle between a Pirate ship and a British Galleon. Despite these excesses, room rates and restaurant bills are the lowest in the western world - all subsidised by gamblers intent on a free holiday.

Although the principal draw card is still gambling, Las Vegas is now marketed as a family destination and there is no shortage of theme parks, shopping malls or golf courses. However, the vast majority of visitors come to gamble and the incredible displays are mostly designed to lure passers-by into the casinos, and once there it's hard to leave; the exits are discreetly hidden.

Venetian Hotel and Casino

Address: 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas

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 Las Vegas

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 Las Vegas

Admission: Free Daily 24 hours

Telephone: (702) 791 7111

Valley of Fire State Park

Address: Las Vegas

Admission: $10; concessions available Visitor centre open daily from 8:30am to 4.30pm

Telephone: (702) 397 2088

The Luxor

Address: 3900 South Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas

Admission: Free Daily 24 hours

Telephone: (702) 262 4444

Liberace Museum

Address: 1775 East Tropicana Avenue Las Vegas

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 Las Vegas

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 Las Vegas

Roller Coasters

Address: Las Vegas

The Grand Canyon

Address: Las Vegas

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

Address: Las Vegas

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

Address: Las Vegas

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 Las Vegas

Admission: Per ride, $4-7; Day pass $26.95 (adult), $16.95 (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 Las Vegas

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 Las Vegas

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 Las Vegas

Admission: Ticket prices vary depending on show and seating Nightly 7pm and 10pm

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

Grand Canyon Helicopter and Ranch Adventure

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

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

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

City of Lights Jazz and R&B Festival

Where: Clark county Government Amphitheater,Las Vegas

When: 30 April 2011

Rock ‘n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon

Where: Start and finish at Mandalay Bay resort and Casino,Las Vegas

When: 4 December 2011

National Finals Rodeo

Where: Thomas & Mack Center,Las Vegas

When: 1 - 10 December 2011

Burning Man

Where: Black Rock Desert,Las Vegas

When: 29 August to 5 September 2011

Cirque du Soleil

Where: Various,Las Vegas

When: Various dates throughout the year.

Andre's at Monte Carlo

Address: 3770 Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas

Food Type: French

Pamplemousse

Address: 400 East Sahara Avenue Las Vegas

Food Type: French

Golden Steer Steakhouse

Address: 308 W. Sahara Avenue Las Vegas

Food Type: American

Marrakech

Address: 3900 Paradise Road Las Vegas

Food Type: Moroccan

Mon Ami Gabi

Address: 3655 S. Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas

Food Type: French

Rosemary's Restaurant

Address: 8125 West Sahara Avenue Las Vegas

Food Type: American

Chicago Joe's

Address: 820 South 4th Street Las Vegas

Food Type: Italian

Okada

Address: 3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas

Food Type: Asian

Gonzalez y Gonzalez

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

Food Type: Tex-Mex

California Pizza Kitchen

Address: Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas

Food Type: Pizzeria

Le Cirque

Address: Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas

Food Type: French

Mr Lucky's

Address: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 4455 Paradise Road Las Vegas

Food Type: American