Shows like MTV’s The Real World and movies like The Hangover portray Las Vegas as the hot vacation destination, the city constantly works to offer new attractions to not disappoint visitors.
The face of Las Vegas is constantly changing- evolving from an adult playground for gambling and drinking in the 1930s to a more family oriented city in the early 2000s.
Las Vegas has been the hub of adult entertainment since the 1960s when big names like the Rat Pack and Elvis made the city their choice performance venue.
People were drawn to the colorful, vibrant shows and the gambling, which presented patrons with the chance to become fast millionaires.
But as family vacation destinations began to rake in hoards of money, many hotels in Las Vegas added kid friendly zones and attractions, like arcades and roller coasters in the 1990s to appeal to a larger crowd.
Recently, however, new business coming into the city has been much more focused towards the 21 years and over crowd.
In the last five years, mega structures like the Aria, Wynn and The Cosmopolitan hotels have opened their doors to hundreds of thousands of anxious tourists.
These hotels boast not only high class, crystal draped casinos and luxuriously modern rooms but also mall sized shopping venues attached to the main buildings.
Lavish retailers like Prada, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany and Co. line up to surround guests with opulence and lead them into casinos where visitors can test their financial luck.
Older hotels, like Planet Hollywood an Treasure Island, have undergone renovations to keep up with the ever changing style of popular interior fashion and draw in the young adult crowd.
Casinos at all hotels love to pamper their gamers. Drinks are almost always complimentary and easier ways of cashing out or collecting winnings- like money vouchers printed at machines- have made the gambling process smoother.
Las Vegas also offers a wide array of shows to take in that would please any crowd.
More traditional performances, like Celine Dion and Donny and Marie Osmond, appeal to the more mature crowds while more risqué shows, like Thunder from Down Under, Zumanity and Playboy alumni Holly Madison’s Peep Show, call to the party people.
While many shows are exclusively for the over 21 crowd, many are open to entertain all ages.
The long running Blue Man Group and certain variations of the popular Cirque du Soleil engage audiences of all tastes.
Though Vegas shows are a little on the pricey side, they are a must when hitting the city- particularly for the under 21 crowd.
For the college student who is not yet 21, nightlife is unfortunately limited.
It is rare for any type of club to be 18+ and no one under 21 is allowed to loiter in the casino area so night time shows are the best option for the younger crowds.
However, during the day hotels offer plenty of options for the masses that are too young or not interested in gambling or drinking.
The New York-New York, Stratosphere and Circus Circus hotels, among others, provide arcade centers, roller coasters and mass quantities of food.
The sheer variety and massive amounts of food in Las Vegas- ranging from buffets to fine dining- is enough to occupy anyone.
Additionally, many places either close very late, or not at all, to satisfy hungry visitors around the clock.
Las Vegas offers the opportunity for crowds to have big time fun at moderate prices, the need for responsible vacationing is as important as ever.
While the city’s slogan has long been, ‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” vacationers should be aware of the choices they are making so that the fun they have in Las Vegas will make great memories for years to come.
