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Sin City. The Entertainment Capital of the World. Either way, Las Vegas might as well be an alternate universe for travelers headed to this desert oasis of lights, money and vice. With no clocks, free booze (as long as you're gambling) and the constant promise of potential jackpots, Vegas can turn even the most well-intentioned traveler into a glass-eyed slot-machine jockey. Still, its array of shows and sheer breadth of entertainment options are unparalleled west of Manhattan. And if there happens to be the occasional ill-advised wedding or gambling of the mortgage on a hand of Texas Hold'em, well, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Running between the MGM Grand and the Sahara and making stops at every major point in between, the Las Vegas Monorail ($5) makes getting up and down the Strip easy for those weary of walking or of paying a fortune in cab fares. City buses (CAT; $1.25) and the Las Vegas Strip Trolley ($1.75), which runs between Mandalay Bay and the Stratosphere, are also available.

McCarran International Airport is right near the southern end of the Strip. The most convenient and cost-efficient way to get downtown is via Bell Trans minibuses ($5 to $6.50), which make runs to all the major hotels. Taxis can run $15 and up, depending on the length of your trip.

Hang Out at the Sports Book
Pick a casino and head down to its sports book on a Sunday during football season and spend the day. With comfortable chairs, waitresses serving food and drinks, a wall of wide-screen TVs and bets available for almost every conceivable event (and events within events like "Who will score the first touchdown?") it's a paradise for any sports fan-turned-gambler.

Get Ready to Rumble
Vegas plays host to nearly every major boxing bout, and even with matches scheduled months in advance at such venues as the MGM Grand, tickets are virtually impossible to come by. Still, the always-energetic Strip will have a little extra pep during the weekend of a big fight.

See Rodeo's Main Event
The National Finals Rodeo is held each December at the Thomas & Mack Center, bringing the top riders in seven different events to Vegas. Sometimes called the "World Series of Rodeo," the 10-day affair crowns champions in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, bull riding and barrel racing.

Take Your Pick in Auto Racing
Las Vegas Motor Speedway - home of the Sprint Cup circuit's UAW-Dodge 400 - has four different tracks and capacity for 156,000 fans. Races are scheduled frequently on the bullring and Strip, while the superspeedway and dirt track generally only host major events.

Try Out Rock Climbing
Red Rock Canyon is among the most popular rock-climbing destinations in the country and is known for its variety of terrain for both beginners and experts, as well as its scenery. The 197,000 acres of sandstone peaks are protected as a National Conservation Area.

Las Vegas Strip
S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV
Walk these 5 ½ miles of Las Vegas Boulevard and find whatever you are looking for. You'll pass more than 25 of the city's largest casinos. Then again, who can hike that far without stopping? Who would want to? There's ample parking, if you choose to drive. If not, then hail a cab.
http://www.lasvegas360.com/strip.html

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-693-7871 or toll-free 877-957-9777
Fine art, like everything else in Vegas, is presented here on a grand scale. The Bellagio showcases world-class exhibitions, drawn from museums and private collections from around the world. The Bellagio is located seven miles south of downtown Las Vegas.
http://www.bellagio.com/amenities/gallery-of-fine-art.aspx

Hoover Dam
U.S. Highway 93, Boulder City, NV 89005
702-494-2517 or toll-free 866-730-9097
The overlook is spectacular. The dam is 726 feet high - the equivalent of a 70-story building - and offers panoramic views of Lake Mead and the Colorado River, far below on the Arizona border. Afterward, take an elevator 500 feet down and view part of the power plant. The dam is located 33 miles southeast of downtown Las Vegas. There is ample parking.
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/DiscoveryTour.html

Liberace Museum
1775 E. Tropicana Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89119, 702-798-5595
Liberace didn't live like you or me. His museum is proof. See his trademark candelabra ring. The exotic cars. His stage wardrobe collection of feathers and furs. The rhinestone-lined, full-length Black Diamond mink cape. The 18 pianos - including the rhinestone-covered Baldwin he played in his final Radio City Music Hall performance. There's even a re-creation of his palatial Palm Springs, Calif., bedroom. The museum is located 10 miles south of downtown Las Vegas and there is ample parking.
http://www.liberace.org/liberace_museum/