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{play} Viva
Las Vegas
BY YU-MEI BALASINGAMCHOW
Bright lights, big city, high-roller games and lowbrow amusements – Las Vegas has all the glitz and excitement that you’d expect from the gambling capital of the United States. Its hotels are home to not only lively casinos but also headline entertainment acts, superb restaurants run by Michelin-starred chefs, and stupendous attractions such as a re-created Eiffel Tower or Statue of Liberty.
Las Vegas owes its modern face and character to a 1931 decision by the state of Nevada to legalise gambling, which paved the way for major casino and entertainment developments. Over the years, the buildings have gotten bigger and more fantastic, every one aiming to be the place to visit in Las Vegas. Today the Strip is lined with many of the world’s largest hotels, their lights creating an iconic night-time landscape.
It’s not all casinos and neon lights, either. There’s an incredible range of shopping, as well as dozens of golf courses within a 17 km radius of the Strip. For a break from the urban buzz, you can take your pick from any one of thirteen National Parks within a few hours’ drive, including the dramatic Grand Canyon.
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