Lonely Planet - Las Vegas

9. Looking out past the glittering city from the Stratosphere Tower

After a sweaty day traipsing up and down the Strip, especially when the dog days of summer hit, there's no better heat relief than to whoosh up the Stratosphere Tower courtesy of the USA's fastest elevators. There, almost 1150ft (350m) above the ground, strong breezes make the air cooler, not to mention clearer. On a good day, it's a cinch to see for many miles across the entire valley encircled by peaked mountains.

The eagle's-eye city skyline view can make anyone feel as rich as a casino mogul, especially while knocking back stiff martinis at the Romance at Top of the World lounge. But that's not the only way to get high atop the Stratosphere Tower. The pointed pinnacle of the city's tallest building is designed with thrill rides, including the aptly named Insanity (pictured above), which swings riders out 60ft (18m) away from the edge of the tower into thin air, then spins its huge claw arms that elevate to a 70 degree angle. Or try the Big Shot, which really gets blood rushing by rocketing riders in outward-facing seats up and down a steel spire.

Whether you show up for sunset or star gazing, nothing tops this vista.

10. Getting hitched in Sin City

Heaven might not be your place, but 'Marriages Made in Las Vegas' definitely doesn't have the same ring to it. But there must be something magical about it; on average one couple ties the knot every five minutes in Sin City. Wedding services range from a 10-minute drive-thru at a downtown chapel to a big, all-out 'do' at a glam casino mega resort.

The wild, wacky reasons people cite for getting hitched here are countless, but low licensing fees and the absence of waiting-period and blood-test requirements are the most often mentioned. Also, the 50-50 odds of a marriage surviving 'till death do us part' start to look pretty damn good in comparison to the chances of hitting a royal flush at the poker table. By the way, you don't have to be sober to get married here either. That helps some folks a lot.

Choices for the perfect spot to say 'I do' are endless. Weddings are performed in gondolas at the Venetian, inside the Stratosphere's Chapel in the Clouds, or atop the Eiffel Tower at Paris-Las Vegas. You can hire an Elvis impersonator to serenade you with 'Blue Hawaii,' or dress up like Marilyn Monroe. Sci-fi geeks proclaim their undying love to the galaxy at Star Trek: The Experience. You can even get married on the floor of the Grand Canyon - or completely nekkid.

Of course, to be truthful, the more Vegas wedding chapels you see, the less you may be inclined to entrust them with the happiest day of your lives. Many are pretty tacky, full of plastic flowers, fake stained-glass windows and doll's-house pews. You may feel rushed, too, as these places crank out dozens of weddings every day. Expect to pay upwards of $200 for a basic service, including a chintzy limo ride to the chapel if you're lucky.

Be advised that New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day are crush times for Vegas wedding chapels, so plan ahead if you want to say your vows on either of these days. You can apply for the required marriage license online up to a year in advance. Even if you're not contemplating tying the knot yourself, it's still worth a peek inside a wedding chapel to see if anyone else is crazy enough to do it. Wish 'em luck!

11. Room service is only the beginning

It's true that Vegas is a city that's rushing with adrenaline 24/7. But sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all - in the luxury surrounds of your own hotel room.

Sleeping in late is required for party animals who were out gambling, club hopping and making merry mayhem till dawn. You'll find Vegas hotel rooms have the most creative, collectible versions of 'Do Not Disturb' signs; the one in the MGM Grand's West Wing simply states 'Recharging.' There's very little that's not available in a minibar or on a room service menu somewhere in this city.

At the Hard Rock, you can order Love Jones lingerie and erotic play boxes (whoa, handcuffs!) delivered straight to your room. Champagne on ice is available at even low-rollers' hotels, but how many will also deliver a gourmet hot-fudge sundae at 3am like the Luxor? The plushest casino hotels in Vegas (think: Wynn, Venetian, Caesars Palace, Bellagio) have exclusive all-suites towers with VIP concierges and every imaginable amenity, making sure no one would ever want to leave.

For a hipper hotel getaway, the mod high-tech suites at THE hotel at Mandalay Bay have plasma TVs and deep soaking tubs - in the same room! Elsewhere, naughty bachelors/bachelorettes and their entourages won't be able to resist the Palms' playpen suites.

Reproduced with permission from Las Vegas Encounter ©2007 Lonely Planet Publications