There's more to do than just gamble in Las Vegas. Lots more. I've compiled a short list of some of my favorite diversions and attractions in the Las Vegas area to fill an hour or a day.

Some of the most beautiful and rugged land in the United States is within a couple hours drive of Las Vegas. A trip to the south rim of the Grand Canyon is a full one-day excursion. You could also take a helicopter or airplane tour.

If you just want to spend part of the day, you could take a short trip to Hoover Dam. The dam is about a one hour drive from the hotel. You could also take a bus tour to the dam and some of the surrounding areas if you don't want to drive.

You have several options for a hike in the beautiful desert country around Las Vegas. About 45 minutes to the south-west is Red Rock Canyon. An even more impressive view is available 90 minutes to the north (on I-15) at the Valley of Fire State Park. With all the rain this year, there's a good chance that the wildflowers will be spectacular in the desert this year. You'll want to take a car, bottled water, and your camera.

If you want to take in the panorama of Las Vegas, there is no view quite as spectacular as that from the top of the Stratosphere Tower. The Stratosphere is located at the north end of Las Vegas Blvd, a good distance from our hotel and on the other side of some questionable neighborhoods. You probably want to drive or take a taxi. There is a good view from the observation deck or from the Top of the World bar. The more adventurous can consider some rather extreme thrill rides 100 stories above the Strip.

The public spaces of the major resorts on the Strip are all spectacular sights on their own. Within easy walking distance of our hotel are Caesar's Palace (featuring elegant public spaces and extensive shopping and dining at the Forum Shops), Bellagio (featuring excellent dining, a beautiful conservatory, and dancing fountains out front every night), and Paris Paris (offering several good dining options). If you're willing to increase your walk to a mile (or perhaps take a cab in one or both directions), you can visit the Mirage (with a volcano out front after dark), the Venetian (with the beautiful Canal Shops and more great dining options), or Aladdin (again with more shopping).

You probably want to take a cab for a visit to New York-New York, the MGM Grand, or Luxor. If you'd like to visit downtown Las Vegas, you should definitely plan on a drive or a taxi ride. At night, the canopy over pedestrian-only Fremont Street plays host to a huge light and sound show.

Las Vegas is full of excellent dining opportunities. You can choose between huge buffets, familiar chain restaurants, and some exquisite gourmet dining options. The days of the 99 cent shrimp cocktail have mostly passed. If you're planning to try one of the high end restaurants you may want to make reservations before you leave.

In addition to restaurants, the new mega-resorts all showcase extensive shopping areas, in some cases rivaling the top luxury malls in the country. My personal favorites include the malls at the Venetian, Caesars Palace, and Aladdin.

And as you probably know, you have a wide choice of shows at the many hotels, from four different Cirque du Soleil shows to Blue Man Group or Celine Dion. You can find the typical Vegas review at many showrooms.