As of March 2011, Las Vegas plays host to eight of the 10 largest hotels in the world. The MGM Grand is the biggest hotel in the U.S. with nearly 5,700 rooms. Many of the hotels in Las Vegas are self-contained environments that provide entertainment, gaming activities, dining and fitness opportunities for guests. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported that the casino revenue in 2010 reached $8.9 billion dollars, with the casinos on the Strip providing more than half of the total at $5.8 billion.
While many people relate to a trip to Las Vegas for gaming and entertainment, the other side of Las Vegas provides insight into its history and culture. The Atomic Testing Museum has displays that document the nuclear testing activities north of Las Vegas. Madame Tussauds Las Vegas Museum has wax replicas of famous movie stars and performers. The Liberace Museum houses some of the clothing, pianos and cars that made this eccentric pianist an iconic figure in the history of Las Vegas.
The Hoover Dam and Lake Mead attract nearly eight million visitors each year, making the Lake Mead National Recreation Area the most popular national recreation area in the U.S. Visitors take guided tours inside the dam, can boat on Lake Mead or take small watercraft below the dam on the Colorado River. The Hoover Dam Bypass spans 2,000 feet and the Colorado River lies 900 feet below. Camping facilities exist for tent, RV and trailer camping and the recreation area has many miles of hiking and cycling trails. Water temperatures in the lake vary from 45 degrees in the winter to 85 degrees in the summer, when air temperatures can exceed 110 degrees.
Las Vegas sits as a gateway to numerous national parks or conservation areas. Valley of Fire, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon lie to the east within a day's drive of the city. The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the largest in the contiguous U.S., lies west and northwest of Las Vegas. Most of the 6.3 million acres in the forest are managed by the Forest Service and open for public use. Death Valley lies west of Las Vegas, possibly the hottest place in the U.S., with a record high temperature of 134 degrees.
