Las Vegas Strip

The Las Vegas Strip is 4.2 miles long and it is adjacent to but outside of the Las Vegas city limits.  Many of the largest casino resort properties in the world are located on the strip.  19 of the world's 25 largest hotels, by room count, are on the strip.  In 1931 the legalization of gambling happened.  Bugsy Siegel became intestested in the growing gambling center which led to the resorts.  It also has made a connection of organized crime  to Las Vegas.  Some of the big resorts opened were The Flamingo opened in 1946, the Desert Inn in 1950, and the MGM in 1973.  The original MGM is now Bally's and a new and bigger MGM Grand was built further down the strip.  Almost all of the well known casinos of the 1960's and 1970's have been either closed and/or demolished and new resorts built where they use to be.  For instance, The Desert Inn is now the Wynn.  The Dunes is the Bellagio, The Sahara was just closed down in May 2011.  The owner is saying it may reopen at a later date.  The Sands is now the Venetian and the Stardust was closed in 2006 and Echelon Place was began but the whole project is on hold right now.
Walking the strip is very doable and several of the resorts have built walk ways and overpasses for ease of crossing streets and entering the casinos.  Several resorts have built attractions in the front to attract people to their casinos.  There is so much to see while walking the strip.  There is one thing you have to learn to do while walking along the strip and that is how to dodge all of the hard working men and women passing out enticements to go see the striptease shows.  They are easy to recognize because they all were florescent shirts with girls, girls, girls printed all over the tshirts.  The trick is to keep walking like they are not there. Of course this does not deter them.  They are not picky either, they will gladly pass out their literature or pictures to anyone, except children.  After observering so many of them I did notice there is a certain pattern they use to pass out their material.  They have a snap, tap and deliver technique.  I am also happy to report that when big stars pass away, especially in a tramatic way, they all move to Las Vegas and hang around the strip.  I am happy to report that Elvis, Michael Jackson and Marilyn Monroe are all well and doing fine.  They also have learned how to multiply themselves so they can be seen on any part of the strip.  It was a lot of fun to walk and compare the different Elvis's. 
The casinos are very impressive and each have their own distinct look so that you know which resort you are in but do not have any concept of time.  I did play some of the slot machines and lost a whole $3.00.  I am not a gambler but when in Vegas you have to try!  I also an not a smoker and do not care to smell smoke so I am happy to report that the newer casinos have figured out away to keep their casinos "aired out" so you really cannot smell the smoke, unless you are right next to a person smoking.  That was huge for me and allowed me to enjoy the casino atmosphere.
We had a lot of fun visiting the strip and will be returning Sunday night so we can do the whole thing after dark and see the lights.  I have posted several pictures I took yesterday.  Today we are going to see Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.  We may even stop by a casino that is next to the RV resort and try out their $6.95 steak dinner!