Las Vegas, Nevada is possibly the most well known city in America. Not everyone has visited this desert oasis, but most of those who have not sampled its many-splendored pleasures would like to see “Vegas” for themselves.

We were there in July. Arguably, this is not the best time to visit since the temperature during the day exceeded 110 degrees. The natives all tell you that it is a dry heat, but let’s face it, hot is hot. A woman who has lived there for 14 years told me not to look at the temperature if it is over 100; it really does not matter. And she was right. We managed to travel from one end of the city to the other and enjoyed every minute of it.

Vegas is the ultimate pleasure city. It is a neon playground for adults. From wedding chapels to glitzy nightclubs, extravagant buffets to flashing slot machines, Las Vegas has it all. Often referred to as “Sin City” or “Entertainment Capital of the World”, this eclectic city never sleeps. As seen from space, the Las Vegas metro area is the brightest on earth.

The hotels are lined up side by side on the “Strip”. They are all different and they are all the same. Once you open the door to one of these pleasure palaces, you are immediately greeted by the welcoming air conditioning and the overwhelming noise of the thousands of slot machines. You are surrounded by glittering chandeliers, dozens of restaurants, shops, bars and everything else imaginable to separate you from your money. Hidden away on the upper floors are the many luxurious rooms and suites designed to give comfortable respite to the guests and hopefully tempt them not to leave the hotel. It is all great fun and nothing in the city detracts from the feeling that you are “on vacation”.

We saw three shows during our short stay. The first was the “MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse Paris.” This show was advertised as being one of the hottest shows on the Strip. Crazy Horse celebrates beautiful women and the art of nude in an inimitable, sophisticated and glamorous way. The show was an exact replica of the acclaimed Crazy Horse in Paris. The guest star was Carmen Electra which was a big draw.

The sensuous choreography and lighting effects were fantastic. The colors and images from the stunning lighting effects were so overwhelming that it was hard to determine where skin ended and the color reflections began. The theatre was small and there was not a bad seat in the house. The audience was mostly young or “young at heart” and from their reactions it was safe to assume that they were having a great time.

Our second show took us in a completely different direction. “Voices” starring Earl Turner and Lani Misalucha at the Hilton was unbelievably good. Both of these performers have been around for quite a few years, but this is the first time they have performed together and the result was first-class entertainment. Earl Turner not only has a superb voice but knows how to work the crowd and adds numerous touches of humor and lightness to the show. Lani Misalucha, with her incredible range, stops the show with her rendition of the Pucini aria “Nessun Dorma.”

To make things even better, this dynamic duo was backed by some of the best musicians in the business. Turner said near the end of the show, “So much music; so little time.” This seemed to reflect the sentiment of the capacity-crowd audience who were most reluctant to see them leave after the 90 minute show. Hopefully, they will be around for many more performances.

No visit to Las Vegas would be complete without a good magic show. Nathan Burton’s Comedy Magic filled this bill perfectly. This afternoon show had its share of stunning showgirls, but for the most part it offered a mix of “laugh-out-loud” comedy and baffling magic. Burton’s string of awe-inspiring illusions and disappearing acts created a fun and exhilarating afternoon show that the whole family can enjoy. Several guest stars and a number of audience participation segments added to the fun. No one should miss this show.

On the more serious side, if Las Vegas can be said to have a serious side, we went to see the “Bodies” Exhibition at the Luxor hotel. This exhibition showcases real full-bodies and organs and provides a detailed, three-dimensional vision of the human form rarely seen outside of an anatomy lab or a morgue.

In addition to providing an up-close look inside our skeletal, muscular, respiratory and circulatory systems, the Exhibition encourages healthy lifestyle choices by serving as a wake-up call by illustrating what some of our unhealthy life-style choices do to our bodies. A healthy lung is featured next to a black lung and a receptacle for discarded cigarettes is placed nearby. A few people got the hint.

There is an exhibit dedicated entirely to the reproductive process which features the step-by-step progression of the fertilized egg until it has reached the time of birth.

The Exhibition originally opened at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Florida in August of 2005. All of the bodies and body parts are authentic. It has not been determined exactly where they came from. Needless to say, there has been some opposition to this realistic presentation. It was our opinion that it was tastefully presented and both entertaining and educational.

Was there more to see and do in Las Vegas? Of course there was. I have not even touched on the many gaming opportunities, but you will find these for yourself. From the number of people we encountered in the many casinos, it seemed to be the number-one reason for visiting this exciting city. Inside the lavish pleasure palaces, it was hard to remember that we were in the middle of a recession or that the temperature outside was high enough to wilt the staunchest traveler. “Viva Las Vegas.”