Wynn

• Built by famed Las Vegas casino-resort developer Steve Wynn, this casino sits on the north end of the Strip beside (and attached to) its newer sister property Encore. The exterior includes dozens of trees brought in to give the front a natural feel, along with a waterfall near the main entrance. The large casino reminds visitors of the Bellagio, which Wynn also built. "Le Reve," Wynn's answer to Cirque du Soleil, is the biggest entertainment draw. Dining options include Alex and Bartolotta.
  
  

Bellagio

• The Bellagio helped usher in the top-that mentality of casino-resort construction after it opened in 1998. Famed for the dancing water fountains out front, the interior features a mix of luxury that make it one of the most visited properties in Las Vegas (it can get very crowded on the weekends). The casino has wide walkways, making access easy throughout. Bellagio hosts "O," often named as the best Cirque du Soleil show, and the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is one of the top art museums in Las Vegas. A conservatory has an ever-changing display of flowers near the hotel lobby, which itself features one of the largest blown-glass chandeliers in the world.
  
  

The Venetian

• This resort evokes Venice with a St. Mark's Square replica fronting the property, as well as canals and gondola rides for visitors. The wax museum Madame Tussaud's Las Vegas is also out front. Inside is one of the most spacious and comfortable casinos on the Strip, with what many consider to be the best poker room in town. Fine dining is plentiful, with options from famed chefs such as Thomas Keller and Emeril Lagasse. The Venetian is also heavy on show options, and Blue Man Group and "Phantom of the Opera" are the top choices among tourists.
  
  

Caesars Palace

• The oldest property on this list, Caesars Palace has continued to grow and improve since the 1960s. The casino is actually broken up into three separate casinos divided by various restaurants and shops on the property. The sportsbook is one of the best in Las Vegas, with a comfortable poker room and famed nightclub Pure nearby. The Forum Shops is one of the largest and lavish indoor shopping malls in the country and has a three-story circular escalator at the main entrance.
  
  

MGM Grand

• MGM Grand tops Caesars Palace by dividing its casino into four areas. At 171,500 square feet, the casino is the largest in the city and features another nice sportsbook and poker room. The high-limit slot room includes denominations as high as $500. Sigma Derby, the last remaining mechanical horse-racing game on the Strip, is in this casino. Cirque du Soleil's "Ka" is the biggest entertainment draw here, and Studio 54 is popular with the nightclub crowd.
  
  

New York New York

• The casino here evokes Central Park, with artificial trees and paths dominating the landscape. Just past the casino floor are a number of "streets" with plenty of shops and eateries. ESPN Zone offers a number of arcade-style games, and the Manhattan Express roller coaster winds around the property's facade, which re-creates the New York City skyline.