So Italy is a bit too far away - don't worry. You can still get the traditional Italian experience of a Venetian gondola ride right here in Las Vegas. There are even private gondolas available for sixty dollars that allow you to traverse the Venice-inspired waterways with just you and a friend. As elegant and romantic as a true Venetian gondola ride, this has become one of the many iconic things to do in Las Vegas. The gondola rides are offered solely, as you would expect, at The Venetian. But the interconnectedness of the city makes visiting a simple jaunt, whether from nearby hotels such as Treasure Island and The Mirage, or a mere cab or tram ride down the strip. Everyone is invited to take in the passion and wonder that has been transplanted from Italy and left to remain here, just steps from the casino floor. If you want to ride in the gondolas at The Venetian in Las Vegas, you can choose between indoor and outdoor rides. The indoor ride is the more popular, whisking you through the mall that is attached to the hotel, decorated with facades, bridges and other monuments that resemble the green canals of Venice. Called the Grand Canal, the lilting voices of the gondoliers carry throughout the mall, many of whom were trained in Italy by the masters. Gondolas at the Venetian Las Vegas are just about everywhere - it's definitely the main selling point of the famous hotel. The outdoor route is just as nice, running along replicas of Italian palaces and piazzas. Both indoor and outdoor routes can be traveled via a private gondola or with a small group of fellow tourists. The rides themselves last upwards of twenty minutes, regardless, enough time to be gawked at by a majority of those wandering the paths around the Venetian shopping mall.

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The Mandalay Bay Shark Reef is one of the most exquisite aquariums that you can visit within a hotel. Housing 100 different species, including five of the remaining twelve golden saltwater crocodiles, this is one of the most fascinating things to do in Vegas. The shark reef Las Vegas covers 90,000 square feet. The 40 million dollar aquarium nearly 2 million gallons of water. Creatures not usually suitable for home aquariums, such as the red-tailed catfish, the Arapaima Gigas and a water monitor, thrive in the sunken temple scene, allowing guests of the reef to see animals they would normally never be able to see. Hours of Operation: Daily, 10 A.M. to 11 P.M. Price: Adults: $15.95 Children above Age 4: $9.95 Reservations: This attraction may be rented for private events.

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What do the Las Vegas Strip and skydiving have in common? For one, both can be adventurous, daring and downright crazy. Can you imagine if these two were combined? That's where the Stratosphere comes in. Similar to skydiving, SkyJump Las Vegas can be described as a "controlled free fall," with riders attached to a vertical zip line. Brave souls dive 855 feet from the 108th floor of the Stratosphere tower to a landing mat on the ground. During this ride, you'll soar at 40 miles per hour. The breeze you feel while descending down to the ground is like no other. Before the jump, you'll be given a short safety lesson and fitted into a jumpsuit. Next, you'll be connected to a patented "descender machine." One of the guides will lead you to the edge of a small platform. Here is where you'll leap out and plunge 100 stories down to the ground. Believe it or not, you don't really experience that queasiness in your stomach that you instantly get from a steep roller coaster drop. Sure, you might feel the butterflies before your leap (especially when you have to scoot your toes off the platform's edge), but once you take that step, it's smooth sailing.

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In real life, getting up close and personal with Brad Pitt, snapping photos of yourself with George Clooney and touching Johnny Depp are all behaviors that could earn you a restraining order, but at Madame Tussauds Interactive Wax Attraction at the Venetian, they're actually encouraged. The two-story, 30,000-square-foot Las Vegas attraction is one of just seven in the world and features several exhibits with uncanny wax likenesses of stars from the worlds of sports, music, movies and more. Madame Tussauds prides itself on the interactive aspect of its displays. Guests are allowed to touch and take photos of the wax figures and some of the figures will even react when people get close. Whisper into Jennifer Lopez's ear and she'll blush. Hold Elvis' hand and he'll talk to you in his famous Southern drawl. Photo opportunities abound at Madame Tussauds. The "Big Night" room features replicas of Hollywood's hottest celebrities. Guests can pose with Johnny Depp or take a snapshot with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. They look so lifelike, you can tell the folks back at home that you met them and they'll never know the difference. The "Sports Arena" includes an area where guests can putt with Tiger Woods, shoot baskets with Shaq or stand next to tennis great Andre Agassi. There's also a new NASCAR attraction with figures of racing's legendary drivers. The "On Stage" area includes an interactive "American Idol" exhibit where people can sing karaoke-style and get constructive criticism from Simon Cowell. The room also features other famous musicians including Prince, Bono and Jon Bon Jovi. The most unique part of the attraction is the Las Vegas Legends room, where guests can see figures that can't be seen in the other Madame Tussauds locations around the world. Here, you can see all of the performers who have made Las Vegas famous including Liberace, Tom Jones, Judy Garland, Bette Midler, Siegfried & Roy, Wayne Newton, Marlon Brando, Bugsy Siegel, Lance Burton, The Rat Pack and more.

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For those who want to take romance to another level, the Eiffel Tower Experience at the Paris Las Vegas captures this vibe perfectly. Love is in the air ? literally. For the ultimate romantic setting, there's no need to travel across the globe to capture that feeling. "At nighttime, it's very romantic," said Melissa Drumheller, manager of the Eiffel Tower Experience. Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, visitors can catch great views nearly 50 stories above the ground. From the observation deck, which stands at 460 feet, guests are able to see the entire valley. And while the Eiffel Tower is a popular romantic destination, all types of guests come and see this attraction. "It runs the gamut," Drumheller said. "We have people who traveled all over the world." The Eiffel Tower replica is about half the size of the original in France. While these two vary in height, there are many similarities between them. Both have an enclosed observation deck for safety as well as a glass elevator to admire the stunning vistas on the way to the top. But in Las Vegas, visitors can enjoy the vibrant lights as well as awe-inspiring views of the city's international airport. "From here, you can see planes taking off," Drumheller said. "It's amazing." Guests can also catch a glimpse of the city's natural beauty.

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A couple years ago, two mad-scientist types known as Eepy Bird became an internet sensation by dropping more than 500 Mentos mints into 200 liters of Diet Coke with explosive results. Thanks to a scientific force called nucleation and some careful manipulation, the cola shot in the air like a geyser and danced around in ways resembling the world famous Fountains at Bellagio. Fountains creator WET Design was so impressed by this hilarious tribute that they brought the creators Fritz Grobe and Stephen Voltz to their California-based office for a live performance. "When I first saw it I thought it was just fabulous," said Mark Fuller, chief executive officer of WET Design. "It's very flattering." Equally as flattering for Fuller is seeing the day-to-day reaction of Vegas visitors as they watch the actual Fountains at Bellagio. "People laugh and literally cry when they see it," Fuller said. "I typically stand with my back to the fountains because I enjoy watching the expression of the crowd." With several professionally choreographed musical routines and rushing water that soars as high as 460 feet from a total of 1,214 water-emitting devices, the $40-million, 8.5-acre lake is the most ambitious water feature ever created by WET Design. The free show has been celebrated in countless films, television shows, photographs and articles on Las Vegas. "If you were to fly around the world today there is no other water feature you would see that has the same scope, same spectacle, same emotional impact," said Fuller. "We were very choreographed and prescriptive about how the water moves and how we tie that with the music. Nonetheless, the moment those water molecules leave those jets and loft themselves into the sky, they're completely subject to the forces of nature and the whims of the sunshine. Even if you see the same show, you never really see it twice."

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One of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring things to see in Las Vegas is the Fremont Street Experience. With a free lightshow that operates daily, this is among one of the most popular Las Vegas attractions on the entire strip. Located in the very heart of Las Vegas, Fremont Street has ten legendary casinos near the Viva Vision screen where the show takes place. There are also many restaurants and other attractions in the same area, as well. There are many different parts to the Fremont Street Experience, which make the entire street among the most legendary of Las Vegas attractions. The Lightshow - The true Fremont Street Experience The lightshow takes place on the Viva Vision screen, which is one of the largest screens in the world. With 12 million lights, and hundreds of thousands of wattage blasted into the sound system, the show is a breath taking, heart pounding affair that you will remember for years to come. As it is free, it is one of the most entertaining things to see while in Las Vegas. Of all of the Vegas attractions, the Fremont Street Experience can be a bit uncomfortable. As you have to look up and strain through large crowds, each show lasts roughly ten minutes, which allows you to take a break before getting to look up 90 feet above your head to see the display.

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Despite the deafening roar tearing through the walls at Vegas Indoor Skydiving in Las Vegas, a young couple strolled in recently and asked the cashier where to register for the 2 p.m. skydiving class. Within 20 minutes the two were briefed on the most effective crash position and dressed in oversized flight suits, joining three other students in a 12-foot-wide, 22-foot-high padded tunnel. Certainly not everybody wants to jump thousands of feet from an airplane. For the curious, yet not entirely daring, there's indoor skydiving. No inclement weather. No worries about a parachute not opening. No birds-eye views of faraway ground. "The great thing about this is that a 5-year-old can do it, and Grandma can do it," Diana Adams, manager of the facility, said. "You just need to come ready to have fun." The attraction, on 200 Convention Center Drive, draws 30,000 curious locals and tourists each year, including experienced skydivers who use the wind tunnel for practice. "The sensation is the same as when you are skydiving," Adams said. "You feel an awesome wind coming up at you." A DC-3 propeller at the base of the wind tunnel generates winds up to 120 mph. Anyone within the provided restrictions can fly. Customers are served on a walk-in basis only. A frequent flyer program offers discount rates for flights.

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