Al, I'd like to challenge you. I have lived in Japan (3.5 yrs), Belgium (2 3/4 yrs), Italy (4 yrs), England (7 yrs), New York (grew up there), Colorado (1 year), Minnesota (1 yr), Texas (twice), New Mexico (2 yrs), Arizona (six yrs), and Florida (1 yr). I have traveled extensively throughout western Europe and make at least one 2-week trip there every year, having seen almost all of Germany, a lot of France, almost all of Italy, most of England and Scotland, San Marino, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Lichtenstein, and a little bit of Austria. And I dearly love Europe and will return often. Plus whenever I have the time I travel someplace in the States. My last trip was back to LA last month to see the Lion King. In July I'm revisiting Sedona and the Grand Canyon and in October it's back to San Francisco, returning to Las Vegas just in time to prepare for my two weeks in Spain. I've only seen 47 of the 50 states, so I guess my experience is a little bit limited. (Sorry Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii--you're next year!) I think there are some who will admit that I have a little bit of experience in traveling to other places. I am semi-retired and could live any place I choose, and I _choose_ to live in Las Vegas. I will agree, there are tacky bits in Las Vegas, and, if all you do is stay on the Strip, you'll see them. But metropolitan Las Vegas is a good town. It may not be the best, but when I wake up in the morning and see the sun rise over the eastern mountains and feel the cool breeze on my skin, I thank the Almighty I live in such a beautiful place. When the the news says the NE US is digging out from a snowstorm, ditto. I enjoy going to plays, seeing college basketball, going to fantastic shows, hiking in the desert, going to church on Sunday, picnicing in the Valley of Fire, having snowball fights on Mt. Charleston (I don't ski), taking the Hoover Dam tour, watching kids play little league baseball in January, and going to the Latin America festival in North Las Vegas and the balloon festival at the community college. I could go on and on. And, yes, I enjoy going to the great restaurants (there are quite a few), and even gambling on the Strip or the Old Strip once in a while. Maybe we don't have Picassos or Monets; maybe we don't have 2,000 year old monuments; maybe we don't have the La Scala opera house. What we do have is a place where people live, love, and laugh. As someone else said, "If you don't like a place, you probably just don't know enough about it." If you ever "lower" yourself enough to come to Vegas again I hope you will come with open eyes and experience the other side to Las Vegas--it's there! And, now I'm off my soap box. (I just hate people who tear down other people's home towns, no matter what the town is like and couldn't shut up!)

Hey, "Al," get this. The people who like Las Vegas EMBRACE the fact that it's tacky! <BR> <BR>("Shock!" you exclaim as your hands slap your cheeks ala Home Alone.) <BR> <BR>Yes, there are wonderfully rated fifty-five star restaurants and milleneum-old cultures outside this country. Duh! <BR> <BR>But look at what's available in your own backyard before you whine about the quality of ... um ... your wine. For every cheapo buffet there is in Vegas, there is also an awesome fine restaurant with a great reputation. <BR> <BR>Fuddy Duddy alert: I agree with an earlier poster... if you read the title and don't agree with the concept... don't read and don't post! <BR> <BR>(This, of course, coming from such a sarcastic spoiler as myself! Yes, "just," I guess that makes me a jerk, you of royal birth and all!) <BR> <BR>Sorry, Melissa, that I didn't offer any suggestions... just some more soapboxes. Check out www.lvol.com for great links to hotel and restaurant ratings and customer comments.

Well, Linda, there's only one answer for you: Some people just never profit from experience! <BR>And, Craig, so nice that they call you "sir" in LV. That's certainly reason enough for anybody to there, i.e., if you're having problems with your self-confidence.

Well, Al ... reason is, I can't afford travel outside the US, most of my trips are business-related. <BR> <BR>And Just ... save your sarcasm for someone less self-confident than you. <BR> <BR>Aloha!

Al, I've been all over the world, and I find it kind of neat that places in Vegas (Paris, Venice, etc) have brought elements from those destinations to share with people who cannot otherwise afford to travel there. <BR> <BR>Yeah, there's the tackiness, but that's what makes it so....American, I guess! The world needs a place that appeals to that side of the senses. The fact that there is good dining, shopping, attractions and entertainment helps, too! Loosen up. It's a fun place. <BR> <BR>Craig, thanks for your support. And Dr. Bitterpants, you are hilarious! Is there significance to the #19? I'll definitely try it......

Wait a minute, Melissa! Believe or not, some of us Americans don't think that tackiness is virtue. And we're the ones who aren't crazy about LV! <BR>However, I guess we do agree on one thing: LV is tacky!