No trip to Venice—or The Venetian—would be complete without a graceful and romantic glide down the Grand Canal in an authentic Venetian gondola. Float beneath bridges, beside cafes, under balconies, and through the vibrant Venetian streetscape as your singing gondolier sweeps you down the Grand Canal for a ride like no other.

Have you ever dreamed of hangin’ with Rihanna, or being serenaded by Michael Jackson? These magic moments and more come to life at Madame Tussauds’ Wax Museum. Visitors to the museum can mingle with lifelike wax celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Halle Berry. Sports legends, rock stars, and famous Las Vegas entertainers are all represented. A behind-the-scenes exhibit illustrates how the wax figures are painstakingly created to resemble their real-life counterparts.

At 1,149 feet, the Stratosphere Tower is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States affords a spectacular panorama of the Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding valley. Thrill seekers can enjoy excitement over 100 stories above the ground on the "Big Shot," "X-Scream," “SkyJump” and "Insanity" thrill rides.

Hoover Dam stands 726 feet high and is one of the highest concrete dams ever constructed. Completed in 1935 for flood control and water storage, it impounds Lake Mead, one of the largest man-made lakes in the United States. A self-guiding tour of the visitor center offers a 25-minute film on the construction of the dam and a theater presentation explaining how irrigation from the Colorado River turned desert into farmland. The power plant's eight generators may be explored via an elevator that descends 500 feet into Black Canyon. An exhibit gallery highlights the region's natural history and an overlook atop the visitor center provides spectacular scenic views.

This is not your typical aquarium. It's a total sensory experience designed to transport visitors to an undersea ocean of fantastic sights, sounds and encounters. Featuring dangerous and unusual aquatic animals from the world's tropical waters, Shark Reef Aquarium takes visitors on a journey through an ancient temple slowly being claimed by the sea.

Fourteen breathtaking exhibits are devoted to dangerous aquatic predators. The largest exhibit is the 1.3 million gallon shipwreck where visitors experience an almost 360-degree view, teeming with sharks and fish, through an acrylic tunnel.

Located within the Mandalay Bay Resort, the legendary House of Blues plays host to an eclectic mix of live music. With seating capacity exceeding 1,800, the House of Blues consistently draws an impressive lineup of entertainers, from classic rock bands to today's hottest performers. And on Sundays, don't miss the incredibly popular House of Blues Gospel Brunch.

Come face-to-face with some of nature's most exotic and majestic creatures at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage, Las Vegas. Explore, learn and play in an enchanting world of white lions, white tigers, panthers, leopards and a family of bottlenose dolphins.