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Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas!
The Entertainment Capital of the World
Also known
as "Sin City" and "Lost Wages"
Here is some history and some "insider" information about my
area:
Las
Vegas is undoubtedly a Diamond in the Desert! According to the Arthur J.
Wall, Las Vegas ran away with the title "Most Livable Big City" beating the
number 2 ranked Atlanta by 2 full points.
 Lake Mead Recreation
Area
 Las Vegas
Motor Speedway |
You
will be surprised and amazed by the number of "off strip" attractions Las Vegas
has to offer, including numerous family oriented attractions and events.
Las Vegas is indeed home to some of the most spectacular shows and events in
the world. Having 9 out of 10 of the largest hotels in the world, you'll find
quantity and quality when it comes to choosing a hotel. Aside from the obvious
entertainment factor of the "Las Vegas Strip", there are a variety of sports,
including water sports at Lake Mead (boating, skiing, sailing, fishing,
swimming, etc.), which is 30-45 minutes from Las Vegas. Unlimited choices of
championship golf courses in all areas of town. Hiking, Biking, Cultural
activities, including theater and concerts.
 Corkscrew CanyonCheck out my
Local Map & Links
Page for a variety of information about the Wonderful Las Vegas area!
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21 Reasons to Love Las Vegas
1. Roaring Economy
For
the most of the 1990's and the new millennium, Las Vegas' economy has been the
envy of the nation. Every month between 4,000 and 6,000 people arrive in
Southern Nevada where they enjoy a favorable tax structure, (no State income
tax), a pro business government, excellent job opportunities in a variety of
industries, affordable housing choices, and outstanding schools and
universities. More and more companies are relocating their facilities in
Southern Nevada and with the new wave of megaresorts opening in 1999 and 2000,
the economic outlook remains bright well into the 21st century.
2. Award Winning Master Planned Communities
Las Vegas is home to 28 Master Planned Communities, including some of the
best selling projects in the country. Summerlin, developed by the Howard Hughes
Corp. in the northwest and southwest areas of Las Vegas, recently was named the
best selling master planned community for 6 out of the last 7 years. The
22,500-acre development features eight community parks, 40 neighborhood parks,
miles of trails for outdoor recreation and seven golf courses, and two pool
facilities.
Across the valley in the Southeast is Green Valley and Green
Valley Ranch located in the Henderson area of Las Vegas. Green Valley and Green
Valley Ranch are developed by American Nevada Corp. and totals 8,400 acres with
a population of about 74,000. The communities feature luxury apartments,
affordable townhouses, single family residences, custom homes and estates,
public and private schools golf courses, and a wide array of shopping, dining
and entertainment amenities.
3. Affordable Housing
Finding an affordable home can be easy; however with the booming
economy it is changing rapidly. The Las Vegas area has roughly 350 new home
tracts under development at any given time, with approximately 12,000 different
floor plans to select from, and an extremely active resale market. Expect new
home construction to take between 6 and 8 months before you will be able to
occupy your new home. Homebuyers can choose from a wide variety of lifestyles,
from apartments and condominiums to single family homes, master planned, gated,
guard gated, and golf course communities, estate homes, and high rise luxury
condominiums.
4. University of Las Vegas, Nevada
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is located on a 355-acre campus in
the heart of Las Vegas. With some 21,000 students, more than 600 faculty
members, and more than 150 undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree
programs, UNLV offers a high quality, educational experience, strong research
programs housed in modern facilities, and selected professional programs
including the William S. Boyd School of Law. UNLV's International Gaming
Institute and College of Hotel Administration are highly regarded throughout
the country.
UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium have
become favorite destinations for fans the world over. Thomas & Mack Center
and Sam Boyd Stadium are undergoing multimillion-dollar renovations. When
completed this fall (2001), they will be the region's premiere sports and
entertainment facilities.
In
addition to UNLV, the Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN) is
America's fasting growing two-year college. CCSN work with businesses to train
and place workers to fill specific needs.
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5. UNLV Rebels
Rebel athletics, including highly competitive teams in both men's and women's
sports, are known throughout the country and around the world. UNLV's
Runnin Rebels men's basketball team was the 1990 NCAA national champion and the
1988 WAC champion. The gold team captured the 1998 NCAA national championship.
The men's football program received an important boost in 1998 when John
Robinson, former head coach of the University of Southern California's Trojan
football team and the Los Angeles Rams, agreed to take the helm.
6. World Class Water Treatment & Delivery
System
Las Vegas' drinking water comes from one of the country's most pristine
natural water sources, Lake Mead. More than 95% of the lake's water begins
as in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Water for Southern Nevada is drawn from deep within the lake
into the Alfred Merritt Smith Water Treatment Facility, a technologically
advanced water-processing center that delivers more than 10 billion gallons of
water per year to Southern Nevada residents. Using a multi-stage filtration
system, the treatment facility produces water that surpasses the tough new
federal drinking water standards, which go into effect 2001.
On
the horizon, both the existing water treatment center and the New River
Mountains Water Treatment Facility will covert to ozonation as a primary
disinfection process by 2002, providing an unsurpassed safeguard against
water-borne contaminants.
7. Las Vegas Convention Center
Conventions are big business in Las Vegas. In 1998,
conventions generated $4.3 billion in revenues. Also last year, convention
attendance exceeded 3.3 million. The Las Vegas Convention Center, the county's
largest single level convention center, contributed to this boom with a record
60 shows and 1.4 million attendees. The convention center recently completed a
major $45 million expansion, increasing the facilities to 1.9 million square
feet for exhibit space, meeting rooms, concourses, shops and storage.
8. McCarran International Airport
Ranked the 12th busiest airport in the nation and 18th in the world,
McCarran International Airport served 30.2 million passengers in 1998, and
average of 83,000 per day. The airport employs 10,000 people and estimates its
economic impact at more than $17 billion.
McCarran's 170,000 square foot Air Cargo Center is located less
than a mile from the interstate, highways, railroad access and the
airport's main terminal. Phase one of McCarran's D Gates incorporates 26 gates
with unique food and beverage and retail shops. D Gate features spectacular
architecture, breathtaking views from the 45-foot high windows, a children's
play area and a collection of eye-catching artwork including the largest
permanent collection of children's artwork in the United States.
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9. Entertainment Capital of the World
Las Vegas' World Famous neon signs, the tallest, brightest and most elaborate
in the world, announce the ultimate in entertainment choices, ranging from
superstar performances in intimate showrooms to multimillion-dollar production
extravaganzas. From lounge entertainment to world-class magicians to title
boxing matches to National Finals Rodeo, Las Vegas is clearly the Entertainment
Capital of the World.
10. Nevada Ballet Theatre
For more than 26 years Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT), formerly Nevada
Dance Theatre, has been entertaining Southern Nevadans and visitors, proving to
all that classical and artistic ballet can successfully co-exist with lavish
Las Vegas Strip production shows. NBT's 30 week season plays to packed houses
for productions of such classics as "Giselle," "Swan Lake," "Cinderella" and
"Romeo & Juliet." The company's annual holiday production of "The
Nutcracker" is a favorite with residents and visitors alike. The Academy of
Ballet Theatre, the official ballet school for the company, offers dance
classes for ages 3 to adult.
11. Bountiful Buffets
While the top chefs and restaurateurs in the world can be found serving every
type of cuisine and dining experience imaginable, Las Vegas is probably
still best know for the inexpensive buffet. Buffet dinners, for example, range
from $5.99 at The Sahara Hotel and Casino to $19.95 at the Bellagio Hotel.
However, it's the Rio's Carnival World all-you-can-eat buffet at $11.95 for
dinner that is named the "Best Buffet in Las Vegas" year after year.
The
average Las Vegas buffet features about 45 food selections per meal
including salads, fruits, roast beef, baked ham, roast turkey, fried
chicken, vegetables, rolls, coffee and desserts galore. Most buffets offer
discount pricing for seniors and children. The popular Las Vegas buffet can be
found in nearly every hotel and resort from Primm to Laughlin and Mesquite.
12. Fremont Street Experience
Downtown, the birthplace of Las Vegas, has transformed itself from
Glitter Gulch into the Fremont Street Experience. The $70 million Freemont
Street Experience draws visitors into the 175,700 square foot light and sound
show that is landscaped and traffic free. The 90 foot high canopy covering four
acres of the casino-lined street evolves into a sky-high stage for dancing and
moving images, created by 2.1 million lights capable of producing 65,536 color
combinations. The millions of lights come to life hourly after dark in
six-minute computer driven shows enhanced by 540,000 watts of wrap around sound
and music.
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13. Sophisticated Shopping
Southern Nevada retailers and world recognized designer names have added
opulent and affordable shopping in a variety of venues, from chic shopping
plazas inside luxury hotels to theme malls and outlet shopping.
The
Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is the most successful mall in the country
(based on sales per square foot). It is home to FAO Schwarz' three story
flagship store, Virgin Records Megastore, and some of the finest designer names
in the world. Scheduled to open spring 2001, shoppers visiting the Venetian
Casino Resort's Grand Canal Shoppes will be treated to singing gondoliers while
strolling among the world's most exclusive stores. For the traditional mall
lovers, The Fashion Show Mall and Desert Passage located on the Strip, are
still two of the region's most popular. Via Bellagio at the Bellagio Hotel and
Casino, have some of the most exclusive names in the retail industry, including
Tiffany & Co., Giorgio Armani, Prada, Gucci, Chanel, Hermes and clothier
Moschino.
Off
the Strip you will find The Boulevard, The Galleria at Sunset and The Meadows
Mall. Die-hard bargain hunters enjoy the Belz Factory Outlet District, just
south of the Strip and the Fashion Outlet Mall of Las Vegas at Primm, a resort
community at the Southern Nevada-California border.
14. National Finals Rodeo
For 10 days each year in December, Las Vegas turns country to welcome the
National Finals Rodeo. Held annually at the 18,000-seat Thomas & Mack
Center, this Super Bowl of rodeos features the world's best cowboys and
cowgirls competing in the world championship of professional rodeo. With annual
attendance numbers reaching 171,000, NFR is one of the hottest tickets in town.
Miss Rodeo America is crowned during the 10-day event.
15. The Thunderbirds
Since 1956, Las Vegas' Nellis Air Force Base has been the home of the
world-renowned Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron.
Since its inception in 1953, more than 299 million people in all 50 states and
59 foreign countries have watched the red, white, and blue jets perform more
than 3,400 thrilling, awe-inspiring official aerial demonstrations. Nellis Air
Force Base, located just outside Las Vegas in the Northeast area of town, is
the largest employer in Southern Nevada, employing more than 7,400 military and
civilian personnel.
16. Golfer's Paradise
Southern Nevadans are passionate about their golf and well, they
should be … They live in a golfer's paradise. Today, there are 41
public and private golf courses, including courses designed by the best in the
business: Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, Perry Dye, Ted Robinson, Arthur Hills, Rees
Jones, Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Las Vegas offers many
different course styles from which to choose, and with an average temperature
of 68.5 degrees and more than 300 days of sunshine per year, golf is a year -
round sport here. Las Vegas is popular with the pros, too. It is the only city
to host official events on all three major professional tours annually.
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17. Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Indy and Nascar Racing can be enjoyed in Las Vegas at the 107,000-seat Las
Vegas Motor Speedway, located 17 miles northeast of Las Vegas. This $200
million state of the art facility, "The Diamond in the Desert," is a showcase
of motorsport facilities. Rated the fastest 1.5-mile superspeedway in the
world, it has been lauded by every driver or fan that has been to the facility.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway houses several venues, ranging from go-karts to drag
racing to motorcycle motocross and the superspeedway.
18. Hoover Dam & Lake Mead
Where Nevada meets Arizona, 34 miles east of Las Vegas, is one of the nation's
most popular tourist destinations: Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. Dedicated by
President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935, the 726-foot high dam has been proclaimed
one the seven engineering wonders of the world. The structure's volume, with
4.4 million yards of concrete, surpasses the largest pyramid in Egypt. As a
tourist attraction, more than 850,000 visitors tour the interior of the dam
each year; the Lake Mead National Recreation Area is visited by more than nine
million people a year. Lake Mead, a water source for nearly 25 million people,
is 110 miles long (when full), reaches into the lower part of the Grand Canyon,
and has a shoreline of more than 550 miles and a surface area of 255 square
miles. Lake Mead is America's largest manmade reservoir.
19. Mt. Charleston & Lee Canyon Ski Area
Located just 35 miles from Las Vegas, Mt. Charleston is a favorite all year
round. Residents and visitors enjoy the mountain resort's cool temperatures
during the hot summer months and in the winter, Lee Canyon and Kyle Canyon are
popular destinations for winter sports, including skiing and snowboarding. Mt.
Charleston's highest elevation is 11,918 feet. Golf, hiking, horseback riding,
and tours are available.
20. Majestic Mountains
Southern Nevada is home to two of the most spectacular canyons in the
country: Valley of Fire, Nevada's oldest state park, and the Red Rock
Canyon National Conversation Area. Located just 50 miles northeast of Las
Vegas, the Valley of Fire's rough floor and jagged walls contain brilliant
formations of eroded sandstone and sand dunes dating back more than 150 million
years. Red Rock Canyon, only 15 miles west of Las Vegas, offers a variety of
hiking trails, picnic spots, and sightseeing opportunities. On foot or in a
car, Red Rock's vistas and overlooks provide a quiet, serene retreat among one
of nature's geologic wonders.
21. Amusing Amusements
Las Vegas is truly a place for children of all ages. Southern Nevada offers
a myriad of non-gaming entertainment choices, many of which are enjoyed
throughout the year. The region's wide range of activities include museums,
theme parks, a seasonal water park on the Las Vegas Strip, roller coasters,
skydiving, fishing, Lake Mead cruises, Colorado River raft tours, mini grand
prix for the young auto racers, miniature golf, arcades, a children's zoo, a
dolphin habitat, and hot air balloon rides. Las Vegas even has its own Triple A
baseball them, the B-51's.
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| REAL ESTATE TRIVIA |
| Q |
What real estate term was first used in the 19th century and means "a high-flying flag on a ship"?
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| A |
Skyscraper was first used in the 1880s when office buildings of 10 stories or more were built in Chicago and New York. |
| More Real Estate Trivia |
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