Formerly a neon wasteland, and before that just a desert drinking hall, Las Vegas now boasts some of the most outrageous architecture in the United States. Sure, most of it is built around lavish casinos, but few buildings are more daring than, say, the Luxor hotel which needed special elevators, known as Inclinators, to run along it's diagonal sides. Second only to to the Burj al Arab Hotel In Dubai, The Luxor boasts the highest (30 stories) atrium in North America.

Las Vegas has been characterized by its “cheap, disposable architecture” – palaces of kitsch – and the advent of the mega-hotel, based around the casino culture. Off-and-on building booms have also characterized the town, including the last one that started in 2005, when Steve Wynn built the super-luxury Wynn resort and casino. (The recession since has ground the building boom to at least a temporary halt.)

Although the focus of Vegas architecture is clearly centered around the Strip, almost 1,000 locations in Las Vegas have been nominated for historic preservation. Outside of the Strip, are several buildings worth seeing, many built in stone by Italian stonemasons “imported” for the job in the late 1800s. The architectural styles range from Queen Anne, Romanesque, Italianate and Folk Revival.

Casino and hotel architecture on the strip stretches the bounds of imagination and structural engineering.  Nineteen of the world’s largest hotels are on the Strip, each with a different feel and emphasis and often stunning design.

Many of the hotels are architectural wonders, with massive pools, staff, security, and VIP areas; some even have malls and a dozen or more restaurants all crammed under one "roof".

Check out the Stratosphere, the tallest building in Las Vegas, and home to a daring set of amusement rides that suspend brave riders hundreds of feet in the air with nothing below. The view is incredible.

The Flamingo, which opened in the 1940s with mobster Bugsy Siegel as an investor, is the oldest property still open on the strip, with an architectural vibe that says “Miami” and “Art Deco” – and a flock of flamingos in its outer lobby.

New York-New York has a look meant to evoke the Manhattan skyline. Stroll through the East Village or snack on a world-famous Nathan's hotdog. Better yet, take a wild ride on The Manhattan Express Rollercoaster.

The Excalibur Hotel and Casino is an attempt to recreate the Arthurian legend with its theme of Camelot, set in Medieval England, complete with dinner theatre and Edwardian Village-type shopping arcade.

The gorgeous, well-furnished Bellagio was built on the site of the formerly famous “Dune” hotel. The Bellagio, built by Steve Wynn, is known for a lake out front, its famous fountains, the Dale Chihuly glass sculpture of thousands of glass flowers just inside; a conservatory, botanical gardens, and, of course, being the permanent home to Cirque de Soliel's production, “O.”

There’s even a beach…at Mandalay Bay where you'll find 2.2 acres of pools including a Lazy River as well as a real wave pool. Do not forget to check out the $40 million exhibit Shark Reef with some of the rarest sea creatures in the world on display.

Shopaholics will not want to miss The Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. After a $330 million facelift, it is a staggering place to shop, complete with corkscrew escalators and lavish fountain shows. With record-breaking sales reaching a whopping $1 billion last year, it's also the most successful mall in history.

The Fremont is “old school” Vegas, with allegedly the largest TV screen in the world hovering overhead with a spectacular audio-visual show every hour in the evening as adults shop and play the night away.

The face of the future of Vegas is CityCenter, an almost 17 million square foot complex on 76 acres – the largest private construction project ever attempted in the United States. This development, financed by investors from Dubai, combines various hotels, condos, shopping and entertainment centers.