The Mirage is the first project entirely supervised by Las Vegas legend Steve Wynn. He envisioned a casino that was much more than a casino, the Mirage was to be a resort and entertainment mecca. Originally considered a huge gamble, the Mirage turned out to be a huge success. (It now seems obvious that you would take a chance on a guy named Wynn).

Today, the Mirage is one of the nicest casinos in the world and one of our editor's favorite spots in Las Vegas. One can't miss the Mirage on the strip. Besides containing exotic trees and plants, the front of the Mirage has a huge volcano that erupts every fifteen minutes (after dusk). One will hear occasional rumbles from the volcano before it blows, and when it erupts water and flames are shot 100-feet in the air. Orange, yellow and red lights illuminate the water so it looks like spewing lava. Flames roll down the volcano and into the lagoon, making an impressive show.  It is definitely worth checking out up close; you'll feel the heat from the flames and get sprayed with a bit of mist, but that's part of the experience.

Inside the casino it doesn't get less impressive. You'll feel like you walked into a tropical rainforest. There are banana trees, palms, and waterfalls inside a gorgeous 90-foot atrium. The adjacent lobby is one of the prettiest in Vegas. The main attraction of the lobby is a 20,000-gallon aquarium that simulates a coral reef. The 53-foot wide tank is filled with all sorts of colorful fish. It can be quite mesmerizing to watch while waiting in line. The Mirage is also known for it's service, so the wait is never too long.   

Behind glass on one side the entrance is an enclosure for some of  Sigfried & Roy's famous white tigers. They headline at the Mirage and figure prominently. (airbrushed pictures of the pair are everywhere) For an additional charge, visitors can see the rare white tigers up close in Sigfried & Roy's Secret Garden. The tour also includes a look at the new Dolphin habitat. 

The casino floor is one of the nicest in town and one of our favorite places to gamble. Many other people feel the same way, so there's usually a decent amount of people at the tables. The sports book features a movie sized screen with theater sound and comfortable seats. This is a great place to watch football on Sundays or get crazy with March Madness. The poker room is also noteworthy. There are a lot of professional sharks in these waters, but the atmosphere is comfortable and the games are well run. The Mirage is a good place to find out how good you are (or think you are) at poker.

The rooms at the Mirage are designed tastefully, with oak armoires containing 25-inch screen TVs. For fellow webheads, the phones in the rooms can accommodate modems and fax machines. However, the best part of staying at the Mirage is definitely the pool area and spa. The pool is huge and features waterfalls, palm trees and waterslides. It is literally an oasis in the desert (with great service and optional private cabanas). People who take the free tram between the Mirage and Treasure Island might be able to sneak a peek at the pool area. Those who do often turn green with envy.