2. Rita Rudner
Now that Celine has taken her final bow, we can officially crown Rita Rudner as the Queen of Las Vegas entertainment, not just in the comedy genre. Her stand-up shows at Harrah's are laugh until your face hurts experiences.

3. Mystere
The longest running Cirque du Soleil show is still the best of the bunch. Mystere at Treasure Island continues to be a marvel of execution and performance, from the stunning acrobatics to the fun and fearless performance art.

4. Mac King
Mac King's show at Harrah's is the blueprint for what magic acts should be: fun, funny, fast-paced, and confident enough in the "magical" nature of the illusions that they don't need to be wrapped up in dry-ice, dramatic-music distractions. A bargain to boot!

5. Elton John
For forty years, Elton John has been a virtual jukebox of musical hits and his shows at Caesars Palace are like listening to a soundtrack of your life. Expensive but totally worth it.

6. Stomp Out Loud
The concept of making art out of trash is not a new one, but the Stomp cast's ability to transform everyday items (from lighters to trash can lids to, literally, the kitchen sink) into a symphony of sonic delight nightly at Planet Hollywood is both wonderous and wonderful.

7. KA
There are moments in the martial arts themed Cirque du Soleil spectacle KA at MGM Grand where you will want to question your own brain and eyes. What happens on stage seems impossible, but there it is; a visual and emotional feast waiting to be devoured.

8. Lance Burton
Lance Burton's show at Monte Carlo is one of the few traditional magic acts on this kind of a scale left in Las Vegas. Normally I'd say traditional magic act with a sneer, but Burton's aw-shucks demeanor and undeniable talent are enough to change my mind.

9. Le Reve
Turning a merely okay show into a really good one is no mean feat, but the folks behind Le Reve at Wynn Las Vegas have done it by freshening the story, adding new acts, revamping the theater, and more while keeping the stunning visuals and moody atmospherics that set it apart from the Cirque shows to begin with.

10. Penn & Teller
In their shows at The Rio, Penn & Teller don't want you to merely be amazed at their illusions, they want you to think about the very nature of what it means to be tricked. This is the thinking person's magic show; challenging, demanding, and exhilirating.

Bonus: Celine Dion
Although I've never been a huge fan of Ms. Dion and I still truly believe one must be to have fully enjoyed her show in Vegas, I would be remiss for not giving a special Top 10 Award of Achievement to her for what she accomplished in her four-year run at Caesars Palace. Vegas will miss you, Celine.

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2. Fountains of Bellagio
Hard to believe the light, sound, and water ballet that are the Fountains of Bellagio has been running for nearly 15 years now because it is still a visual feast to consume every time.

3. Bellagio Conservatory
The sheer enormity of what it takes to create the floral masterpieces that fill the Bellagio Conservatory makes it worthy of a place on this list, but the fact that the horticultural artists can keep it fresh and entertaining with every update makes it worthy of applause.

4. Neon Boneyard
Viewing the relics in the dusty lot of the Neon Boneyard is like taking a trip through time. Remember the Stardust? Sassy Sally's? The Silver Slipper? Classic signs from these and more are here, waiting for their chance to light up the Vegas sky once again.

5. Atomic Testing Museum
The Atomic Testing Museum manages a delicate balancing act, celebrating the scientific achievements of the people who worked at the Nevada Test Site while acknowledging the horrible human toll inexorably linked to the research. Fascinating, educational, and emotional this place has it all.

6. Fremont Street Experience
The four block long canopy of lights over the Fremont Street Experience is a dazzling display of technology and entertainment, blazing with hourly shows every night after dusk. Combine those lights with the classic neon of Glitter Gulch and you have a celebration of what made Vegas famous.

7. Liberace Museum
Someone asked me recently what the phrase "I wish my brother George was here" meant. Google it and then read up on Liberace. Or better yet, go to the Liberace Museum and get the full effect of the flamboyance that the showman embodied.

8. Mirage Dolphin Habitat
Yes, seeing dolphins in the wild is a much more humane and probably fulfilling experience but this is as close as you're going to get in the middle of a desert. The highly regarded Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage is still one of my favorite things to do in Vegas.

9. Richard Petty Driving Experience
Forget the roller coasters; true thrill junkies should immediately come to the Richard Petty Driving Experience to slip behind the wheel of an honest to goodness race car and take it on the track.

10. Guggenheim Hermitage Museum
Art lovers have a rare opportunity at the Guggenheim Hermitage to see works of are rarely viewed outside of New York or Russia. The gallery is small and probably overpriced for what it is, but the chance to see these kinds of masterworks makes up for it.

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2. Flavors
The fun new(ish) Flavors buffet at Harrah's does a great job of turning the staid station concept on its ear with whimsical branding and honestly good food to back it all up. The selections are more than satisfying and the dining room is a casual charmer. Plus they had a chocolate fountain. That's worth bonus points right there.

3. Main Street Station Garden Court
The Garden Court has almost everything the Wynn buffet does at a fraction of the cost: an almost epic amount of well-prepared food and a beautiful room in which to eat it. Get off The Strip and find the true buffet experience at Main Street Station.

4. Santa Fe Station Feast Buffet
The signature Feasts at the Station Casinos are almost all universally good but this Feast at Santa Fe Station is truly great. The modern and comfortable dining room provides a great setting to sample the wide array of finely prepared food at prices that won't break the budget.

5. Green Valley Ranch Feast Buffet
Choosing between the Feast at #4 above and this one at Green Valley Ranch is a bit of a "Sophie's Choice" - both are fantastic examples of the all-you-can-eat genre with scads of good food, nice dining rooms (this one more Mediterranean influenced), and reasonable prices. That latter part is why the Santa Fe Feast got the higher ranking; the prices are a couple of bucks cheaper.

6. Planet Hollywood Spice Market Buffet
The Spice Market Buffet, when it was at the Aladdin, was probably the best on The Strip for its beautiful Arabian themed dining room and huge variety of food including some middle Eastern dishes not available anywhere else. The Planet Hollywood version is a bit more boring from a design perspective (movie posters are not decor, sorry) but the food is still as good and as eclectic as it was before.

7. The Buffet at Bellagio
The Wynn Buffet and this one battle back and forth for the title of most elegant, most gastrically satisfying, and most expensive. While I firmly throw my hat toward Wynn, it doesn't diminish the fact that the Buffet at Bellagio is still a fantastic dining experience.

8. Paris Le Village Buffet
Part theme park experience (you dine "outdoors" in a faux French countryside village) and part adventurous restaurant (many of the dishes are French or at least French inspired), Le Village Buffet at Paris Las Vegas is a terrific example of how an all-you-can-eatery doesn't have to be a boring affair.

9. Cravings
The Cravings buffet at The Mirage is a modern work of art, with a funky design evoking a 22nd century automat and enough fine food to embarass many traditional restaurants.

10. The Golden Nugget Buffet
Kudos to the owners of the Golden Nugget who took the worn out buffet and replaced with this one, a really good, very affordable place with a view to boot. Inexpensive and yet you don't sacrifice anything.

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