The Four Queens has one of the brightest, boldest marquees in Las Vegas. It is the crown jewel in the high-wattage “Glitter Gulch” and has stood the test of time. The theme here is gambling, Lady Luck, and the heart-pumping rush you feel when you are dealt a lucky hand with four queens. Also, the original owner had three daughters (and one wife), but “Four Princesses” didn’t tie in very well. Guest rooms evoke a Belle Epoque beauty – deluxe suites feature a cream-colored theme broken only by greenery and the dark marble of Jacuzzi tubs. You’ll find the requisite gambling here, and lots of it, but one of the real treats is Hugo’s Cellar, a gourmet restaurant that gives every lady a red rose as she takes her seat. The menu offers excellent beef entrees; it’s all prime grade meat, and it all has to be aged 21 days.

Outside, 90 feet above Fremont Street, you’ll find the Fremont Street Experience, which lights up this little corner of old Vegas like nobody’s business. It’s a street party to end all street parties. With more than 12 million synchronized lights, 180 strobes and eight revolving mirrors per block, it’s a sensory explosion. An effort to redirect attention toward downtown and away from the Strip, it’s a family-friendly party that’s drawing crowds in ever-larger numbers.

The Four Queens is old school. People come here to gamble, and some of them look like they’ve been doing it for a while. So if you like your whiskey neat, your ties skinny and you believe no more than four feet of real estate should be without an ashtray, Four Queens is your spot. No matter how many times this property is sold, it remains an old favorite. The shiny brass and sparkling chandeliers seem like they’ll always be around to greet another generation of Vegas-lovers.