In a city devoted to excess, Stratosphere fits right in. Its vertigo-inducing tower stands 1,149 feet tall, and if the elevation itself isn’t enough to stir you, it offers stomach-churning, amusement park-style rides that are likely to make you glad you packed your Dramamine. You may think you’re sitting pretty in the lounge on the 107th floor, but six floors above you, somebody just strapped into the Big Shot ride and rocketed an extra 160 feet into the air before floating down to the deck on a bungee cord. Other brave souls voluntarily stepped into the X-Scream, the Vegas version of the teeter-totter on your kindergarten playground. It seesaws you up and down, leaving you hanging 30 feet over the edge of the building. There are other things to do at this height than scream for your life. The observation deck offers a superb view, and photography enthusiasts will no doubt enjoy capturing the fiery brilliance of a desert sunset, with the valley’s nearby mountains in lovely silhouette. There is both an outdoor and an indoor deck, so no matter what type of weather you encounter, you will still be able to gaze out at Sin City from a perch of 857 feet.

The Stratosphere’s off-Strip location is what naysayers point to when arguing that it can’t hold its own with top-tier resorts like the Wynn or the Venetian. However, for true gambling enthusiasts, the Strat offers one of the largest gaming floors on the Strip, as well as more frequent comps. The rooms are furnished in warm earth tones and complemented with deep blues and medium-toned woods. Upgrade to a suite for added luxuries like a spa tub and marble entryway. Thanks to its location, many of these rooms have unobstructed and breathtaking views of the Strip.