Best of Las Vegas List Released by USA Today

USA Today has released a "Best of Las Vegas" list and, surprisingly (to us at least), it's pretty good/accurate. They've broken up the list into "Daytime" and "Nightime" sections, which actually makes a lot of sense because our city is drastically different after the sun has set, especially in the summertime.

USA Travel writer Kitty Yancey apparently consulted with several Las Vegas locals in order to come up with her suggestions. Some of them are pretty well known: LasVegasAdvisor.com's Anthony DeCurtis, Review-Journal columnist Norm Clarke, the Las Vegas Sun's John Katsilometes, and even our beloved Mayor Oscar Goodman!

Some of the "Best of Vegas" winners, according to the USA Today list, include:

Best Resort: The Wynn

Best Casino: The Cosmopolitan

Best Attraction: The Fountains at Bellagio

Best Buffet: The Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan

Best Nightclub: Tao at the Venetian

Best Shopping Center: Premium Outlets at Symphony Park

Best Family Pool: Mandalay Bay Beach

Best Golf Course: Shadow Creek

Best Show: "The Beatles Love" at the Mirage

Best Bar: The Fremont East Bars (including the Downtown Cocktail Room, The Griffin, Beauty Bar, and Vanguard Lounge)

Best Fine-Dining Restaurant: Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand

Best Locals Value Dining: Firefly on Paradise Road

Best Adult Party Pool: Encore Beach Club

Best Strip Club: Spearmint Rhino

Overall the selections are pretty decent in our opinion, with some exceptions. Firefly as "best value" for local dining? Hmmm... $25 for a small pitcher of way-too-sweat sangria plus the fact that you have to buy at least 4 or 5 of their mini-tapas, per person, to have enough food for a full meal equals not all that great of a value. I like Firefly a lot but I never spend less than $50 (and often a lot more) every time I go. There are definitely much better local dining values in Vegas!

Learn some mo': USA Today’s best of Las Vegas list shows a fountain of options