Mirage Resort

The Mirage is gorgeous inside and out. Outside, from The Strip, walk along the sidewalk and enjoy the thick clusters of palm trees, the wide waterfalls, and the massive volcano. At night, the volcano erupts on the hour with a wild, red explosion 100 feet in the air, that transforms the water around it into molten lava. By day, it's peaceful to walk along here and listen to the roar of the waterfalls- it's a good place to walk with kids who are overstimulated from the rest of Las Vegas.

At the Mirage, there's a Dolphin Habitat, where dolphins swim in four connected pools, and lions, leopards, and white tigers roam around. It's depressing because the enclosures are too small. See entry fees below.
Inside the casino, check out the large fish tank with a diverse collection of tropical fish from around the Pacific, and amazing-looking artificial coral. There's a California Pizza Kitchen, which is a great place to bring kids- though this particular one doesn't have a kids menu so you just have to order a pepperoni or cheese pizza for the little tikes. It amazes me how expensive Las Vegas has become- no more 99c buffets, that's for sure!
Walk under the skydome through a verdant rainforest, where orchids, bromeliads, and bird of paradise flowers thrive in the moist warm atmosphere, beside little streams and waterfalls. This will lead you outside to the turnaround where you can take a tram to Treasure Island. It's fun for kids and saves a little walking. The wait is only about 3 minutes.
At night, it's fun to see two free spectacles in a row: the volcano erupting at The Mirage, and the amazing fountain show at The Bellagio. They are within walking distance, and are seen from the sidewalk of The Strip. Check the showtimes so you can plan your night!
If you have lots of money to spare, plan on seeing Cirque Du Soleil's Beatles show called "Love." This is something you will never forget.
Another thing: It's amazing how clean the hotels on The Strip are! Everything is spotless and the restrooms are luxurious and beautiful! It sure beats the restroom situation when traveling in Europe!
Cross the pedestrian bridge to The Venetian, something you absolutely MUST see while in Vegas! The Venetian is out-of-this-world beautiful! Check out the incredible architecture all around the exterior, and amazing St Mark's Square and the canals inside.

Directions

The Mirage is located at 3400 Las Vegas Blvd Sth, Las Vegas NV 89109, call (702) 791-7111.
The Volcano erupts on the hour, at 8pm and 9pm, and on Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm, 9pm, and 10pm. Dolphin Habitat is $22 for adults, $17 for kids, and free for children aged 3 and under. It is open at 10 or 11am depending on the season, and closes at 5:30 or 6:30 depending on the season.
Cirque du Soleil show at The Mirage costs $86+.

Click on map for interactive view