Las Vegas - Day 4

You've all heard Las Vegas referred to as an adult playground. For those of us who are denying our adulthood, the casino developers have been kind enough to create mini theme parks. One of the most-raved-about roller coasters on the Strip is the Manhattan Express at New York - New York. Expect lots of twists, loops, dives and inversions at about 67 miles per hour. Although it's not a roller coaster, the Big Shot at the Stratosphere gets high marks for scariness. Imagine being strapped into a chair 1,000 feet above the ground, then being launched 160 feet up a tower in two seconds. Another must-see at the Stratosphere is X Scream, which shoots riders 27 feet over the edge of the tower at speeds of up to 30 mph before pulling them back to safety. We recommend riding both at night, so try to keep your eyes open for the spectacular view. Click here for our guide to Sin City roller coasters.

All of the fun, but without the near-death experience. Motion rides are great because you can enjoy the thrills, but with the added comfort of knowing you aren't really 60 feet up and going 50 mph. But some are definitely better than others. In Search of the Obelisk at the Luxor is probably the highest-impact simulator ride in town, competing with Excalibur's Merlin's Magic Motion Machines. For true Trekkies, Star Trek: The Experience is a must. With your admission to one or both rides (Klingon Encounter and BORG Invasion 4D), you'll also see Star Trek costumes and props on display while you wait. And for something completely different, at the Sahara's Cyber Speedway you sit in a real Indy car and "drive" through the streets of Las Vegas at 220 miles per hour. This virtual reality ride is a great way to get rid of road rage.