The best of the Big Apple buzzes inside the New York New York Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The trip begins with a stroll across a 300-foot Brooklyn Bridge, past facades of 12 New York-style skyscrapers (all one-third scale, including a 47-story Empire State Building) and ends at a 150-foot Statue of Liberty.

The other city that never sleeps, Las Vegas' homage to NYC - one of the Strip's more clever displays of themed architecture - even has a Coney Island-style roller coaster (The Roller Coaster, which twists, loops and dives around the property) and replicas of Grand Central Station and Ellis Island.

The towers house over 2,000 guest rooms, including more than 1,300 recently remodeled Park Avenue deluxe guest rooms and over 100 suites, and a pool, spa and salon. Inside, the hotel mimics Manhattan's Park Avenue (retail shops plopped inside famous NYC storefronts), Central Park (a casino floor dotted with autumnal trees draped in twinkling lights, a reflecting pond and stream), Times Square (signs that advertise "what to do" in New York-New York) and the Financial District (cashier cages beneath Wall Street veneers).

Just like the melting pot that inspired it, New York-New York takes its dining cues from around the world. For authentic Italian regional recipes, try Il Fornaio. An NYC landmark since 1927, Gallagher's Steakhouse serves up prime, dry-aged beef and fresh seafood. The two-story Nine Fine Irishmen pub offers authentic Irish food, drink and music.

Set against the backdrop of famous New York landmarks, the casino integrates over 60 table games, 1,500 slot machines and TVs broadcasting major sporting events in a blur of action.

Another side of Cirque du Soleil, "Zumanity" delivers an erotic, adult-oriented cabaret-style show. The Bar at Times Square with its dueling pianos and Coyote Ugly with its dancing bartenders deliver atypical watering hole entertainment. And the young at heart flock to entertainment center that recreates the aura of the amusement park with midway-style carnival games, bumper cars and shooting galleries.

Perhaps the replica most-worth seeing, though, is the September 11 tribute (located at the base of the Statue of Liberty) scattered with mementos placed by visitors - notes, flowers, flags and poems.