I went through Laughlin on the way to and from Vegas this time to avoid the Hoover Dam. It's a mini-Vegas, basically a small strip with several hotel casinos on each side. It's marketed as an alternative to Vegas, which it is, but it lacks the excitement of Vegas for sure. If you are just gambling I noticed that a lot of the tables have very low minimum bets. But if you are looking for much nightlife, well I noticed that I was one of just a few people under 50. I stopped in a couple of the casino's on a Thursday night, the Golden Nugget and the Colorado Belle, this one being a riverboat. They were nice enough although a dash older than most Vegas casinos but not run down. I would say in the summer, since this little city is on a riverfront, might be a more lively place to go.

Laughlin is a great alternative to Vegas if you think Vegas is a little over-stimulating. There are quite a few nice casinos right on the river and you can take a river taxi from casino to casino. You can rent wave runners and cruise on the river, or drive to nearby towns to play tourist.