Laughlin / United States

Hit the casinos, watch big-name entertainment and stay at a themed hotel. Las Vegas? No, but this small gambling town on the banks of the Colorado River offers a taste of Vegas minus the glitz, traffic and high costs. Plus, there's much to do here besides gambling. Not only does Laughlin have the Colorado River for boating, swimming, fishing, waterskiing and other sports, but it also has gorgeous Lake Mohave offering much of the same on a grander scale. Golfers will enjoy beautiful courses where reasonable green fees stretch their dollars. For a taste of the Wild West, head to nearby 100-year-old Oatman, where you can catch a mock gunfight and guzzle beer in an old-time saloon. Hiking, anyone? Grapevine Canyon awaits you, famous for the Indian markings - some 800 years old - carved into its boulders. If the slots are calling, you'll find plenty of gaming houses, with water shuttles running between them 24/7. What Laughlin lacks in Vegas glamour, it makes up for in affordability, scenic beauty and aquatic fun.