And those who associate locals’ casinos with old-timers playing bingo should check out the new High Limit Room, a 9,000-square-foot salon of table games attended by dedicated butler service. It recently completed at $35 million renovation, which included expanding the restaurant offerings. Its restaurants, too, are popular with the locals, and since the adjacent Downtown Summerlin opened, with its own retail and restaurants, this area feels like a paradise for Las Vegans. As are the other casinos operated by Station Casino, it's known as a locals' casino, and gets tons of foot traffic. It's right off the beltway, so about a 20-minute drive to the Strip, but most people come here to be away from Las Vegas Boulevard.

What’s the crowd like? This hotel is hugely popular with a drive-in crowd from California and elsewhere, because of its proximity to the conservation area. But it also feels really contemporary and natural: Since it backs up against the stunning Red Rock Conservation Area, its rooms and public areas are very much in keeping with the colors of the desert-natural hues and dark woods with pops of color. How did it strike you on arrival? This hotel channels all the glamour of old Vegas, with backlit onyx, tinted glass and thousands of Swarovski crystals reminiscent of classics like the Desert Inn.

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