My stepdaughter was so enthralled, she asked to stay for the second show. Elvis Presley's Viva Las Vegas was worth the 30-minute wait.

The Bellagio is at 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; 888-488-7111. The show spurts out 3 p.m.-midnight weekdays, noon-midnight weekends. The shows are scheduled every 30 minutes until 7 p.m. and 15 minutes thereafter.

Want more free attractions? Try these:

• The Volcano is the Mirage's oldest highlight, a manmade structure standing 54 feet high on 3 acres of water. The ground shakes, smoke builds over the water and flames shoot 100 feet into the sky. The dark waterfall glows, turning into ''molten lava.'' The shows are nightly starting at 6 p.m. in winter, 7 p.m. in spring and 8 p.m. in summer, erupting every hour until midnight.

• The Lion Habitat at MGM Grand (3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd.) allows visitors to view some of the resort's 31 lions living on a nearby 8.5-acre ranch. A few of the lions are brought to a glass habitat inside the resort, where they sometimes feed and play on simulated mountain terrain from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. A tunnel of glass cuts through the habitat, allowing for better views, leading to the adjacent gift shop.

• At the Mirage, the White Tiger Habitat rotates some of the tigers from the Secret Garden into an open-air habitat surrounded by glass. The tigers are on display from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

WHERE TO STAY

• The Monte Carlo has nicely decorated rooms, the Backstreet Arcade filled with games and a heated outdoor pool with a lazy river, small wave pool and kiddie pool, complete with child-sized beach chairs. 3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; 800-916-4614.

• Circus-Circus is a hit with kids, although the rooms are outdated. With the Adventuredome on-site, kids won't be bored. 2880 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; 800-804-6835.

WHERE TO EAT

• Las Vegas is famous for its buffets and the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino features one of the best and most reasonably priced. The Carnival World Buffet recently was remodeled and offers a dozen food stations, including a diner setup with hot dogs, hamburgers and make-your-own milkshakes that kids love. Its massive dessert station also features 70 kinds of pies, cakes and other delectables. 3700 W. Flamingo Road, 702-252-7777.

• Another hit is MGM Grand's Rainforest Cafe, with tropical rain-forest decor that includes waterfalls and a 10,000-gallon aquarium-arched doorway. Reservations recommended. 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-891-8580.

• For dinner and entertainment, try the Tournament of Kings Dinner Show at Excalibur. Dinner is served in the 900-seat circular theater, where King Arthur's court comes alive, complete with jousting, musicians and 38 horses. 3850 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-597-7600.

GETTING AROUND

The Deuce, a double-decker bus service, runs 24 hours daily with stops every quarter mile on the Las Vegas Strip. Passes can be purchased at machines located at the stops.

The Las Vegas Monorail runs with seven stations located behind casinos. The stations are Sahara, Las Vegas Hilton, Convention Center, Harrah's/Imperial Palace, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Bally's & Paris and MGM Grand.

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