The only thing missing from New York New York is the attitude. With that notable exception, the New York New York Casino & Hotel is as close as you'll come to the Big Apple without a subway token. It's impossible to miss the casino as it replicates some of the most distinguishing features of the New York skyline. The Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Public Library, and other buildings are all represented; but the real centerpiece is the 150-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty, complete with a tug boat near its base. All the replicas were built to approximately one-third the scale of the real thing, so the sheer immensity of the casino's façade is quite mesmerizing. The creators even duplicated the shouts of New Yorkers. However, the yelling is not caused by crime or traffic, but rather from the roller coaster riders who are soaring above. A state-of-the-art roller coaster loops through the skyline into the hotel and casino itself.

The Brooklyn Bridge will lead you from the Strip into the casino's version of Greenwich Village, where the designer's eye for detail really comes into focus. Cobblestone streets complete with manholes are lined with streetlamps and tenement buildings. There's even a splash of graffiti here and there. Like the city itself, New York New York is enormous. There are even different neighborhoods depicted inside the resort, billed as "the greatest city in Las Vegas." As you might expect, each neighborhood accurately reflects the original, down to the types of buildings and restaurants.

The main casino floor is made to represent Central Park. There are trees, brooks, footbridges, and muggers. Even the change carts that zip around the floor look like little yellow taxis. Another notable spot is the Coney Island representation, hence the roller coaster. Here kids and parents can play boardwalk games and arcade games in the hopes of wining tickets redeemable for prizes. It's not quite the Cyclone, but a treat nonetheless.

The rooms of the hotel are designed in more than 60 styles. Most reflect the Art Deco style of 1920s Manhattan done in varying colors. Be warned that some of the rooms are too close to the real New York - small and expensive. However, the rooms are generally very nice and complete the experience of being a New Yorker for a night.