I thought I'd hate Vegas - I'm not much for opulence. But I actually enjoy it. Of course, I'm not ordering $50 meals or anything. The strip is fine if you're just going for a walk and not trying to be impressed by everything.
It's funny Vegas came up here, as yesterday I happened to tell a friend of mine in an odd conversation - the only place with quality toilet paper in public restrooms that I've ever experienced was in the Venetian. That fact is truly remarkable. They actually spend money on the public restroom toilet paper.
The rest of the Vegas area is just like every other big, western city. A neighbor hood with chains, drive 5 miles, another neighborhood with the same chains, etc.