Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa

More than 30 minutes from the Strip, the purpose-built resort sits on the shores of a man-made lake created by developers in the late 1980s (step one: dig hole, step two: fill hole with three billion gallons of water). Aspiring for a serene Tuscan feel in the middle of the desert (think stucco buildings with ceramic tile roofs), the lushly landscaped property even includes a replica of Florence's 14th-century Ponte Vecchio. With its picturesque views, an 11,880-square-foot ballroom, and lovely Florentine garden, the property is well suited for the weddings and other milestone celebrations that take place here.

With the over-the-top kitschy hotel-casinos of the Las Vegas Strip at least half-hour away, guests here instead fill their days lounging by the pool, taking in views of the mountains and lake, heading to nearby golf courses, visiting the hotel's spa, or boating or fishing in the nearby lakes. Guests can also wander around the nearby shopping village (not part of the resort), but some find it eerie, with its many empty storefronts. For a more complete resort experience in the desert outside of Vegas, consider Red Rock Resort in the neighboring suburb of Summerlin, which has multiple large pools, a wide choice of restaurants, a full casino with nightlife, and plenty of natural splendor (but no lake). 

Located outside of Henderson, the second largest city in Nevada, the Hilton Lake Las Vegas is about a half-hour from the Strip, the densely packed three-and-a-half-mile-long stretch of hotel-casinos in the heart of Las Vegas. The immediate area -- Lake Las Vegas -- is home to several sprawling resorts.

Though Henderson was once one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., it was hit by a massive economic slump from which it has not fully recovered. It is now not uncommon to see newly-built shopping centers and vacation-home gated communities sitting partially or mostly unoccupied. Many stores in the village near the resort closed down, and the shopping center has struggled to find new tenants. Aside from the man-made lakes and Mediterranean villas, the area is a mostly hilly, dusty terrain in varying terra-cotta hues.

• 30 minutes from the Strip, depending on which casino you're heading to
• Hotel provides a shuttle bus to the Strip and airport (included in the daily resort fee)
• The hotel is about 30 minutes from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas
• Boating and fishing at Lake Mead, the big reservoir created by the Hoover Dam, is less than 10 minutes away by car
• Skiing at Mount Charleston is an hour drive

Room decor is simple, but elegant: beige trellis-patterned carpeting, damask-printed armchairs, and carved-wood furniture. Comfortable beds feature oversize pillows, thick mattress pads, and down comforters. Marble bathrooms are large and elegant, with deep soaking tubs, roomy shower stalls, twin sinks, lots of fluffy towels, and Peter Thomas Roth bath products.

Rooms look out over the lake, village, mountains, golf course, or the hotel's lovely Florentine gardens. The 486-square-foot standard rooms come with either one king-size bed or two double beds. Suites are between 960 and 2,400 square feet (note that none of the couches in the suites open into a bed). Rollaway beds cost a nightly fee, but they can fit only in standard rooms with king-size beds, not the standard rooms with two double beds. Cribs available at no extra charge.

The Hilton's daily resort fee covers many of its features, including shuttle service to the airport and the Strip, local telephone calls, in-room Wi-Fi, and guest use of the fitness center, spa facilities, and business center (which offers copying, printing, and computer use).

The single, pleasant pool is straightforward for Vegas (no fountains, no multiple levels, no sand edges), but the pool area is well maintained and includes an outdoor whirlpool. Poolside food and drink service is provided by Lagoon Bar & Grill. The man-made beach next to the pool has plenty of lounge chairs and a waterfall for guests who'd like to pretend they are anywhere but the desert. The whirlpool, sauna, steam room, and locker facilities at the spa are open to all guests. Spa services range from massages and facials to makeup application and blowouts. The fitness center has cardio and weight equipment and fantastic views of the terra-cotta-colored mountains, which makes for an especially nice workout at sunset. There is lots to do on the lake, such as sun-bathing at the man-made lagoon beach; boating (kayaks, pedal boats, and Jet Skis can be rented); bird-watching (the lake attracts migratory birds such as the golden eagle and the great blue heron); and catch-and-release fishing (large-mouth bass, rainbow trout, and catfish). Guests 18 years and older can take out Trek full-suspension bikes for an hour for free. The public Reflection Bay Golf Club, a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, is nearby.

In addition to the Lagoon Bar & Grill, which serves salads, sandwiches, and wraps at lunch and provides service at the pool, there are two dining options. The Firenze Lounge in the lobby offers light snacks and creative cocktails (the raspberry mojito is popular during the super-hot months). Medici Cafe and Terrace serves inventive Italian dishes in a lovely dining room. There are a few other casual dining options just outside the hotel in village. Room service is available, but it has limited hours.

The Hilton Lake Las Vegas does what it can to make a sophisticated, grown-up place appeal to parents and children. There's no kids' club but there's lots of room to run around, and the beach makes the Hilton Lake Las Vegas surprisingly kid-friendly. Pets up to 50 pounds are allowed at the hotel for a fee.