Boy, I didn't expect my comments to be so controversial. The point of my post was: the only tourist trap in Las Vegas is the Mercedes sitting on top of the quarter slots. Once you leave the tables, everything is quite honest and upfront. You know what you are getting before you go in. And it is quite reasonably priced. There is no "trap".

Don't forget the buffets. For the price of McDonalds in your big cities you get a 45 course meal. I know you are going to razz me on that one.

$300 will get you a Marriott in Manhattan or San Francisco. But it will get you the 3 nights at the Four Seasons, Belagio, Rio or Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. I received a postcard for the Lake Las Vegas Hyatt for $99/night including $25pp in food. That works out to $49 a night. You take Manhattan and give me Lake Las Vegas for a week!

As far as the National Parks, here we go:

1) Lake Mead National Recreation Area
2) Grand Canyon National Park
3) Tolyabe National Forest
4) Virgin River Recreation Area
4) Humbolt National Forest
5) Great Basin National Park
6) Dixie National Forest
7) Zion National Park
8) Cedar Breaks National Monument(3 hours)
9) Fishlake National Forest (4 hours)
10)Bryce Canyon National Park (4 hours)
11)Kolob Canyons National Reserve
12)Mohave National Preserve
13)Joshua Tree National Park (3 hours)
14)Fort Mohave Indian Reservation
15)Rainbow Canyon National Preserve
16)Sunrise Mountain National Area(by Lake Las Vegas)

not included, but pretty darn nice:
Red Rock Canyon
Valley of Fire
Death Valley
Colorado River
Lake Mohave
Lake Havasu(London Bridge for you city types)
Mount Charleston
Brianhead Ski Area(3 hours)

Sorry, these recreation areas do not have McDonalds. You will have to bring your Big Mac with you from NYC...