Hotels in Vegas have been designed to look like everything from a pyramid to Venice, the Westin Lake is designed to mirror a Moorish castle, and is less than a 20-minute drive from the Vegas Strip, yet you would never know it from the serene surrounds. Nature, not neon, is the focal point of this $4.4-billion, 2,242-acre lakeside retreat. The Jack Nicklaus-designed championship golf course Golf Club at SouthShore incorporates the scenic shoreline that rims the 320-acre lake, where guests launch paddleboats, kayaks and electric boats for fishing or sightseeing. The elegant, earth-toned architecture offers sweeping views of the sparkling water and the surreal desert backdrop (needless to say, request a lake-view room, preferably one with a romantic Juliet balcony). Guests can bask in one of the resort’s two cabana-lined pools or opt for a lakeside Mediterranean-style beach. The Pacific Rim-inspired Marssa restaurant has award-winning sushi, but if you’re looking for somewhere to sit back and throw some dice, plan on heading to the Strip to gamble.