With Thanksgiving coming up,I started thinking about the things I'm thankful for.

Of course there's the obvious -- family, friends, health. But what about the smaller things? Those tiny pleasures that on their own may not be worth writing epic novels about, but place enough of them side by side and they become a force to be reckoned with?

This December I'll be unveiling the annual Vegas4Visitors.com Top 10 Awards, where I tell you my favorite hotels, restaurants, shows and more. Those lists are for the big stuff and have no room for the tiny pleasures that make a Vegas vacation shine.

Marry those two seemingly disparate thoughts and you have this: Things in Vegas to be Thankful For (in no particular order):

The chocolate covered strawberries at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas.

The beds at Green Valley Ranch Resort.

Watching a dolphin play at the Mirage Dolphin Habitat.

Triple-Double Diamond slot machines (I've won a lot of money on those).

The milk chocolate caramels at the Chocolate Swan.

Strolling down the cobblestone streets of MonteLago Village on a warm summer night.

The smell inside the Bellagio Botanical Gardens.

Getting a straight flush in Three-Card Poker.

The Albert Einstein action figures at the Atomic Testing Museum.

When they play Frank Sinatra's "Luck Be a Lady" during the Bellagio Fountain shows.

The sense of history you get when standing amongst the formerly glorious signs inside the neon graveyard.

The segment in Myst&egravere when the aerialists seem to fly above the audience.

The fact that, no matter how fancy they get, they still have people dressed up like gladiators and Roman princesses at Caesars Palace.

The rib eye steak, rubbed in peppercorns and pan seared in a garlic, butter, and cilantro sauce at Austins Steakhouse.

The statue of Elvis (temporarily out of sight during remodeling) at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Showgirls wearing big headdresses.

The giant statues of Ramses guarding the entrance to the casino at Luxor.

Walking into New York-New York and remembering at time before things started to get all serious when Vegas was so outrageous that it practically made you giggle no matter which direction you looked.

The giant plasma screen TVs in the rooms at THEhotel.

Making fun of things like the name THEhotel and having people realize I'm not trying to be mean.

Looking up at the museum-quality art on the ceiling as you ascend the escalators toward the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian.

The made-to-order omelets at the Wynn Las Vegas buffet brunch.

Hand pays.

Anything bejeweled in the gift shop at the Liberace Museum.

The cherry wood they use in the grill at Fix that makes their steaks taste so much better than your average slab of beef.

The climactic battle scene in K&Agrave.

The rare nights when you can drive down the Strip, preferably in a convertible, and not be stuck in mind-numbing traffic.

The little old ladies in the casinos who sit next to you at the slot machines and congratulate you every time you hit even a moderate jackpot.

Blazing 7's.

Paying too much for room service and an in-room move you could get from the video store for a third of the price just because you're feeling lazy and decadent and don't want to get out of bed.

Would you like to add something of your own to the list? Send an e-mail to me at rick@vegas4visitors.com and I'll choose a few to include in next week's column. Be sure to put "Thanks for Vegas" in the subject line.

The Full Story

• Reasons To Be Thankful For Vegas
• Historic Motel Shell Saved For Museum
• Vegas Q&A What's The Best Time To Leave?

In Next Week's Column

Next week: The latest from Las Vegas.

Plus, don't forget to send your questions about Las Vegas. I've got room for more, so send them in today!

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