Begin 2010 with a bit of sinful indulgence at “Vanity” at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The club will open its doors Thursday, December 31 to ring in the New Year followed by the official grand opening party on January 2, 2010, with the host with the most – Diddy.

Vanity promises to make YOU the most important person in the room beginning with the entrance: a sparkling collage of reflective tile and antique vanity mirrors. Don’t worry if you get caught sneaking a peek at your hair, vanity is welcomed and appreciated and Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” won’’t be playing when caught. The nightclub’s interior is almost like being inside a genie’s bottle – it’s an eclectic jewel box accented with lustrous pearls, hand cut crystals, and reflective walls of bronze fused with metallic gold.

Hard to miss, the heartbeat of the club is a spectacular cyclone chandelier lit from within by more than 20,000 LED lights that truly bring the dance floor to life so dancing queens and kings can shine in all their glory.

“We’ve taken everything we learned from Body English, one of the best nightclubs to hit Vegas, and brought it to the next level,” said Cory McCormack, Hard Rock’s managing partner of The Nightlife Group. “Vanity will cater to a person’s every whim.”

Two marble bars, 50 intimate VIP booths, outdoor terrace with cabanas, fire pit, and access to the new outdoor Sky Bar opening April 2010 are some of the features of the 14,000 square-foot venue. The ladies lounge is equipped with nail and makeup technicians for touch ups and all bathrooms are equipped with full-length three-way mirrors.

Vanity Nightclub will be open Thursday through Sunday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Cover charges will be $20 for women and $40 for men; local ladies will enter for free at all times. VIP booths and tables start at $500 and include crystal punch bowls. For VIP booths and tables, Vanity guests can call 702.693.5555 or visit VanityLV.com

Vanity is part of the Hard Rock Hotel’s $750 million expansion which includes the addition of approximately 860 new guest rooms - the recently opened Paradise Tower and HRH Tower opening December 28.

Now that we know where you’ll be partying, check out the value accommodations with Resort Rentals for your next Las Vegas vacation.

Photo Source: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

More than 2,000 photographs taken in 392 national parks and other federal recreation lands have already been submitted for the 2009 Olympus Share the Experience photo contest. The National Park Foundation wants to remind park lovers and photographers the contest is winding down and the photo contest closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 31, 2009.

So what can be won? The grand prize winning photo will be featured on next year’s Federal Recreation Lands Pass and the photographer will receive a groovy Olympus E-3 Digital Camera. Of course, infinite bragging rights are included.

What are the key components of a winning photo? Take a look at the one in this blog post. It’s the 2008 winning photo taken in Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. The 2007 winning photo was taken at the Grand Canyon.

Here’s the skinny on the Share the Experience photo contest:

• Amateur photographers are invited to submit up to three photos through Dec. 31, 2009;
• At the end of the submission period the public will be invited to vote for their favorite;
• Enter by visiting www.sharetheexperience.org or when visiting a Federal Recreation Land, pick up a brochure and entry form;
• Share the Experience is the official photo contest of America’s national parks and federal recreation lands;
• The photo contest is sponsored by Olympus and the National Park Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service.

Dig through those summer vacation photos or get snapping!

Photo Credit: National Park Foundation

Travelers with service animals departing from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) now have more relief options. After all, even Fido has to go when traveling!

“Three new relief areas have been added to the existing two, to better assist travelers with disabilities who are accompanied by guide dogs or other assistance animals,” said Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Coordinator for Disabled Services Larry Rolon. “Our staff, with input from LAWA’s Americans with Disabilities Act Citizen’s Advisory Committee and airlines, selected the best possible locations for the relief areas, taking into consideration the limitations of space and pedestrian safety.”

Revisions to the Air Carrier Access Act regulations also require service animal relief areas be installed at all U.S. airports so look for these relief stations at an airport near you.

LAX already had two service animal relief areas but decided to upgrade to five in order to better accommodate the number of disabled travelers who utilize LAX. The relief areas are located outside the terminals on the Lower/Arrivals Level at LAX:
1. Between Terminals 1 and 2.
2. Between Terminal 3 and Tom Bradley International Terminal (closer to
Terminal 3).
3. Between Tom Bradley International Terminal and Terminal 4.  (This
existing relief area is currently out of service due to construction at
the terminal.  It will  reopen once construction is completed.)
4. Between Terminals 5 and 6.  (This relief area is located across the
street from the terminals in the grassy area by the parking structure.)
5. At the end of Terminal 8.  (This is a pre-existing relief area.)

Don’t worry about bringing your own bag to clean up after your dog (or other service animal) a box containing bags is located behind animal relief station signs.

As a reminder, service animals are allowed on all domestic flights and most international flights. Screeners are trained in the processing of service animals through passenger security checkpoints. Passengers are encouraged to check with their airline when booking a flight to ensure they follow any special protocols required. International travelers are especially advised to check with their airline about possible restrictions.