So everyone knows Sin City is a hot bed for glitzy, shiny, over-the-top hotels, casinos and nightclubs. But when I hit Vegas for the International Builders Show last week, I got a chance to check out the newly completed City Center — a conglomerate of modern design and architectural displays unlike anything Vegas ever has seen. And for all the hype, it really is spectacular.

Click here to virtually visit City Center

Set back from the Strip, the grand entrance to Aria, the newest mega-hotel that opened last month, is breathtaking. Waterfalls greet visitors to this 4,000+- room hotel that also features 16 restaurants, including two by celebrity chefs Masayoshi Takayama (BarMasa) and Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Jean-Georges Steakhouse).

Aria's sleek glass skyline

Next door to Aria is Vdara, the first non-gaming, non-smoking hotel I’ve visited in Vegas, and one of only a few in the city. Designed by New York City firm RV Architecture, Vdara’s striking silhouette and modern design quickly transport you away from the bright lights and antiquated design still found in pockets along The Strip.

Vdara at night

And what’s truly great: Aria and Vdara are friends of the environment, both earning LEED Gold Certification from the USGBC.

Connecting the two hotels is Crystals, an expansive shopping area that features sharp architectural detailing more often seen in museums than hotels. And apparently Eva Longoria and I have similar taste: she liked the space enough to call it home to her new restaurant endeavor, Beso, and her nightclub, Eve.

Click here to see the transformation of Crystals