Design for Las Vegas Website

Coded Template for Community site on Las Vegas.

visit-vegas.com

Desired Color Scheme:
desert tones?

Desired Style:
Fun, cheery.

Accepted File Formats:
html, PNG, JPG, GIF

GENERAL INFO:
We're looking for a template for a new site on Las Vegas (visit-vegas.com). Currently, most sites out there on Las Vegas are strictly geared around gambling and other forms of entertainment or travel accommodations. However, there is a real community here and we hope to speak to them. Consequently, we'd like to stay away from the normal gambling themes that seem to follow every site on Vegas (as well as not use the same tired "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign.)

DESIGN NEEDS:
The website needs to be designed with SEO and navigational link growth in mind. The pages will be .shtml so that navigational links can be handled via an SSI call. We would like to see them (the navigational links) placed on the left in a vertical column. They must be text links (though mouseovers and other effects are fine as long as they are accomplished with CSS.) Some examples of links currently planned are: History, Facts & Stats, Weather, Recreation, Lodging, Bus Info, ATM Locator, Wi-Fi Hot Spots, Government, Forums, etc. These may, or may not, be lumped under category headings (depending on what looks best.)

LAYOUT:
All pages will have the navigation on the left. Most pages will have a block of text/information and possibly a third section containing some other or google ads. With that in mind we're envisioning the classic header and 3 vertical columns look BUT we've been known to be wrong before and are VERY open to something else if it works - so, if you've got it - flaunt it.

COLOR PALETTE:
Something bright and cheery and using complimentary colors for zing since monochromes tend to be boring. We thought desert tones for the major color but again, we're not limited to that. What we don't want: the dark, glitzy, neon, night life look.

Other than that - stress the community. We'd like to see something fun but want it to be geared for, and appeal to, adults of all ages (it should NOT look like we're selling kids toys or school supplies.)