Vegas?!?!?
Saturday, June 26th, 2010 at
2:00 pm
We are planning a trip to Vegas, can anyone tell me what else there is to do besides gamble? Im not asking like shopping, seeing shows, and whatnot, Im asking like specific things. Thanks!
what about like hiking at the red rock. or going fishing at lake mead.
If you like the outdoors, you can go to Red Rocks or Mt. Charleston and go hiking – it’s much different there and cooler. If it’s winter you can even ski on Mt. Charleston (3 lifts)! Or go to Lake Mead and fish. Go visit the Hoover Dam – it is amazing and the tour is great. Several roller coasters: one at NY Hotel and Casino, one at CircusCircus, one in Primm (Stateline) that’s fantastic!
There’s always Hoover dam. You can take a dam tour and take all the dam pictures you want. You can also easily spend 2 days just exploring all the diffrent hotels on the strip. To be honest though..Vegas is to party and gamble. Sure there are shows and shops and all of that stuff, but if you’re not up for a party and gambling there are plenty of other destinations in the S.W. like San Diego.
When you go to Las Vegas these usual things you will want to see for FREE:
1. Number one on my list is to watch the fountains displays in front of the Bellagio hotel. It usually runs every 15 minutes in summers starting at 3:00 PM; runs continuously until about midnight. Each show is different (there are more than 20 different tunes choreographed) so stay and watch at least 2 or 3. ALSO, go inside the Bellagio hotel to its lobby and view the beautiful glass sculptured ceiling AND the seasonal floral arrangements in the Atrium.
2. The “Sirens of TI” show (spectacular) in from of the Treasure Island Hotel; it runs every 90 minutes starting at about 4:30 PM. Simply stand on the sidewalk in front of the TI Hotel.
3. The volcano erupt in from of the Mirage Hotel; starting at dark until midnight. Again, just stand on the sidewalk in front of the hotel.
4. Go down to Fremont Street and see the light shows. There are usually 3 or 4 different shows, starting after dark (about 8:30PM) and lasting about 5 or 10 minutes each.
5. Go to the RIO hotel to see the Masquerade in the Sky show. It is like Mardi Gras parade, only suspended from the ceiling over the gambling floor. It runs every 60 minutes starting about 3:00 PM; the last show starts at 9:30 PM..
6. Go to the MGM Grand hotel to see the Lion habitat. This is better then the tiger habitat at the Mirage Hotel because there are usually trainers in with lions to keep them active.
7. Go to the Mirage hotel to see the white tigers that Siegfried and Roy show used. This is kinda passe because the tigers rarely do anything but sit and stare.
8. Go in Caesars Palace and walk through the Forum shops to the first fountain (its spectacular) then take the first fork to the left to go see the aquarium. Then continue on through the shops to the second fountain and wait for the show to start.
9. Go into the Flamingo hotel to see their animal habitat with flamingos and penguins.
If you are a Star Trek Fan, go to the Hilton (off the strip) for “Star Trek The Experience”; it cost about $35.
When you get to Vegas you will probably have in your hotel room a free guide to the city called either “What’s ON” , “Showbiz”or “Las Vegas Today”. These are helpful guises as they have a map of the Strip and city with the hotels marked, current hotel shows and prices, plus useful coupons. Some coupons will give you a free souvenir from certain hotels; you just have to take the coupon to the hotel. They also list hotel restaurants and buffets time sand prices.
JOIN PLAYERS CLUBS: Do join ALL of the players clubs because they are your ticket to
lower priced return trips. The hotels will email you, or send by regular mail, specials on room rates and shows. The players clubs are free; all they want to see is your driver’s license. You can join some of these clubs online before you go.
SHOPPING: There’s shopping at Fashion show mall right next to Treasure Island Hotel (across from the Wynn Hotel), or you can drive or take a taxi or the bus south of the Strip (just past the airport) to the outlet mall. For more shopping, drive south on I-15 to Primm, NV (at the Calif border … about 45 miles) and there is a big outlet mall and some casinos.
DINING: The hotel coffee shops and buffets are now much more expensive than they were years ago. So, if you want to eat for less go to the food courts located in many hotels and also try one of the several Denny’s restaurants on the Strip (one in the Casino Royal hotel/casino). There are also a number of McDonald, Burger King, and other fast food places on the Stip. You can get breakfast and dinner buffets a few dollars less at the Imperial Palace hotel/casino and at the Gold Coast hotel/casino. Buffets also cost less at the Circus Circus hotel/casino and in Fremont St hotel/casinos. There is an Outback Steak House in the Casino Royale Hotel . There is a Cheesecake Factory and a Planet Hollywood in Caesars Forum shops. There is a Margeritaville in the Flamingo hotel. I recommend Tony Roma’s, a ribs and chicken restaurant; one on Fremont St and another on Sahara Ave near Paradise Rd.
MOVIES: There are movie theaters in the Palms (multiplex) and also another on the Strip across the street from the Monte Carlo hotel, near the MGM hotel.
BOWLING: If you like to bowl, there are alley’s in The Gold Coast Hotel/Casino (beside the RIO) and in the Orleans Hotel Casino. .
ACT LIKE A KID: If you like roller coasters, there are roller coaster rides at the NY, NY hotel/casino, at the Sahara Hotel/Casino, and, for those with a strong heart, three rides at the top of the Stratosphere Tower. The Circus Circus Hotel/casino has arcades and an indoor amusement park. There is a place called Game Works below the Coke World experience that has all type video games. In addition, many hotels have an arcade area.
OTHER THINGS:
RED ROCK CANYON: Its about 20 miles west of Las Vegas out Charleston Blvd (you can pick up that street at the north end of the Strip) It’s a scenic drive-through park. Go early, not in the heat of the day; there’s no shade.
HOOVER DAM: Drive about 30 miles southeast of Vegas and go to Hoover Dam; the National Park Service offers tours there (@ $15.) and its interesting stuff. Go on past Hoover dam to Boulder City and then to Lake Meade for a swim and/or to visit the new casino there. Also, there are tour companies that will take you on a cruise of the river below Hoover Dam. Check the Vegas web sites.
VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK: Drive about 35 miles north of Vegas on I-15 and go to Valley of Fire State Park, another scenic park area.
ZION NATION PARK: It’s a long drive (about 2-3 hours), but you can drive North on I-15 to Zion National Park and back in one day.
DEATH VALLEY: If you like to visit National Parks, drive about an hour and a half south of Vegas on I-15 and take RT-127 to Death Valley National Park (total drive may be 3 hrs each way).
GRAND CANYON: The drive to the Grand Canyon is 5 long hard hours on mostly two lane roads with trucks and campers (only a short way on I-40). You can drive there and back in one day if you leave early morning, like 6:00-7:00 AM. That will put you there about noon and you will have 4 or 5 hrs before starting back and getting back to Vegas about 11:00PM. I recommend staying overnight at the Canyon (there are plenty of motels near there, like Best Western, Ramada, Quality inns) and drive back the next day.
don’t forget henderson’s one and only ethel m’s! their chocolate is to die for!
Here are a few places and things I LOVE to do while in vegas:
1. Drink at clubs and lounges – RAIN (PALMS casino) and PURE (Caesar’s Palace) are amongst the best two clubs with the best dance floors, decor, and setup. There is also Tao (Venetian) and Tangerine (Treasure Island) which havea a great atmosphere. Tabu (MGM Grand) and Rum Jungle (Mandalay Bay) are great lounges to just hang out in and drink at. Lastly, the Voodoo Lounge a top of the Rio is a GREAT bar with a breathtaking view of the city and vegas skyline.
2. If you’re into rides, then the roller coaster at NEWYORK NEWYORK casino is the best roller coaster in Vegas. There is also the Big Shot and INSANITY rides atop of the Stratosphere Casino (with the best views in the city, as good as a helicopter view). There are also rides at Circus Circus and Sahara, but they are a little more for kids, but still fun.
3. Eat at buffets and other great restaurants. Buffets like Bellagio’s or Wynn’s have trancended the common buffet of stale food. They serve gourmet dishes like Kobe beef and hand made desserts. Great food, good service, clean and fun atmosphere. You’ll definately enjoy this. There are also mediocre, but good deal buffets at Luxor, MGM Grand, and Monte Carlo.
4. Watch the sunrise by staying up all night and partying and then seeing the drunks and broke gamblers barely make it back to their hotel rooms in the early morning. It is the quietiest time in Vegas, and a little relaxing. You can really see how Vegas can ruin you for those that you see are completely distraught over losing – but its a good way to keep your sanity while you there.
5. Go swimming and treat yourself to a massage. This will be fun. When you get out of the pool, you can feel the heat radiating on your back and your feet will feel warmer than getting out of the pool anywhere else. It feels good, and then getting a massage later will be the perfect way to settle into a fun night. Something about swimming in the heat as the sun is going down in the Vegas desert is relaxing and calming. This will cost little to nothing.
6. You can shop at the FORUM in Caesar’s Palace or the Passage at the Hollywood Planet Casino. They have the widest selection and the nicest shops. There is, of course, the Las Vegas Premium Outlets just off the strip that any taxi can take you to – good deals there!
7. You can watch the fountains at Bellagio, the Fremont Street Light Show in downtown, the SIRENS at Treasure Island (which is a fairly GOOD show that is FREE) and catch a Cirque Du Soleil show (such as KA at MGM Grand or ‘O’ at Bellagio – those are my favorite). Just enjoy yourself and have fun, dont plan out every little thing.
Lucky you, have fun – wish I was going too. Hope this helps!