If you never got invited to the cool “My Parents Are Out of Town” parties during high school, then make your reservations for Las Vegas--the ultimate in naughty night life on a 24-hour, invisible clock. Not only can you experience the Sodom and Gomorrahish thrills of being in the thick of the action, you don’t have to worry about the neighbors calling the cops or about being grounded for life for a few hours or days of extreme living. And, you really don’t have to stress about a walk on the wild side in Vegas, because it’s one of the safest big cities in the world.
Though Las Vegas looks and
sounds like a fictional place in a futuristic novel, it’s really just a Wild
West rail town where the bad boys made good on the primal vices. When the
federal government banned gambling outright in 1910, the Vegas high and low rollers
just locked the doors and required magic passwords for entry. By the time the
Depression rolled around, the city was rollicking hard enough to miss an entire
chapter in history. In 1931, Governor Fred Balzar tossed in the government ban
towel, and gambling got the official nod.
Today Las Vegas is a gambling
town, but it’s much more than that. Though about 87 percent of all visitors
give Lady Luck a try, the average time spent at the tables or on the slot
machines is under four hours per day with an average total trip budget for
gambling running about $550 per head. With 37.4 million visitors in 2004 and
millions in travel dollars flashing around, the party city of the world offers
something for everyone from little Bethany
to Grandma Ethel.
Hotel City
Las Vegas might well be called “Hotel
City.” In fact, some of the major
hotels feel like mini metropolises. It would be quite possible to check in and
live royally without stepping a foot out the front door of a Las
Vegas mega-motel. From luxury pools to exotic shops to
grand buffet halls, the major sleeperies aim to keep you fed, watered, and
entertained around the clock. Actually, they don’t even keep track of the time
at the big gambling hotels or, at least, they don’t display clocks. Check in,
and you are really off the clock for the duration of a vacation.
“The Strip” (which is actually outside the city of Las Vegas) includes about
five miles of the biggest and most interesting hotels you’ll see anywhere in
the world running from the Mandalay Bay (with built in shark reef) to the
Stratosphere (with a city view tower). In fact, seventeen of the big twenty
hotels in the world are located in Las Vegas.
The MGM Grand (featuring an African Lion habitat) ranks first in the world with
a room count of 5,034 rooms.
There are over thirty super hotels down the main Vegas drag and then more
downtown plus smaller digs sprinkled throughout the city. The big gambling
hotels have open-door policies and cater to both guests and non-guests. In
other words, you don’t have to stay at any particular hotel to enjoy the
amenities. Check in where you like and wander around at will. You’ll see
everything from a roller coaster spiraled around New York,
New York to romantic gondola rides at the
Venetian to water dancing at the Bellagio. You can even watch the pirate boat
show from the sidewalk in front of Treasure Island.
These are just street glimpses of the offerings on hotel row.
Some of the Las Vegas Hotel
Delights (Free or Low Cost)
With so many great Las Vegas
hotels offering so much to see and do, it’s easy to miss some of the Strip
hotel highlights. Here are some of the best bets (free or low cost) and
must-see attractions listed north to south.
Circus Circus—If you’re traveling with kids or a kid at
heart, then venture over to Circus Circus where the three-ring show runs
non-stop over the casino floor. Even the kids can get in on the gaming fun with
carnival style sections with no cash pay outs. Shell out a few more bucks and
enjoy water rides and a double-loop roller coaster.
Treasure Island—See the Sirens of
Treasure Island as the ship in front of TI becomes the backdrop for a mini
drama featuring Vegas pirates. Arrive early. The crowds pack pretty tight
during show times.
Venetian—Wander in and look skyward. The Venetian features
three painted ceiling areas—in the lobby, in the casino entranceway and in the
galleria connecting the two key areas.
Harrah’s—Enjoy the carousel-shaped open air lounge with
live music (early afternoon until about midnight).
As you soak up the free shows, wander around and check out the campy souvenirs
sold by cart vendors. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a pink cowboy hat,
you’re likely to find it here.
Mirage—Run for cover. The volcano is about to erupt. You
can watch the explosions from the street (every fifteen minutes from dark until
midnight) and visit the aquarium
inside (small fee).
Imperial Palace—Start
your engines, car fans. The Imperial Palace
has a great collection of vehicles owned by celebrities and presidents. Print
out a free coupon online or ask for a pass at the “player’s desk” in the
casino.
Caesars Palace—Hit
the Forum Shops where you’ll see an animated statue show. Shows are every hour
on the hour in the first and fourth rotundas.
Flamingo—Don’t miss the lush tropical garden in the middle
of the Flamingo. You’ll see, of course, pink flamingos and little miniature
penguins that absolutely adorable.
Bellagio—For some interesting taste treats, visit the
buffet at Bellagio ($25 and up—all you can eat). From wild boar to buffalo,
you’re likely to find something you’ve never dreamed of eating before. You’ll
also want to watch the dancing water show outside which is especially
delightful after dark with lights adding to the magic.
Paris – Stroll
through Le Boulevard and
soak up the romance. Be sure to check out the statues closely. Yes. Some of the
statues are “real” people.
Aladdin - Try a Pink’s hot dog at the Zanzibar Café.
MGM Grand—The lion exhibit is a roaring hit. Capture the
kings of the jungle on film from 11am
to 11pm daily. Cubs are often
showcased mid-day.
Tropicana—Visit the Las Vegas
Historic Museum. The collection includes vintage slot machines, chips,
swizzles, and many other artifacts of the gaming industry. Special exhibits
showcase legends like Elvis, Wayne Newton, and Liberace.
Fremont Street (the
real Las Vegas)
Long before the Strip became the happening place in Las
Vegas, Fremont Street
was the wild and wooly heart of the gambling Mecca.
After years of decline, the city pumped some bucks and life back into the grand
old downtown. A $70 million light canopy and 555,000-watt sound system, the
goal was to put the glitter back in old the main drag.
“The Fremont Experience” includes a covered street area with overhead shows.
Shows run under 10 minutes each and range from the nostalgic “Lucky Vegas” to
the high energy “Speed, Smoke, and Spinning Wheels” auto racing extravaganza.
Don’t miss “The Drop” show which is a swirl of excitement starting with a
single drop of water.
Wander from The Plaza to the Golden Nugget to the Golden Gate Hotel and
Casino and soak up the history of the glory days of downtown Vegas.
Other Things to See and Do In and Near Las Vegas
The hotels and casinos of Las Vegas
could keep a body busy and entertained for ages. Sights and sounds at the major
watering holes in Vegas change from day to day and even minute to minute. But,
the city in the desert is more than neon signs and the spinning of one armed
bandits.
When you’re walking down the Strip, be sure to stop off at the M&M store
where you’ll see a huge array of candy coated chocolates. Buy loose candies or
gift packs in all kinds of interesting containers.
If you really want to satisfy your sweet tooth, then check out the Kidd
Marshmallow Factory in Henderson.
The factory offers free guided tours and samples. The Ethel M Chocolate Factory
also offers tours and includes a fabulous cactus garden. Visit during the
Christmas season to see the plants decked out in lights.
Minutes from the Strip, you’ll find the Coffee Roasters of Las Vegas. If
you’re interested in coffee or tea, consider taking one of the twice-weekly
classes. If you’re just passing through, then take the tour and enjoy fresh
ground coffee on site.
Other Vegas side trips to consider are visits to Blue Diamond (an old west
village), Red Rock
Canyon (for the outdoorsy types),
and Hoover Dam (educational and interesting). These are all day trips and worth
the time if you’re staying more than a day or two in Las
Vegas. Children, in particular, will enjoy the Blue
Diamond where they can be deputized to help the sheriff capture the bad guys.
Tips for Visiting Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a big and bustling
place to visit. Spaces that appear to be small on the map are, in fact, spread
out and sprawling. Don’t expect to see and do everything in a day (or even a
week). Allow time to get from place to place and know that transportation is
available but kind of hit or miss in Vegas.
Wear sensible shoes when visiting Las Vegas.
You’ll be hiking just to get from your room to the street. If you hit even a
few high spots along the way, you won’t make it from one end of the Strip to
the other in a single day. Rub blisters the first day, you’ll be walking gimpy
the rest of the trip or missing out on the fun.
Las Vegas is desert country.
Though the average year round temperature is in the mid-60s, expect a full
range of seasonal weather. Summer heat can be intense. Take sunscreen, a hat,
and plenty of water if you’re planning a May-September trip.
Though there are some great deals on rooms and on food, prices vary
considerably depending on the demand. As Las Vegas
has branched out to include non-gaming visitors, the out-of-this-world deals
have become history. Expect a few deals but also know that you’ll be paying
these days for the adventure that is Las Vegas.
If you’re on a budget, schedule outside the weekend rush and avoid big
convention dates.