| Author |
Message |
    
Wilkanoid
Citizen
Username: Cseleosida
Post Number: 108
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 9:00 am: |     |
I am considering going to Las Vegas with some friends, but only because it's the midpoint between our locations. I'm told that there are good deals to be had for air/hotel packages.
The real question -- is there anything civilized to do there, besides gambling? We're not really into that scene. Thinking of good food, hiking/walks (without being blinded by lights), etc. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 372
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 9:09 am: | |
The Star Trek experience! We've never been to Las Vegas - not into gambling either, but if we were to go, this would be our first stop. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1611
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 9:34 am: | |
You'll have to copy the following link:
http://fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=las_vegas@87&cur_section=fea&feature=30008
I don't know your budget but there's a new Ritz carlton in Vegas but far from the strip (17 miles):
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/lake_las_vegas/
We enjoyed seeing the Hoover Dam and hiking around Red Rocks Canyon (my husband was scared of the wild horses -- he says they were donkeys, I guess that is much scarier). There's also Lake Mead -- I've seen articles about renting a houseboat and puttering around there. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 694
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 9:52 am: | |
Vegas has activities for everyone. Your going to have to walk through a ton of casinos to get the the activites but it's well worth it. Food is great, shows, Grand Canyon, sitting by the pools, spas, golf, anything your looking for. |
ML1
Citizen
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 1555
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 11:56 am: | |
My favorite Vegas restaurants:
Picasso (Bellagio): very, very pricey but worth it. Steve Wynn's Picasso collection hangs on the walls. Food is as amazing as the artwork.
Nobu (Hard Rock Hotel): amazingly fresh fish. try the yellowfin with jalapeno, the black cod and the new style sashimi. have a Matsuhisa martini. The waiters are happy to guide you through the menu and make recommendations, and they always point you to a winner.
Red Square (Mandalay Bay): kitschy evil empire era USSR decor, complete with beheaded Lenin statue out front. 100+ vodkas at the world's longest ice bar. very relaxing atmosphere.
Sea Blue (MGM Grand): cool blue decor and fresh fish, simply prepared.
Drai's (Barbary Coast Hotel, in the basement): sort of a rat-pack swanky atmosphere.
CraftSteak (MGM Grand): meat and chops, simply prepared.
And the celebrity chef restaurants, that are surprisingly good:
Emeril's (MGM Grand): cajun style seafood
Postrio (Venetian): Wolfgang Puck's restaurant in the "San Marco Square." Great wines by the glass, and a fun martini menu. |
Spare_o
Citizen
Username: Spare_o
Post Number: 15
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 1:05 pm: | |
Hoover Dam is great. If you go during the hot season, the tour is good place to go to cool off and get out of the sun. As a kid we spent many a summer out on Lake Mead on a house boat. I highly recommend it. I remember years ago being out on the golf course, within a 1/2 hour or so of Las Vegas, early one day in August and I single-handedly drank a 6-pack of soda on the front 9. |
Ruck1977
Citizen
Username: Ruck1977
Post Number: 37
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 1:21 pm: | |
I'd definitely recommend looking at activities just outside of "The Strip" area. Check with your hotel, but there are TONS of activities like horseback riding, the red rocks where you can hike and drive, ATV rentals, and a number of outdoor fun activities. I would recommend the red-rock horse back tour. its a 2-3 hour hour ride through the red rock canyons...my wife nor I had ever ridden a horse adn we loved it.... |
barbara wilhelm
Citizen
Username: Bartist
Post Number: 142
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 1:32 pm: | |
This is a little off point but when I was in Vegas I thought that these two things worth doing and seeing.
Caesars Palace Hotel
Race for Atlantis
A fantastic virtual reality ride.
Bellagio Hotel
The 200-foot-tall fountains are choreographed to music for performances. Especially great at night. |
berry festival
Citizen
Username: Berry_festival
Post Number: 30
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 1:47 pm: | |
ml1,
clearly you are in las vegas too often! |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 696
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 1:48 pm: | |
No such thing as "Too Often". I try to get out every two months |
ML1
Citizen
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 1557
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 1:53 pm: | |
and I don't even gamble.
Also, I'm with Barbara on the Bellagio fountains. a must-see if you're on the strip. You can get a drink and sit outside and watch. It's a great place for after dinner. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 697
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 1:56 pm: | |
ML1 what about the singing fountians inside. Those are great. |
ML1
Citizen
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 1558
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 1:58 pm: | |
?
I'm not familiar with them. How could I have missed singing fountains? |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 698
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 2:02 pm: | |
In the atrium with all the flowers. Every hour they play classical music and these little spouts of water shoot all over the place, they even change color. Absolutely amazing.
|
millie
Citizen
Username: Millie
Post Number: 86
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 2:36 pm: | |
Liberace's museum! |
r2boy
Citizen
Username: R2boy
Post Number: 138
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 2:48 pm: | |
Go to the Mplwd library and check out the Fodor's guide to Las Vegas.You will certainly find a ton of things to do there besides gambling...Close by and many things are free...If you don't want to stay on the Strip I highly recommend Green Valley Ranch in Henderson,Nv....a great hotel and only 10 minutes from the strip.... |
ML1
Citizen
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 1559
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 3:17 pm: | |
Brett,
I don't stay there, so I guess I've not had the right timing to be in the atrium when the music plays. I'll have to try and notice that next time. |
Marc
Citizen
Username: Bautisma
Post Number: 92
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 3:31 pm: | |
If you are going to go to any ranches you probably want to go to the Bunny Ranch |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1616
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 3:35 pm: | |
MY HUSBAND SWORE TO ME THE BUNNY RANCH CLOSED! |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 461
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 7:57 pm: | |
I stayed at the Aladdin last year and the year before at MGM Grand. I liked the MGM better. Their pools are incredible. They have many and even one of rivers you float around in an inner tube in. The Aladin pool sucked! The only nice thing it had going was 2 of the top 10 restaurants in Vegas. (Elements & Tremezzo)
The Venetian or the Four Seasons are THE nicest of the
hotels to stay in, but much more expensive $$$! |
ML1
Citizen
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 1560
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 9:44 pm: | |
I always stay at the Hard Rock Hotel, which is about a mile off the strip. It's certainly not to everyone's taste, but I like the rock & roll vibe, and the place is about 1/10th the size of the big strip hotels. It's on a more human scale. My favorite hangout in Vegas is the little bar next to the sports book at the Hard Rock. It never has more than about 20 people there, it's quiet, and you can actually strike up a conversation with the bartender.
All that said, the rooms are not very large, and pretty sparsely furnished. And of course if you hate having rock & roll played througout the lobby, casino, and shops, it's definitely not for you. |
Crazyguggenheim
Citizen
Username: Crazyguggenheim
Post Number: 521
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 10:24 pm: | |
Call me crazy, but you and your pals could go get married that's civilized
Call me crazy |
gtonne
Citizen
Username: Gtonne
Post Number: 31
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 11:15 pm: | |
The pool at The Flamingo is great. Cirque de Soleil's "O" at the Bellagio is incredible. Our favorite restaurant is Coyote Cafe at the MGM Grand. Great southwestern food. |
barbara wilhelm
Citizen
Username: Bartist
Post Number: 143
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 8:17 am: | |
millie,
Loved the Liberace museum. Perfectly situated in an old run down strip mall off the strip in Vegas. Stayed at the Bellagio for two nights. Largest bathroom I have ever seen in a hotel room. Using the pool and hot tub was another matter. Had to take the elevator to the hotel lobby with my robe on and bathing suit underneath. I looked very sexy in a white robe and black sneakers. Surreal! |
Soda
Citizen
Username: Soda
Post Number: 1190
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 9:14 am: | |
Favorite Vegas Movies:
Ocean's Eleven (new version)
Leaving Las Vegas
Viva Las Vegas!
What's yours??? |
Ukealalio
Citizen
Username: Ukealalio
Post Number: 443
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 9:18 am: | |
3 words for your Vegas trip, without sleaze or gambling:
BLUE MAN GROUP |
Marc
Citizen
Username: Bautisma
Post Number: 94
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 9:39 am: | |
Although the whole movie does not take place in Vegas my favorite is Swingers |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1617
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 9:43 am: | |
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
I identify with the scene where he's trying to step off the revolving bar at Circus Circus. I fear I have been there before. |
barbara wilhelm
Citizen
Username: Bartist
Post Number: 146
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 2:32 pm: | |
I 2nd ukealalios 3 words Blue Man Group. Best performance art ever. Good for adults and children. |
gtonne
Citizen
Username: Gtonne
Post Number: 32
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 7:52 pm: | |
Vegas Vacation ! A wonderful guilty pleasure. |
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