The first time I was in Las Vegas was on a family trip to California in 1968. I remember it was mostly desert and only seeing two large casinos.  We stopped at a gas station close by.

 We were told by the attendant that our car “will not make it across the desert” to California until we had the motor fixed. My mom basically told the guy “we will take our chances.” 

Back home before the sojourn, she was warned by our next store gas station that “this is a trick” they always do in Las Vegas.  It was the best advice we could have received.

This expose will offer advice that Kathie and I learned on our eight visits surviving Las Vegas.

It was around 2005 that we started traveling to Las Vegas, via the Treasure Coast Volleyball Club for tournaments.   “OMG” is what I first thought of when I saw all the lights, high rises and the Las Vegas Strip.

This was not 1968 any longer.  This was now an adult Disney World. Like Paris, Las Vegas is also referred to as “the City of Lights.” AFAR web magazine ranks Las Vegas in the Top 25 Best Cities in the World. We would agree to that assessment. 

Yes, Las Vegas has one of the most popular major volleyball tournaments in the nation.  Coaches and directors love going there for some reason. In fact, any company that holds conferences, usually has held a conference in Viva Las Vegas!  There is a great amount of “energy” in Las Vegas that makes you “feel ALIVE!”

One does not have to gamble to have fun in Las Vegas.  There are tons of shows to be seen, places to go and many eateries.  This expose will focus on the fun things to do while visiting Las Vegas—Viva Las Vegas that is.

Unfortunately, there are those that get hooked on gambling.  If you do gamble, have a budget and stick to it.  Kathie has a $20 budget and plays the penny machines. I like to venture playing CRAPS.  At first, this dice game seems difficult to understand.  Just remember that the number “7” can be your friend, or your deathly enemy. There is nothing better than a “hot table” with yelling fans. 

 

A popular nickname of Las Vegas is “the City that Never Sleeps.”  Coming from the east coast you are three hours ahead.  You literally wake up at 3:00AM.  I love walking the Las Vegas Strip at that time.

Most people fly into McCarran airport.  Las Vegas is a superb entry point to explore this part of the Southwest.

As you get off the plane, there are slot machines with people playing.  I actually know someone who won on one of those airport machines. The percentage of winning on slots is not favorable but people enjoy it anyway.

It is only five miles from the Strip—a $25 dollar cab ride.   You really don’t want a car while in Las Vegas.  Then, too, one can always rent a car close to the Strip.

We like to spend no more than three days in Las Vegas.  A day getting there, and two full days to explore.  We like to walk from one end to the other (the Wynn Resort to Mandalay Bay Resort). Walking in and out of the resorts and the casinos is free, and it is fun.

Where to stay?  We like any resort close to the Las Vegas Strip.  The Strip is that famous avenue close to Caesars Palace.  Most videos will show the Fountains of Bellagio. These awesome fountains have free shows orchestrated to music.

 

Diagonally across the street is the hard not to notice large Ferris Wheel known as “High Roller.”

The High Roller does cost money and we have been on the one in London which satisfied our curiosity. Down the street, close to the Yard House, is the popular California joint known as the “In-N-Out Burger.” Ironically, we have never had one of their burgers.

We have stayed in Bally’s several times, Paris of Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood, The Flamingo, the Royal Best Western, the Westin on Flamingo and the last place being the Mirage. We try and stay in the highest floor possible.  We have had some awesome views.

I love the Mirage due to the pool having a gorgeous waterfall.  Love to have my head plastered by the falls.

Nightly, there is a free show in front of the Mirage called “The Volcano at Mirage.” The woman is front of the Mirage is not why I come to this resort.

One of our favorite entertainers was at the Mirage, Terry Fator. He is a ventriloquist. Some of you may recall he was the winner of season two of “America’s Got Talent.”  The Mirage gave him a $100 million dollar contract. We have seen him twice.  And, yes, Terry is that good.  I love that he gives proceeds to veterans.  And even more so that he allows pictures and videos to be taken during the show. Unfortunately, the Mirage Resort gave Terry a “Pink Slip”on January 30, 2020. His show is now at the New York, New York Resort in Las Vegas.

In 2015, we saw the July 4^th fireworks near Caesars Palace. 

I love the scene in the movie “Hangover” near the inside fountain and desk.  And, yes, Augustus Caesar did not stay here.

A must see is to walk through the Caesars’ Forum shops.  The ceiling lights will alternate between night and day. 

It was at Caesars Coliseum theatre in 2007 that we saw Celine Dijon. We saw Celine sing live the famous Titanic song, “My Heart Will go on.” We thank one of our Tiger Boosters—Dave and CJ– for those tickets!

At the end of the Forum is a Cheesecake Factory.  We always have at least one meal there to celebrate.

There is a very large aquarium adjacent to the Factory. And with the aquarium there is a free show called “The Fall of Atlantis.”  It is corny but interesting.

One year, I needed a new belt. I found a good belt on sale at Macy’s at “the Fashion Show Mall.” You can’t miss this mall as there is what appears to be a large Martian Flying Saucer in front of the complex.

The Venetian Resort recently sold for over six billion dollars.  What will happen to it is anyone’s guess.  Change is a common theme in Las Vegas. 

An Italian atmosphere is prominent throughout the Venetian—gondolas and all. Like Disney, Las Vegas has created a make-believe world in the desert.

It was in The Wynn Resort we came across Jeff Koons sculpture called “Tulips.”  This one below is now in China. The value of Tulips is well over $30 million dollars.

In our last visit in 2017, Popeye had replaced Tulips.

Walking through the streets of NYC, I came across a Jeff Koons sculpture.

Jeff Koons was born in that special year of 1955, the same year as of the likes of Bill Gates and Marty Bielicki.  Jeff specializes in sculptures that have high chromium stainless steel features.  “The Rabbit” sold for over $90 million dollars. 

 

If you go further north, you will come across the “older” part of Las Vegas known as “Downtown Las Vegas.”  The “Golden Nugget” is a resort that comes to mind.  They actually have some of the world’s largest and heaviest gold nuggets displayed. I don’t think it is real.  

To make downtown Las Vegas attractive, the “Stratosphere” was built in 1995.  It is 1,149 feet high.  The views are awesome. On top of the “Strat” is a roller-coaster!  When our coaster went over the edge, my heart was, indeed, beating fast.

At night in “Downtown” there is the picturesque and free “Fremont Street Experience.”

Finally, this is the area where the “Gold & Silver Pawn Shop” is located.  It has become a popular program for reality TV.

The Bellagio as mentioned has not only the fountains, but an impressive artistic forum area. Every trip we take there we see a different theme.

In the check-in area are impressive “Chihuly’s art blossoms.” I am just so enamored by them. San Francisco has an the impressive Chihuly Art Museum.

On the third floor of the Metropolitan Resort is the home to the best pizza, in my opinion, in Las Vegas.  I can’t tell you the name of the place as the place has no name.  It is referred to as the “No Name Pizza” place. 

Between two major restaurants is a long and dark corridor. 

At the end is the vendor that sells the best tasting pizza in Las Vegas. I always ask for it “extra crispy.”

Next is the Aria.  One has to walk through a two-story shopping area.  There is a distinctive smell to the place. I found out that they filter a “Black Orchid” fragrance into the air-system. I am amazed by what looks like a large ship in the main square.

 

In between the Shopping Mall and the Aria is an interesting multi-million-dollar 1974 sculpture by Henry Moore.

On the other side of the Aria is the home of the most canoes you ever want to see.

At night, this canoe sculpture is impressive too.

We have become fond of touching the stomach of the Buddha statue in the Aria Resort. Maybe good luck?  The idea of coming back someday?

You may not be the type to walk. Las Vegas does have a monorail system that parallels the Las Vegas Strip.  Millions were spent building it.

Further on are the resorts of MGM and New York New York.  I think the architecture of New York New York is indeed impressive. There is a roller-coaster there too, but we have not taken it as of yet.

 

Across the street is the rather large resort called MGM.  You can’t miss the Lion!

There is another Monorail system that starts at the castle of Excalibur.

This monorail can take you to the Luxor Resort.

The Luxor is where one can see “The Blue Man” group.

 Finally, you can reach the impressive Mandalay Resort area. We were told that the Russian themed bar, “Red Square” makes a very good “Lemon Drop” martini. 

Half of the bar is made up with “ice.”  We were fortunate to have only stayed for one round as the bill came to over $38.  No wonder this place did not stay open (closed in 2019).  Time to move on.

We have also enjoyed staying at the Paris Resort which is across the street from the Bellagio Resort.  After a while the names of these resorts become second nature.

In 2017, we did go up the “Eifel Tower.”   Not the real experience, but the sights are interesting none the less. Recommend going up near sunset. 

 

 

 Inside are slot machines that have massive figurines on top of them.

In 2009, “Hangover” pictures were the motif. For many years, one could hear the words, “Wheel of Fortune.”

One of our favorite restaurants is at the Paris Resort: Mon Ami Gabi (a.k.a “My Friend Gabi.”) For a number of visits we would always requested our Mexican waiter. He was putting his child through college.

They have the very best breakfasts.  One year they even had a tasty Quiche Lorraine.

The eggs over easy with the very crispy bacon is always a winner.

If you just want a quick trip out of Las Vegas, we recommend renting a car to “Red Rock Canyon.”  It is only 16 miles from the Strip.

Only 40 miles away is the impressive Hoover Dam.  Half-way across the dam the time changes from Pacific to Mountain time.

Death Valley is only two hours away.  In some springs, the flowers are awesome.

Zion National Park is a majestic place.  We recommend staying in Springdale outside of the park. Most of the year there are free trams that will take you inside the Park. This area is less than three hours away from Las Vegas.

If you go south by car, don’t miss the iconic Las Vegas sign.

Going South will lead you to I-40 and less than 130 miles to the Grand Canyon.

And just four hours away is the picturesque city of Sedona, Arizona.

On our future bucket list is to do Joshua Tree National Park; stand on London Bridge in Lake Havasu; and see Antelope Canyon in Arizona.