Viva Las Vegas
The replica Eiffel Tower looms large in front of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. In Vegas, you can travel the world and never leave the city limits.
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Updated: June 26, 2009 4:09 PM
I’m not sure when my love affair with Las Vegas began, but it’s been a life-long relationship that has endured over the years.
It may stem back to my childhood when, as a 10-year-old, I watched an ultra-cool Sean Connery play James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever. Cruising the local casinos, playing cards and winning money – big money – while a bounty of beautiful girls hung on his every word, how can that not be fun?
But that wasn’t the main attraction. It was the neat-looking, animated neon cowboy in the distance that really grabbed my attention. When I saw the lighted giant waving his hand as if inviting me to come in and experience his town, I knew I had to go.
And while a lot has changed since James Bond was in town, the bright lights of Vegas are still drawing tourists like moths to a porch light.
And you do have to be cautious not to get burned!
Vegas offers something for everyone. You don’t have to be a die-hard gambler in order to enjoy yourself – it’s like a playground for adults.
Each casino is its own destination and you won’t see it all in a four-day stay. That’s why so many people return time and time again.
From the classics like Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand to the ultra-new Planet Hollywood, each casino offers something a little different.
There is an atmosphere to Caesars Palace that is hard to explain until you are standing at the entrance. While the “cheese” factor is everywhere (greeters in togas and statues of gods and goddesses) you are still surrounded by class that is second to none. From the restaurants to the blackjack tables, every detail has been thought out to ensure your experience is positive.
Feel like visiting the rest of the world? Theme casinos abound. You can go up the Eiffel Tower in the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, enjoy a serenade during a gondola ride at the Venetian, check out the Statue of Liberty in New York, New York or visit King Tut’s tomb in the Luxor.
Over at the Mandalay Bay, you can visit the Shark Reef. It is home to more than 1,200 sharks, jellyfish, reptiles, sting rays and more. You could spend most of your day wandering through this exhibit alone.
If you have a romantic side, then you won’t want to miss the dancing fountains at the Bellagio. At night, these glowing streams of water perform a spectacular dance to music that attracts thousand for each showing.
For those who think hotels are just buildings to sleep in, then Vegas has golf courses, day trips, tours and activities to fill up your day.
And don’t forget the night life.
With more stages than Broadway, Vegas is home to some of the biggest and best loved performers, This summer’s hot tickets include Bette Midler, the Blue Man Group, Cirque du Soleil, David Copperfield and many others.
After your show, don’t forget to check out the hundreds of night clubs, bars and free lounge shows.
And if you still have time, or energy left after seeing as much as you can, you may want to try a bit of gambling.
Freemont Experience:
No trip to Vegas is complete without paying a visit to Freemont Street. It’s like going back in time to the 1950s or ’60s.
Freemont is old Vegas, the Four Queens Hotel, Fitzgeralds, the Golden Nugget, all the classics are there.
Smaller, less stylized than the main strip, Freemont offers an easier pace to its visitors,
Now fully covered by an electronic light roof, Freemont Street offers the same fine dining, entertainment and gambling as any other Vegas attraction. However, the streets are lined with booths and artisans selling their wares, entertainment and a light, fun atmosphere.
More importantly, every night, the freemont Street Experience blazes to live as music blares and the sky lights up. The ceiling becomes a huge projectors offering visitors a dazzling visual experience that is not to be missed.
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