I recommend the Las Vegas Strip walks listed below, though of course this list is pretty subjective. I'm stringing these together North Strip to South into a single walk you could do in one afternoon over many hours, though ideally you'll see Las Vegas at a slower pace.
Wynn: From the front huge waterfall in front to side waterfalls, exit or enter the Wynn at the side that is across from the Palazzo to see some of the most dramatic water landscaping anywhere. Roam around the Wynn a bit, and then head out and over the street on the footbridge/escalator at the south end of the building to the Palazzo.
The Palazzo and Venetian: Las Vegas' newest hotel is the luxurious Palazzo, part of the massive Venetian Hotel and Casino / Sands Convention Center empire. From the Palazzo Lobby you can walk to the pretty indoor waterfall and some halls and over to the Venetian Hotel's amazing indoor canal. Complete with Gondolas, restaurants, luxury shops, and afternoon opera and performances the Venetian has in my opinion the greatest appeal of all the Las Vegas themed hotels. In the Grand Hall sit and have a coffee and listen to the players sing. Leave the Venetian via the massive moving walkway complex at the "front" and south of the building, which takes you back down to Las Vegas Boulevard.
Next you'll walk a bit down the strip to Paris Las Vegas which is impossible to miss thanks to the half scale (which I think translates into 1/4 the volume) replica of the Eiffel tower with the massive legs literally buried in the casino floor. Stroll the charming Parisian "Street" in the hotel area and consider a trip up to the top of the Tower, which costs about $10 but offers neat views of the surrounding area. If you know the *real* Eiffel Tower this is not remotely in the same league as a travel experience, but like the hotel it's a neat replica and a tiny taste of the real France. Head back out to Las Vegas Boulevard and the Strip.
Bellagio Fountains and The Bellagio
Almost directly across from Paris Las Vegas are the magnificent Bellagio Fountains, which I think is the world's premier synchronized fountain/music displays. This is a "must see" in Las Vegas - a beautiful lake a large city block long filled with hugely powerful fountains that shoot off in synch with music from a powerful outdoor sound system. Views are good from anywhere, but I think the best view is near the middle of the block where you can realize the gigantic size of the display.
After the fountains you'll head to the Bellagio's *north* entrance. Don't try to get in from the Bellagio's South side - you'll have to walk a lot of extra distance to get in.
Once inside the Bellagio, visit the lobby area for the Glass Sculptures, the Conservatory for amazing landscaping which changes with the season, the amazing huge Chocolate fountain in the "Spa" wing, and just take in the general opulence of this magnificent venue.
Another walk that is away from the Las Vegas Strip area is the key "big" attraction in Downtown Las Vegas is the Fremont Street Experience, a huge video presentation on a canopy that stretches over the entire street for several blocks. This is worth seeing and to get there simply ride the Deuce bus for $2 from the Strip to Fremont street and back. Take a few hours to stroll the downtown area which in my opinion gives a better feel of "historic" Las Vegas than the strip where the mega casinos are much more amazing and extravagant but also are little empires unto themselves.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Bellagio's Glass
The Bellagios Sculpted, hand made glass ceiling display we posted about earlier is one of the many spectacular amenities at the world class Bellagio, which along with the Wynn and the Venetian seem to have the best reputation in Las Vegas for "splendor", though splendid and extravagant decorations are hardly lacking in Las Vegas along the strip.
Next post: For a first visit to Las Vegas I'll recommend walks in order of the "interesting" factor, though of course this is pretty subjective.
This picture really does not do the Bellagio Glass "cieling" justice. Here are several more over at Flickr: http://flickr.com/search/?q=bellagio%20glass&w=all
Next post: For a first visit to Las Vegas I'll recommend walks in order of the "interesting" factor, though of course this is pretty subjective.
This picture really does not do the Bellagio Glass "cieling" justice. Here are several more over at Flickr: http://flickr.com/search/?q=bellagio%20glass&w=all
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Bellagio's Chocolate Fountain
Bellagio Las Vegas' Chocolate Fountain - the world's largest Chocolate Fountain. Don't miss the Bellagio's fine free attractions - some of the most elegant in the world. In addition to the Bellagio Fountains in the front of the hotel where you'll be amazed by the water and music show, inside near the main huge lobby area you'll find the world's largest *chocolate* fountains, where hundreds of gallons of liquid chocolate flow gracefully within a sculpture that is some two stories high. Be sure to take enough time here to realize the size of this choco-masterpiece, and see if you can resist buying a treat at the chocolate gift store.
The Bellagio is also home to several other amazing attractions including some of the world's most extravagant hand made colored glass sculptures in the lobby, fantastic natural landscaping creations in the Bellagio nursury area, and a superb art museum (this costs about $15 but is worth it, especially if you have never visited a great art museum). Bellagio owner Steve Wynn has one of the world's great art collections and many of his pieces are on display here at the Bellagio.
The Bellagio is also home to several other amazing attractions including some of the world's most extravagant hand made colored glass sculptures in the lobby, fantastic natural landscaping creations in the Bellagio nursury area, and a superb art museum (this costs about $15 but is worth it, especially if you have never visited a great art museum). Bellagio owner Steve Wynn has one of the world's great art collections and many of his pieces are on display here at the Bellagio.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Palace Station March Special - $39 rooms
The Palace Station - made a little bit infamous as the Las Vegas hotel where OJ Simpson recently was accused of assaulting a sports memoribilia dealer - is offering an excellent March special on their rooms Sunday-Thursday. At $39 you are not likely to find a much better deal on quality rooms near the Las Vegas Strip, or even in the cheaper downtown areas for that matter.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Las Vegas links and websites - THE one and only OFFICIAL List....NOT
Las Vegas, as one of the world's top travel destinations, has more websites devoted to it than you can shake a pair of dice at.
I'm still not clear why "Vegas.com" claims to be the 'official' site when VisitLasVegas.com appears to be "the" official site of the tourism bureau, but when booking you'll want to check rates at several sites and generally you'll be better off starting with Kayak.com for comparison shopping on prices. Then contact the hotels and other consolidators to see if you can land any special deals.
Here are some sites associated with Vegas.com:
Celebrity Week In Business Las Vegas Life Las Vegas SUN Las Vegas Weekly LasVegas.com Ralston/FlashLas Vegas Magazine Vegas Golfer VEGAS Magazine
I'm still not clear why "Vegas.com" claims to be the 'official' site when VisitLasVegas.com appears to be "the" official site of the tourism bureau, but when booking you'll want to check rates at several sites and generally you'll be better off starting with Kayak.com for comparison shopping on prices. Then contact the hotels and other consolidators to see if you can land any special deals.
Here are some sites associated with Vegas.com:
Celebrity Week In Business Las Vegas Life Las Vegas SUN Las Vegas Weekly LasVegas.com Ralston/FlashLas Vegas Magazine Vegas Golfer VEGAS Magazine
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Barbary Coast Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas Strip
Bill's Gambling Hall - formerly The Barbary Coast which was almost an iconic Las Vegas Strip property as it occupied one of the most prominent places on the strip at a major intersection.
Bill's is now a Harrah's property and although it does not have the luxury reputation of the Wynn or Bellagio it offers the comfortable and reasonably priced amenities of many of the moderate sized and moderate priced Las Vegas strip hotels:
http://www.billslasvegas.com/
If money *is* an object to you during your Las Vegas trip, you'll want to consider rooms at places like Bills, Imperial Palace, Sahara, Circus Circus, Stratosphere, Flamingo, Harrah's and others in the moderate price category where you'll have a large nice room for anywhere from $50 to $100. Many people like to splurge in Las Vegas since the world class accomodations here are not too expensive. For example rooms at the Bellagio, Wynn, or Palazzo are only about 200 per night and sometimes less with specials or mid-week. Always ask about special deals and do a little research before you book. Rooms during some conferences or over the weekend can cost *hundreds* more than the same room mid-week when many hotels have vacancies.
Bill's is now a Harrah's property and although it does not have the luxury reputation of the Wynn or Bellagio it offers the comfortable and reasonably priced amenities of many of the moderate sized and moderate priced Las Vegas strip hotels:
http://www.billslasvegas.com/
If money *is* an object to you during your Las Vegas trip, you'll want to consider rooms at places like Bills, Imperial Palace, Sahara, Circus Circus, Stratosphere, Flamingo, Harrah's and others in the moderate price category where you'll have a large nice room for anywhere from $50 to $100. Many people like to splurge in Las Vegas since the world class accomodations here are not too expensive. For example rooms at the Bellagio, Wynn, or Palazzo are only about 200 per night and sometimes less with specials or mid-week. Always ask about special deals and do a little research before you book. Rooms during some conferences or over the weekend can cost *hundreds* more than the same room mid-week when many hotels have vacancies.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Wynn Las Vegas
The Wynn, Las Vegas
The stunning curved monolith of the Wynn rises above the Wynn Golf Course located behind the Wynn. The Wynn is often considered Las Vegas' most exclusive resort venue, offering splendid lodging, dining, and shows. Even if you stay in more modest accomodations don't miss the elegant waterfall landscaping in the front of the Wynn just off Las Vegas Boulevard, especially at the entrance that is along the walkway to the Palazzo which is across the street and just south of the Wynn along Las Vegas Boulevard aka "The Las Vegas Strip" or "The Strip".
This hotel is named after Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn, who is also the inspiration behind the Bellagio Las Vegas, the splendid Bellagio Art Gallery, and who achieved great notoriety a few years ago for accidentally mauling one of his own Picassos - a painting that he had just agreed to sell for $139,000,000.
The stunning curved monolith of the Wynn rises above the Wynn Golf Course located behind the Wynn. The Wynn is often considered Las Vegas' most exclusive resort venue, offering splendid lodging, dining, and shows. Even if you stay in more modest accomodations don't miss the elegant waterfall landscaping in the front of the Wynn just off Las Vegas Boulevard, especially at the entrance that is along the walkway to the Palazzo which is across the street and just south of the Wynn along Las Vegas Boulevard aka "The Las Vegas Strip" or "The Strip".
This hotel is named after Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn, who is also the inspiration behind the Bellagio Las Vegas, the splendid Bellagio Art Gallery, and who achieved great notoriety a few years ago for accidentally mauling one of his own Picassos - a painting that he had just agreed to sell for $139,000,000.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)