Anybody know anything worth doing in Vegas?

[Cookiesaur]

My sister-in-law is getting married in April in Vegas, and the 'Hubs and I plan to spend a week out there, mainly because we can't ever imagine ourselves getting sufficiently motivated/interested enough to head out that way again. Neither of us likes to gamble, and we're not that big on the whole club scene (although I am always up for at least one round of thrashing around pretending I can dance), so I thought I would see if anyone here had any ideas.

We plan on hitting at least one of the Cirque shows, and I'm probably going to bully him into taking me to a Drag show at some point because I've never been to one and I bet they're adorable. The only other real standouts so far include him taking me to the restaurants of several chefs I've admired for years.

If you know of anything that shouldn't be missed and is maybe a bit unusual or not so well known, please let me know. I am all for hitting up little-known restaurants or museums or whatever.

[depechemodefan]

There's the Liberace museum. I think the guided tour is at 1pm or 2pm. The museum is in two "buildings" in a strip mall. The first building use to be a bank, and there are his cars and pianos. Then you have to walk to the end of the strip mall to see his costumes and his room. What I hated was my mom and my aunt were in back of the line, and we all had our hands stamped. The receptionist in the second place told them they had to pay to get in. Hello, look at stamp, bitch!

They also have a small library at the end near the Luxor.
Oh, the Luxor has the Tomb and Museum of King Tutankhamun. Which is just reproductions. If you are crazy for Egyptian stuff, go see but I wouldn't make it a priority.

The New YOrk New York has a roller coaster that is scary.

But as a librarian, I say, get a guide book. Like from Fodors.

[auntiem]

Showtime tours has a great night tour - it goes around to many of the free features - like the fountain at the Bellagio and the Freemont Experience.
I would catch a showgirl show - the Crazy Horse (Tropicana) one is excellent and classy.
MGM has several amazing restaurants - I like the Brazillian buffet (Sambas is the name I think) - it is kinda spendy, but worth it.
There is the wine angel at the Manadalay Bay that is cool to watch.
There is a skydiving experience that I've always wanted to try - it is indoors so no jumping out of a plane or risk of smacking into a tree.
If you like spa treatments - there are tons of excellent spas - my spa lady clients think the one at the Luxor is the best.
If you like sushi - there is an excellent sushi buffet at the mall area next to Planet Hollywood.

[Elspeth]

Yeah, something I know about!!

Alrighty, here is a overview of what I can remember. We used to go every summer.

Fountains at Belliago (free)
Sirens at TI (free)
Shark Reef at Manadaly Bay (very cool, approx 15 to 20 a person)
"O" at Belliago (one of the better Cirque shows, half in water/half out This one is my fav)
Mystre at TI (another Cirque show, very cool)
Forum Shops at Caesar's
Lion's at MGM Grand
Small Zoo (has penguins) at the Flamigo
Straosphere (if you don't mind high places, also don't take a tripod)
Eifel Tower at Paris (especially at night)
Show in the Sky at Rio

Well that should get you started.

[wagegoth]

If you like chocolate:

http://www.ethelschocolate.com/jump....mType=CATEGORY

[Eric the Grey]

If you know of anything that shouldn't be missed and is maybe a bit unusual or not so well known, please let me know. I am all for hitting up little-known restaurants or museums or whatever.

The only thing I can think of would be the show at the Excalibur Hotel, which is a jousting and feast-style dinner. I saw it years ago.

Here is a site I've been digging through in preparation for our honeymoon. We've all but decided on spending a week in Vegas.


Eric the Grey

[derangedperson]

Penn and Teller.
The view from the Stratosphere.
Fremont Street at night.
Penn and Teller.
The Hard Rock Cafe.
The Vegas sign.
The Forum shops at Caesar's Palace.
Penn and Teller.
Aimlessly wandering through the Venetian.
The dancing fountains at the Bellagio.
The celebrity impersonator dealers at Imperial Palace.
Penn and Teller.
Elton John's The Red Piano (if it's still running).
The train at McCarran.

Basically, a whole bunch of crap.

And did I mention Penn and Teller?

[Becks]

If there's a Ripley's Believe It Or Not, go for it.

[Bella_Vixen]

Grissom.










Go to the police department, and beg to see the CSI stuff.

[AdminAssistant]

Check out Food Network and Travel Channel's websites - and be sure to get off the strip! Check out some more 'local' places - you'll save a lot of money!

[smileyeagle1021]

OK, since no one else has said it (bad CS, bad)... if you are in Vegas you must make the hour drive to Hoover Dam... that place is incredible. The sheer size of it, it is a true engineering marvel of the 20th century. Oh, one word of advice when you go to Hoover Dam... pay the extra to park on the Nevada side, it's cheaper to park in Arizona, but then you have to walk across the dam, which, don't get me wrong, it's a beuatiful walk, but when it gets hot (which April it will start to be) it is miserable climbing the hills on the other side to get back up to your car... granted I went in august, but it was 130 degrees in the canyon... and the cheap parking on the Arizona side is a good 30 foot climb... which doesn't sound like much, until you remember, it's 130 degrees.

Though my really honest answer on what to do when you go to Vegas... don't go to Vegas, go to Reno instead It's not as hellishly hot, it's cheaper, there's Lake Tahoe half an hour away, and a LOT of non gambling stuff that you can do... just my two cents.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

We plan on hitting at least one of the Cirque shows

Love. At the Mirage. Go see.

It's a Cirque show set to Beatles music. It is fantastic.

[Cookiesaur]

We might end up seeing the Cirque show they have at Treasure Island instead because . . . well . . . it's at our hotel. We saw La Nouba on our honeymoon; my hands were sore from clapping afterwards.

Believe me, if we had the choice of destinations, Vegas wouldn't be at the top of the list, but hey; not my wedding. I figure we just might as well have a good time while we're there. The downside is my husband and I don't know how to go on a vacation without hemorrhaging money; we have no restraint at all.

[wagegoth]

Though my really honest answer on what to do when you go to Vegas... don't go to Vegas, go to Reno instead It's not as hellishly hot, it's cheaper, there's Lake Tahoe half an hour away, and a LOT of non gambling stuff that you can do... just my two cents.

I miss Reno. Go two blocks off the strip and you realize it's a university town. Not as hot in the summer, not as cold in the winter as Vegas. If I had to live in Nevada again, it would definitely be in Reno.

[Jester]

I have spent very little time in Vegas. Actually, only been there twice, and the first time doesn't count, since I was simply passing through, getting gas and info.

The second time, I was flown in to do magic at a private party. It was a fun town. I, like you, do not gamble. I did, however, enjoy much good food and MUCH good drink.

Beyond that, there were two events that stood out for me. One of them you cannot go to, as you are not in the industry. (It was a weekly magician's meeting. Magicians only, you know.)

The other was, as Derangedperson mentioned, the Penn & Teller show at the Rio. I recommend it very, VERY highly. If you don't have fun at that show, you don't have a pulse.

you must make the hour drive to Hoover Dam... that place is incredible. The sheer size of it, it is a true engineering marvel of the 20th century.

and the cheap parking on the Arizona side is a good 30 foot climb... which doesn't sound like much, until you remember, it's 130 degrees.

It is absolutely awesome. However, as a Zonie, I am going to contradict my friend Smiley here, and say if you want to park on the Zona side, go for it. It will be warm in April, certainly, but it will NOT be 130 degrees. High 90's is about the limit that time of year, give or take a few degrees. And that is actually rather comfortable, believe it or not. However, any time you are a non-desert person in the desert, make sure you have ready access to liquids. You'll thank me for it at some point.