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by Jessica Wilson
Las Vegas – it used to be known as sin city. Then it became known as a place for families. Now the saying is that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, but Las Vegas is about so much more than gambling and girlie shows. No matter how old you are or what your interests are, there’s so much to do in Las Vegas.
Of course, there’s the gambling. Dozens of casinos line the street. Every hotel has a casino, so rather than just gambling at your hotel, consider trying a different one every night. Gambling isn’t just about winning (or losing) money. It’s also about the experience and the surroundings. The casinos in Las Vegas are a treat for the eyes and hopefully the wallet. Two of the best casinos are Paris and the Venetian, which give players a feel of being in Paris and Venice respectively with their brick facades, trees and lights.
Even if you’re not old enough to gamble, it’s exciting to walk past the casinos and see what they have to offer — just make sure not to step onto the playing floor. In short, there’s a casino for everyone, with more than 20 casinos on the more than six-mile long Las Vegas strip alone.
If gambling isn’t your thing, there’s still plenty to do in Vegas. If you’re a shopper, check out Caesar’s Palace and the Venetian for some higher-end stores. Each casino has unique gifts to take home for your loved ones or yourself. And for the bargain hunters, check out one of the several outlet malls around the area or the Miracle Mile shops at Planet Hollywood.
The hotels alone are worth checking out. Each hotel has its own signature thing. There’s the spectacular beauty of the musical fountains at the Bellagio, the moving statues at Caesar’s Palace and the pirate show outside Treasure Island. There are also the gondola rides at the Venetian and the Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris. For the nature lovers out there, check out the shark reef at Mandalay Bay, the lion habitat at the MGM Grand and Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden at the Mirage.
If you’re looking for a little more excitement, the roller coaster at New York New York is quite a thrill or three other exciting rides at the Stratosphere. And for more thrills there are rides at the Excalibur and Circus Circus.
If you don’t want to stay in Las Vegas for your whole trip, there’s plenty to do off the strip. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from Las Vegas are the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam, with plenty of tours for both of these majestic sites. There are also helicopter tours available to both sites and the Las Vegas strip.
The food in Las Vegas is out of this world! The buffets alone could keep you busy for days. There are restaurants run by such celebrity chefs as Emeril Legasse, Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck. Of course, there are the tourist favorites, Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood, and if you are a Star Trek fan, then Quark’s Bar and Grill at the Las Vegas Hilton is a must see, but consider checking out something a little more unique — there’s high tea at the Bellagio, Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, an outdoor French cafe at Paris, and a great Irish pub at New York New York. There are hundreds of restaurants in Las Vegas with every cuisine imaginable.
There’s also a show for everyone in Las Vegas. Each hotel has its own show. There are several Cirque du Soliel shows, including “Love,” which features the music of the Beatles and there are also great Broadway musicals like Mama Mia, Jersey Boys, Monty Python’s Spamalot and The Phantom of the Opera. Headliner shows include Barry Manilow, Toni Braxton, Elton John and Bette Midler. Comedian Wayne Brady has his own Las Vegas show, as do Roseanne Barr, Carrot Top and Louie Anderson.
If you’re looking for a great magic show, consider checking out favorites Penn and Teller or Lance Burton. Cris Angel will soon be headlining his own magical Cirque du Soliel show. Of course, there are still the popular Las Vegas shows featuring showgirls in skimpy, glitzy clothing. Some of the best are Follies Beregere at the Tropicana and Cirque du Soliel’s Zumanity at New York New York. For the women, there are always the Chippendales or the Thunder from Down Under.
If dancing and music are your thing, Tryst, Pure and Risque are just a few great clubs, but there’s also Coyote Ugly, Studio 54, the Playboy Club, the Pussycat Dolls Lounge, and House of Blues.
Las Vegas may seem like another world, but it really isn’t that far away from St. Louis. Deals can be found on airfare and hotels at fairly reasonable prices. And one of the benefits of staying on the strip — there’s no need to rent a car so there’s no gas to buy. And who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky and win the big jackpot.
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