Destination - Las Vegas - Or What to do if you don’t gamble

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but the 400-pound woman perched in front of a slot machine, oozing bum-flesh off her stool as she balanced a cocktail and cigarette in one hand and robotically tugged the slot arm with the other... that's still with me".  Brian Sack

Las Vegas, also known as Sin City, is not everyone’s cup of tea.  I have gone to Las Vegas several times, and I’m really not a big fan.  I find it too fake, and I am not really a gambler, plus - there are way too many smokers for me to enjoy it.  I don’t have anything against gambling and have been known to play the slots for a little while, but once I’ve lost $20 I’m through.  I can think of better things to throw my money away on.  But most people do go to Vegas to gamble, and many never leave the casinos.  For those who decide to go, but would like some options, there are lots of other things to do there. 

Forum Shops at Caesars

There are plenty of shopping areas.  Every big hotel has shops, but the ultimate shopping experience is at the Forum Shops at Caesars, which is a large mall with lots of shops to choose from.  There are art galleries, a great chocolate shop (Chocolate by the Bald Man), a spiral escalator, the Atlantis fountain show which includes a fire and water show, a 50,000 gallon aquarium, and lots of great restaurants.

There are of course lots of shows to see in Las Vegas.  Big name stars perform there regularly, plus there are plays and Cirque Soleil shows available all the time, as well as magic shows, comedy shows and musical revue type shows.

Luxor Hotel

Exhibits are another option, they rotate through Las Vegas, so you will have to check to see what is going to be on while you are there.  Right now there is an exhibit at the Luxor called Bodies…The exhibition.  It has a 3-D vision of the human form.  It has nine rooms dedicated to different parts of the body, and it has a section on fetal development.  Also at the Luxor is Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, which features more than 300 artifacts and replicas from the ship.  When you enter you are given the name of a passenger.  When you exit you find out the fate of your passenger.  This year is the 100^th anniversary of the maiden and final voyage of the ship.

If you have kids, there are lots of fun things for them.  Circus Circus has a great area for the kids to play carnival style games and arcades.  There are water parks, roller coasters, movie theaters, a children’s museum and the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.  Every hotel has a pool, some are better than others.  The best pool in my opinion is at Mandalay Bay.  And there is a children’s park at Town Square Las Vegas.

There are even a lot of free things to do in Vegas, including all the fountain shows,  gardens at the Flamingo and Bellagio, high-flying circus acts at Circus Circus, and the free 3-D movie “I Lost MY ‘M’ in Vegas” which is at the M&M’s World store.

Hoover Dam

If you are bored with Las Vegas there are numerous tours you can book, such as a day trip to the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam.  You could go to the Colorado River or even take a wine tour of Pahrump.  You could also do these trips on your own, by car.

And there is no shortage of places to eat.  Almost every hotel has a buffet where you can get just about everything to eat for a pretty good price. There are some themed restaurants, which can be fun. The Rainforest Café is in the MGM hotel, Planet Hollywood is at The Forum, and Excalibur has the Tournament of Kings dinner theater where you eat with your hands and watch jousting.  Another option is off the strip and is a fun alternative for adults.  Capo’s is a restaurant that is like an old speakeasy.  You have to have reservations, and when you arrive, a door slides open and you have to give the password to get in.  There are booths with curtains for privacy.  It is Italian food and is gangster themed.  They are at 5675 W. Sahara and their website is http://caposrestaurant.com/

Bellagio Hotel with fountains

There are numerous hotels to choose from, more then I plan to go into in this writing.  But you can choose any of the big hotels on the strip, such as Bellagio, Caesars, Mandalay Bay, MGM, , Riviera, etc.  Or you can pick a less expensive motel, usually those are just off the strip.  Then there is the downtown section with many hotels in that area.  The downtown area puts on a spectacular light show each evening, so even if you are not staying there, it is worth a trip down to see it.

The most expensive nights to stay in Las Vegas are always going to be Friday and Saturday night, so if you want a bargain you should aim at staying there mid-week when the prices are lower.  Of course holidays will also be more expensive, especially New Years where you will need to book months in advance.  You might consider a package to Las Vegas which includes air, hotel, transportation, shows, etc.  They quite often are the best deals as they put blocks on the rooms and air in advance.  Check with a travel agent for a Southwest Vacations package to Las Vegas. As a travel agent I used to book a lot of these packages, and they have the best deals. 

Mandalay Bay Hotel - Pool and Lazy River

Myself, if I find myself in Las Vegas again, I will go get a spa treatment which is always my favorite thing to do.  Or I will shop or hang out at the pool, preferrably the pools at Mandalay Bay where they have a wave pool and a Lazy River to float on.

If you want more information on things to do or places to stay or anything to do with a vacation to Las Vegas, I suggest checking out this website: http://www.vegas.com/attractions

**Pictures taken from the internet