Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

What to See & Do in Las Vegas
7
You aren’t going to lack for things
to do in Las Vegas. More than likely
you’ve come here for the gambling,
which should keep you pretty busy
(we say that with some understatement).
But you can’t sit at a slot
machine forever. (Or maybe you can.)
In any event, it shouldn’t be too hard
to find ways to fill your time between
poker hands.
Just walking on the Strip and gazing
at the gaudy, garish, absurd wonder of
it all can occupy quite a lot of time.
This is the number-one activity we
recommend in Vegas; at night, it is a
mind-boggling sight. And, of course,
there are shows and plenty of other
nighttime entertainment. But if you
need something else to do beyond
resting up at your hotel’s pool, or if
you are trying to amuse yourself while
the rest of your party gambles away,
this chapter will guide you.
Don’t forget to check out the free
hotel attractions, such as Bellagio’s
water-fountain ballet, The Mirage’s
volcano and white-tiger exhibit, and
the masquerade show at the Rio. Note:
Treasure Island’s pirate show, alas, has
walked the plank and will be replaced
with another “sexier” (but still free)
outdoor production, The Sirens of TI,
in fall 2003.
You could also consider using a spa
at a major hotel; they seem too pricey
(as high as $25 a day) to fill in for your
daily gym visit if you are just going to
use a few machines, but spending a
couple of hours working out, sweating
out Vegas toxins in the steam room,
and generally pampering yourself will
leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed,
and ready to go all night again.
There are also plenty of out-oftown
sightseeing options, like Hoover
Dam (a major tourist destination),
Red Rock Canyon, and nexus-of-allconspiracy-theories
Area 51, along
with excursions to the Grand Canyon.
We’ve listed the best of these in
chapter 11.
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
The itineraries outlined here are for adults. If you’re traveling with kids, incorporate some of
the suggestions from “Especially for Kids,” listed later in this chapter. The activities mentioned
briefly here are described more fully later in this chapter.
If You Have 1 Day
Spend most of the day casinohopping.
These are buildings like
no other (thank goodness). Each
grandiose interior tops the last. Be
sure to see The Venetian, Bellagio,
The Mirage (including the white
tigers), Treasure Island, Paris, Caesars
Palace (including the Forum
Shops and the talking statues),
New York–New York, MGM
Grand, Luxor, and Excalibur. Then
at night, take a drive (if you can)
down the Strip. As amazing as all
this is during the day, you just can’t
believe it at night. Aside from just
the Strip itself, there are Bellagio’s
water fountains, which “perform”
to various musical numbers, the
pirate battle at Treasure Island