Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

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CHAPTER 7 . WHAT TO SEE & DO IN LAS VEGAS
renovations, but we don’t mind—this is a one-of-a-kind place. Unless you have
a severely underdeveloped appreciation for camp or take your museum-going
very seriously, you shouldn’t miss it. The museum is 2 1 ⁄2 miles east of the Strip
on your right.
1775 E. Tropicana Ave. (at Spencer St.). & 702/798-5595. www.liberace.org. Admission $12 adults, $8 seniors
over 64 and students, free for children under 6. Mon–Sat 10am–5pm; Sun noon–4pm. Closed Thanksgiving,
Dec 25, and Jan 1.
Luxor IMAX Theater/In Search of the Obelisk Kids This is a state-ofthe-art
theater that offers both motion-simulator films and IMAX projects,
some in standard two dimensions, and one in 3-D. The glasses for the latter are
really cool headsets that include built-in speakers, bringing certain sounds right
into your head (though they’re a little too heavy for comfort). The movies
change periodically but always include some extraordinary special effects. If you
have a fear of heights, make sure to ask for a seat on one of the lower levels.
In Search of the Obelisk is a motion-simulator ride encompassing an action
adventure involving a chase sequence inside a pyramid. Two other less-Egyptiantheme-tie-in
simulator rides that also play at the Luxor are Fun House Express
and Dracula’s Haunted Castle.
In Luxor Las Vegas, 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S. & 702/262-4000. Admission $8.95 and up, prices vary depending
on the movie; $7 for In Search of the Obelisk; $6 for IMAX Ridefilm (both episodes). Can be purchased as
part of an all-attractions package for $24. Sun–Thurs 9am–11pm; Fri–Sat 9am–midnight. IMAX show times
vary depending on the length of the film.
Madame Tussaud’s Celebrity Encounter Kids Madame Tussaud’s waxworks
exhibition has been the top London attraction for nearly 2 centuries, so
even if you aren’t a fan of wax museums, this, its sole branch west of the Mississippi,
is probably worth a stop—if you can stomach the price. Figures here are
state-of-the-art, painstakingly constructed to perfectly match the original person.
(Truth be told, though some are nearly identical to their living counterparts—Brad
Pitt gave us a start—others look about as much like the celebrity in
question as a department-store mannequin.) There’s no Chamber of Horrors,
but the exhibit makes up for it, since all the waxworks are free-standing, allowing,
and indeed encouraging, guests to get up close and personal. (Go ahead, lay
your cheek next to Elvis’s or Sinatra’s and have your photo taken. You know you
want to.) The emphasis here is on film, television, music, and sports celebrities,
plus some Vegas icons, who are housed in five themed rooms (“Sports Arena,”
for example). There’s also a behind-the-scenes look at the lengthy process
involved in creating just one of these figures.
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S. & 702/990-3530. Admission $19 adults, $14 seniors and Nevada residents, $9.95
children 6–12, children 5 and under free. Daily 10am–10pm, hours vary seasonally.
Marjorie Barrick Museum Formerly known as the Natural History
Museum (as opposed to the existing Las Vegas Natural History Museum, and
now you can see why they changed the name), here’s a cool place to beat the heat
and noise of Vegas, while examining some attractive, if not overly imaginative,
displays on Native American craftwork and Las Vegas history. Crafts include
19th-century Mexican religious folk art, a variety of colorful dance masks of
Mexico, and Native American pottery. The first part of the hall is often the highlight,
with impressive traveling art exhibits. Children won’t find much that’s
entertaining other than some glass cases containing examples of local, usually
poisonous reptiles (who, if you are lucky—or unlucky, depending on your