Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

MID-STRIP 89
Texas Station, 2102 Texas Star Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89130 (& 800/654-
8888 or 702/631-1000), features a bowling alley, movie theaters, a dozen
restaurants, child care, and a huge casino. The Fiesta Rancho, 2400 N.
Rancho Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89130 (& 800/731-7333 or 702/631-7000), has
a friendly local touch that used to be found in Downtown but is rarely
seen there these days, plus a performance venue that frequently has
some decent names, and a Mexican restaurant with over 300 different
kinds of margaritas. Palace Station, 2411 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV
89102 (& 800/634-3101 or 702/367-2411), has long been a favorite with
locals for gambling. While not quite as crammed with diversions as
some of the others, it makes up for it with extra friendliness.
Henderson & Boulder Highway
Boulder Station, 4111 Boulder Hwy., Las Vegas, NV 89121 (& 800/683-
7777 or 702/432-7777), has an 11-screen movie theater, tons of cheap
eateries, nifty child-care facilities, and a lot more—consequently, it’s not
always as cheap as some of the others. Sunset Station, 1301 W. Sunset
Rd., Henderson, NV 89014 (& 888/SUNSET-9), is more of the same, plus
there’s an outdoor performance space that features a lot of retro (read:
has-been) performers and a microbrew pub. It’s really more of an entertainment
complex than hotel, and even has a mall across the street, so
it isn’t so totally isolated. Arizona Charlie’s East, 4575 Boulder Hwy., Las
Vegas, NV 89121 (& 800/362-4040 or 702/951-5900), is relatively new
and consequently most spiffy. It has very low limits in the casino, a cheap
and reliable coffee shop, and a buffet priced like buffets used to be. The
Mexican pueblo–themed Fiesta Henderson, 777 W. Lake Mead Dr., Henderson,
NV 89015 (& 888/899-7770 or 702/558-7000), has fewer facilities
than some of the other options, and may be a better choice for people
visiting family in the neighborhood than folks looking for fun.
Yet another thing to take advantage of is the Race for Atlantis IMAX 3-D
Ride (p. 183).
Having spent over $100 million renovating its Garden of the Gods, Caesars
has created a tasteful, undeniably “Caesar-esque” masterpiece. With three pools
measuring a total of 22,000 square feet, there is plenty of space for frolicking in
the hot sun. Inspired by the healing Baths of Caracalla in Rome, each of the pools
is adorned with griffins or sea horses and inlaid with classic granite-and-marble
mosaics. To feel even more regal, snatch one of the 16 shaded cabanas that offer
phones, TV, and air-conditioning for $150 a day (reserve them early). Several
amenities are also available by the pool area, including massage, two whirlpools,
three tennis courts, the Neptune Bar, and of course, a Snackus Maximus.
The Caesars Spa is another gorgeous facility, offering full salon services (a
large range of facials, massages, wraps, and other beauty treatments). While we
can’t say we’ve tried every masseuse or facialist in town, we have tried a lot, and
what we got at Caesars was the best so far. The spa also offers saunas, steam
rooms, and whirlpool tubs, plus an incredibly well-supplied health club with