Las Vegas bound

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I'm leaving for the International Builder's Show in Las Vegas Tuesday AM and will return on a redeye Saturday morning. I'm sure I'll find a lot of new tractor projects while I'm out there.

I've never been to the city before and may have some extra time while I'm there. Are there any must-see's or places to avoid while I'm there?

 

[Hank]

<font color=blue> any must-see's </font color=blue>

Hoover Dam is pretty.


<font color=blue> places to avoid while I'm there </font color=blue>

Any casinos, unless you have money to blow. They can be fun, if you accept you will come out poorer, in most cases.

 

[Golfgar4]

For the best meals at the cheapest prices, you need to get off of the strip. Get directions to any of the "neighborhood" casinos that were there before the big guys showed up. These casinos tend to be alittle looser in the payouts than the bigger casinos too!

Good luck! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Inspector507]

I heard Hoover Dam was closed to tourists since 9-11 but that could be rumor too.

 

[Inspector507]

Gary,
You'll be back in plenty of time for the National Farm Machinery Show in Feb. down in Louisville /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Jerry

 

[BigDave]

I've been to Hoover dam post 9-11, and they only restricted a couple of areas. It's still an impressive sight to see and very good tour. As far a casinos are concerned, they are the best entertainment value in the USA. You don't need to spend a penny. The strip is the best at night, but it might be a bit chilly this time of year.

My favorites sites that are free:
Luxor - just check the architecture inside & out. The elevators travel at an angle, but they are for guests only.
Bellagio - watch the fountains in the evening, they are incredible. Well maybe more so for the women folk.
Venetian - Checkout the indoor canal in their shopping area.
Ceasars - the shops go on forever, you'll think your lost
Treasure Island - pirate ship battle outdoors. Lot of explosions.
Mirage - Tigers in zoo like setting.

Many of the casinos are interconnected, so you almost never need to go outside except at major intersections. There are free trams between Belliago & the Monte Carlo and between Harrah's and the Mirage. They aren't always easy to find.

Of course there are plenty of attractions that require money, and that's where we usually spend our money. If you are into them, Cirque d sole' and Blue man group are good shows, but are expensive. There are many headliners that pass through Vegas, last time we caught Tim Conway & Harvey Korman and we laugh our heads off.

There is plenty of good food places not too far off the strip, but the Vegas buffet is almost a rite of passage, with the best deals at the older casinos. The fancier the hotel, the fancier the food, the misses & I dropped almost 2 bills for a dinner at the Bellagio. We had to allow 45 minutes so that they could make this dessert that was unbelievable.

Finally, Vegas definitely has some areas that aren't very nice, and I would recommend staying in the strip area, especially if you are not accustomed to cities. The only real annoyance on the strip are the people handing out the adult entertainment books & cards. Just ignore them. They are only tolerated in very limited areas between some of the casinos, so they won't follow you around like they would in some other large cities.

Most of all have fun, and don't try to see everything in one trip, Vegas will still be there the next time you visit.

 

[GaryM]

If you go to the Pirate show at the Treasure Island, the shows outside, be sure to get there plenty early to get a spot at the railing.

 

[cowboydoc]

I was just out there in December and Hoover Dam was completely open.

 

[frank_f15]

the whole city is fantastic. such imagination in those cassinos, it is everthing one should see at least once. HOVER dam is something to see, but u won't be able to take the good tour that takes u down into the damm itself, closed since 9/11. if u like sea food thay have an excellent buffet at the RIO (I THINK) QUITE A PLACE!!! if u run into a K9 POLICE OFFICER , WITH A DOG NAMED IAN, TELL HIM DAD SAYS HI!

 

[frank_f15]

WHAT HOTEL ARE U STAYING AT? don't know your time constraints, or your desire to spend $$$, but if u don't plan to be out there agin u might want to consider a tour of the grand canyon. from vegas , with only a few days it must be done by plane, BUT IT IS ONE HELL OF A SIGHT TO SEE. AS MY DAUGHTER LIVES IN PHONIX AZ. WE HAVE BEEN THERE, A FEW TIMES, along with monument valley. the senery nevver fail to awe me. u can just stay in one spot along the canyon rim and as the sun moves , the view changes. the last time we were there, we were going to dinner and there was a waite, it was dark and in the month of october, when a rain and lighting stom developed over the canyon. my god what a sight. come to think of it don't go to the canyon on a short tour flight, it deserves it's own tripp.