A Young Professional’s Guide To Adventures In Las Vegas - Part One

June 13, 2012 - PRLog -- LAS VEGAS:

* The Bellagio Fountains / Restaurants:  Can’t miss fountain shows outside of The Bellagio are best paired with a great place to dine, as well.  Mon Ami Gabi and Sugar Factory at The Paris are two of my favorite spots, as is Cabo Wabo outside of Planet Hollywood.  While it doesn’t show the fountains, another water show of sorts can be seen every hour on the half hour in the evenings at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.  Good places.  Good fun.

* Inside The Bellagio:  A must see is the breathtaking colored glass ceiling in the lobby by artist Dale Chihuly.  In the adjacent room to the lobby, you also must see the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens where the display is changed according to the seasons.  Many casinos are gorgeous, but especially in the summer months when the pool is where you most want to be, this is the one casino interior you still can’t miss.  – http://www.bellagio.com

* Cirque Du Soleil:  A Vegas staple now, seeing a Cirque Du Soleil show with its spectacular sets and contortionists will take you to another world.  “O” at The Bellagio is one of the most popular shows where the performances happen in the water.  – http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/destinations/las-vegas/h...

* Pool Parties:  For a Friday, The Palms kicks off the weekend with “Ditch Fridays.”  “Wet Republic” at the MGM Grand is the place to be seen on a Saturday.  “Rehab” is the unrivaled Sunday Funday pool party at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, just a little bit off of the strip.  On a Monday, “Relax” at The Hard Rock is the place to be where you can both relax and still have fun.  Encore Beach Club is another popular choice for Saturdays and Sundays while Wet Republic is also a popular Sunday spot, but I’m simply stating my preferences.  I’ve never opted to go to Tao Beach in the daytime which also throws pool parties simply because the pool there is far too small for a large crowd.  And, if you’re not in the water in Vegas in the summer, you’re going to get a bad sunburn.  Be sure to check out Tao Beach at night though.

* MGM Grand Pool:  With its lazy river, for a midweek Vegas pool day, there is no better place for relaxing.  Pure bliss.  Like all of the hotel pools, they are just for hotel guests, but be smart and say perhaps the rest of your party already went to the pool and have the room key to prove it, but no cell phones on them to be reached.  Just say something.  Figure it out.  It’s worth it.  – http://www.mgmgrand.com/amenities/grand-pool-complex.aspx

* Mandalay Bay Beach:  Another nice midweek pool choice, Mandalay Bay has a wave pool and a lazy river, as well.  However, given the fast speed of the lazy river here and the set up that’s more of a water park ride than a lazy stroll, I prefer the MGM’s lazy river instead.  If you can catch a concert here though, you’ll be lucky to stand in the water, watching a show, and having a blast. http://www.mandalaybay.com/beach

* Concerts and Shows:  The MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay Events Center, and Caesars Coliseum are the most popular places in Vegas to see headliners.  Some of the best events take place at venues like these such as the iHeart Radio Music Festival, The Billboard Music Awards, The Academy of Country Music Awards, and The American Country Awards, all events I’ve been lucky enough to have attended during my trips where I “Viva Las Vegas-ed” it!  Boxing, rodeos, wrestling, and comedians are also popular around town as are the Broadway productions and topless showgirl reviews.

* Hotels:  My best advice for getting a room in town is to get what you like that fits your budget.  That being said, my best tip is to sign up for promotions from various properties.  Given their size as two of the largest hotel resorts in the world, MGM Grand and Luxor have always seemed to be the best for rates and promotions in my opinion.  Don’t cave in to save a few bucks at The Excalibur or Circus Circus.  They are cheesy and overrun with kids.  While we’re at it, if you have kids under 21, they don’t belong in Vegas.  Take them to Disney.

* Shopping:  Every casino, everywhere, you can waste your money in non-gaming ways.   Some of the best places?  The Forum Shops at Caesars where you can even see a free show hourly.  – http://www.caesarspalace.com/casinos/caesars-palace/casino-misc/the-forum-shops-detail.html.  Try a gourmet chocolate topped with lavender or pepper from Vosges while you are browsing around.  Fashion Show Mall is your classic mall.  – http://www.thefashionshow.com.  And Crystals at City Center is the place where you will find everything designer to drool over.  – http://www.crystalsatcitycenter.com.  While you are over at City Center, also be sure to browse the Dale Chihuly gallery to see incredible glass art.  You can also grab a bite at Eva Longoria’s Beso or Todd English’s Pub.  Need to get away from the craziness at The Strip for a few?  Check out Town Square for some of the locals’ favorite places to shop and dine.  – http://www.mytownsquarelasvegas.com

* Red Rock Canyon / Grand Canyon / Sedona:  If you are looking for a great place to hike and enjoy the mountains nearby, be sure to check out Red Rock Canyon.  One of the easier hikes features a waterfall that you can walk around.  It ‘s the complete antithesis of The Strip. – http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org.  Have a whole day to get away?  You’ll be bombarded with advertisements for options to get out to The Grand Canyon and Sedona.  I’ve never traveled from Vegas for one of their package deals to get out to either of those places, but I have been to both of those locations more than once and you should visit both of those places at least once in your lifetime.  While The Grand Canyon is famous for it’s deep ravines plunging into the canyon, Sedona is the mountainous reverse.  One of the most fascinating features of Sedona are the vortexes where Native Americans believe you can communicate with the dead.  In a strange video I once took to capture the panoramic skyline atop a mountain referred to as having a strong vortex in Sedona, I actually had somehow picked up what sounded like tribal chanting and drumming which was not audible to the human ear otherwise.  – http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm – http://www.visitsedona.com