OT: Any Vegas Tips?

[Peter Pan Fan]

I saw a great Vegas thread floating around here a few weeks back, but can't seem to find it now Forgive me if this is all repetitive....

We are heading to Vegas in a few weeks, we have been many times before, but this time for 4 nights and we are looking for some new and different things to do. We will have a car and are considering Hoover Dam. I have also heard of the marshmallow factory tour, which may be fun. We did the Ethel M one years ago and may go back there.

Any experience/suggestions? Any other fun ideas? I guess we are hoping not to spend 24/7 on the strip and see some more of Vegas and perhaps the greater Vegas area.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jlima]

-drive out to the Red Rock area. Take the 15 freeway to Charleston, turn west & keep going. It's a beautiful area that's much more than a pile of rocks.

-if you're an American History buff then check out the art museum at the Sahara West library; through the end of October there's a George Washington exhibit that features the Gilbert Stuart portrait of the father of our country. A local foundation funded its purchase for the Smithsonian, and part of the deal was this exhibit.

-I've never been there, but the Liberaci museum is supposed to be a hoot!

-a ride up to Mt Charleston might be interesting . . . though not a lot to do when it's not snowing.

Hope this helps!

 

[LuvTigger]

I go to Vegas at least once a year, feel free to PM me if you have questions! (BF's father lives there.)

We did the Hoover Dam tour and really enjoyed it. There's also supposed to be a "hard hat tour" which is more in-depth, but I haven't done it personally. There is kind of a long ride where they pack people into an elevator (if the tour is full), so keep that in mind if you or anyone in your party is claustrophobic.

We also drove around Red Rock Canyon and enjoyed it. Very different from our surroundings here in Hawaii!

Mt. Charleston is very beautiful as well. We just drove around and stopped at some scenic points and the lodge they have up there. We also found a short trail to walk on. I've heard they have other hiking trails if that's something you're interested in, maybe you could do an online search.

It sounds like you're looking for non-Strip activities, but we found out about a Dolphin tour (sorry, can't remember the official name) at the Mirage that we really enjoyed. When we did it a few years ago, it cost $10 and the money went to help endangered species. There was a guided tour of the dolphin tanks, then a self-guided audio tour of a little mini-zoo with Siegfried and Roy's animals including the tigers, elephant, and other animals.

Are you interested in shopping and/or rides? We've done some rides in different hotels, like Race to Atlantis in the Forum Shops at Caesars. For shopping, we like Belz Outlet near the airport at the relatively new shops at Primm, which is about a 45 minute drive (Primm is on the stateline).

I can go on and on, but I'll stop for now!

 

[princessKT]

Originally posted by Peter Pan Fan
I have also heard of the marshmallow factory tour, which may be fun.

This blew up during the Pepcon blast, which was in 1987! LOL Marshmallows everywhere Ocean Spray built their plant where it used to be, and that is pretty neat to see.

Hoover Dam is neat, and you pass through Boulder City which is the only Nevada town that doesn't have gambling. If you don't want to get up early for the tour, just seeing it is worth it. I'm not sure how much walking around you can do since 9/11. (I know you can't stop there at night anymore)

Red Rock Canyon is nice, but better in the spring and fall. (cooler, much cooler)

Mt. Charleston is really nice in the summer, since it's much cooler there. Nice hotel, lodge and picnic area up there.

To add to LuvTigger's list, Mandalay Bay has Shark Reef, which is a huge aquarium/zoo type attraction. You can pet certain sea animals, and at the very end they have a tank that surrounds you with live sharks. Pretty cool, and I think it's $10.

Primm (stateline between CA and NV) is really neat, especially if you like rollercoasters. They have the world's tallest rollercoaster there. (or at least it was the world's tallest a few years ago) Also the outlet mall there is really nice.

I agree with jlima, go see the George Washington painting at the Las Vegas Art Museum. I am going soon, but I've heard really neat things about it.

 

[Peter Pan Fan]

Thanks very much!

My DH is a huge history buff, he would love that GW exhibit.

I can't believe the marshmallow factory blew up! Shows how current I am! LOL.

I have driven through Primm and read in our Vegas guide that the outlets there are nice...that sounds like a good plan for one afternoon.

Thanks again

 

[PattiPB]

The Hoover Dam tour has been scaled back SIGNIFICANTLY since 9/11. The underground part is extremely short, and not very satisfying. They have compensated by having various above ground areas that you move through at your own pace and at each location there is a guide to speak to the group and answer questions.

Having been before and after, I was disappointed. However the visitors we were with LOVED the post 9/11 tour, basically because they had never experienced the other one! It is definitely a "must-do" for any visitor who wants to get away from the Strip.

In addition to the suggestions other locals have made, I want to throw my two cents in for Fremont Street Experience. It's a free laser light show that's different every hour in the downtown area. The Main Street Station has a great buffet, and catch a show before and after you eat!

Patti

 

[Captain Crook]

We just did hoovre dam last week (lots of dam jokes). Do it FIRST thing in the am. We drove right to it, but by the time we were heading back traffic was backed up for miles!

The Freemont Street experence is really cool if you like $1 dollar beer, free Rock'n'roll in the street and a party like atmoshphere...

The dolphin experience is cool, we did that too & I hear the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay is VERY nice as well.

 

[Bbgrizzle]

We live in Vegas and our favorite thing to do is have lunch at Rainforest Cafe (in the MGM) and then visit M&M World and the Coca Cola place. These are both located just down the street from MGM, easy walking distance. The movie at M&M world is a hoot, and you can win little prizes by answering M&M trivia questions. I know you said you wanted things other than the strip, but I just had to let you know about these.

I also vote for Dolphin experience and Sigfried and Roy's Secret Garden (both at the same location at the Mirage).

 

[daannzzz]

Valley of the Fire is a great half day trip. It is about an hour and a half drive out of Vegas, part of it on freeway and then some on a small two lane road. It was much more interesting than Red Rock Canyon ( for me ) and was more spectacular. But it involves more driving.

 

[Peter Pan Fan]

Thanks for all your great responses! We leave Sunday and are getting excited!