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Viva Las Vegas, Baby!
Posted by TigerXtrm • 6/23/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: grand canyon, las vegas, travel
In October I'm finally going to Vegas for the first time! Whee!
Do we have any Vegas natives or regulars who have any ideas on things I absolutely must see or do? Any ideas will be very much appreciated. I'm already thinking of doing the helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon. Is it any fun?
And of course I love Vegas architecture. More on that in the post I wrote about Las Vegas:
backstagemedia.net/337/viva-las-vegas
User Comments
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Never been to Vegas.
I wish you a great time during your visit though!-
Thank you very much, Suzie Q :D.
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When are you going? I think I'll be going around the 24th... Or maybe the week after.-
I'm leaving the 24th of October, actually. I'm arriving on the 16th.
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I love it there. I'm going again in August. I've never done the helicopter tour. I stay on the strip and take part in all that has to offer! -
I went there (and to the Grand Canyon) for the first time 2 years ago. I thought it was quite the sight. I highly recommend the buffet at the Bellagio hotel. -
Vegas is a really fun, but I am more of a lay out by the pool and chill girl when I go. Check out a couple of shows. They're expensive, but worth it. Bring comfortable shoes. The strip is a lot longer than you think it is.
I can't say I am fan of Vegas architecture. It's not really architecture as much as it is theme park. That said, the Bellagio Chihuly ceiling is pretty spectacular. Even if Vegas is tacky and campy and over the top, it's still fun.-
As far as the architecture goes, I meant it in the way of each building on it's own. There is no real Vegas themed building style and that's also what I like about the place. You can build whatever you like over there and it won't ever look out of place.
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But when you see the each building, they may look different, but the building structure, methods and material are exactly the same. All the over the top craziness that you see is all cosmetic made with EIFS which is basically carved, weatherproof insulation. There is an artificiality to Vegas that permeates the entire strip. Steve Wynn built half the hotels on the strip within the past 20 years, hence the theme park feel to Vegas.
I tried your link to your blog, but for some reason it won't load. I would like to read your article. -
My blog is having some problems with loading times. It's pretty damn annoying since it comes and goes and I can't pin the problem down.
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I managed to load your blog and left you a comment.
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Thank you very much!
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Stratosphere is always a must see, and ride the Big Shot if you can. My two favorite hotels are Caesar's Palace and The Venetian, both are great to stroll around in for a while.-
I'm absolutely going to the Venetian. I want to see that place with my own eyes.
If the Big Shot is the roller coaster on top of the Stratosphere then they took it down. It made it's last ride somewhere last year. -
No the Big Shot is the ride that shoots you straight up in the air. The Roller coaster was dumb, I never road that.
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i love zztop!-
What the hell is zztop?
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random ZZTop shout out, diggin it. LOL
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The Grand Canyon by helicopter is a great way to see the Gr. Canyon, but be sure to see Hoover Dam. It's awesome! The casinos are fun if you gamble and you should at least a little while you're there; be sure to catch a good show (Jersey Boys and The Lion King are both fantastic shows; eat at an expensive, well-known restaurant just for the fun of it; RENT A CAR. The hotels and casinos may be "next door" but next door is a couple of blocks long. And you have to walk waaaaay back off the street to get to the entrance. Valet park for a couple of bucks or you'll spend most of your time walking. There is a lot to see and do in Vegas. Get on the net and find out what's going on a few days before you leave. Vegas is the most exciting city in the world, but you have to DO something to find that out.
STILLTHINKING is so far off track it isn't funny. Steve Wynn built 5 hotels on the Strip not half of the hotels on the strip and and only ONE of them has a theme park feel. His hotels are the classiest on the Strip: Bellagio, Monte Carlo, Mirage, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore. Only Treasure Island has a "theme." Go see for yourself. It's the most fun you'll have.-
I'm not to sure about renting a car, mostly because I'm not so sure about my driving skills to be driving around in a foreign country. I don't know all the American traffic rules and I'm afraid I'd fuck up somehow :p.
If we get tired of walking I think we might just take cabs to places if they aren't to expensive.
I also plan of visiting The Lion King when we're there. Even though I've seen the Dutch version two times already. -
I'm an architect and I am not off track. Vegas is a theme park for adults. It kills me when people go bonkers over Vegas architecture when it's pure kitsch.
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Just to be clear when I spoke of architecture I wasn't talking about themed hotels. I meant places like the Bellagio, the Mirrage and the Wynn.
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Just go up and down the strip visiting each casino, since it's your first time there. There's lots to see. I've been to Vegas quite a few times, so I don't get up much for the tourist attractions, but I remember when I first started going, they were a blast. -
Don't get drunk and then look down at the carpets, they are vomit inducing. check out the freemont street light show. HEre is a video of it. Zumanity is at New York New York hotel and is very racy and fun, and carrot top was a riot and hilarious. If you haven't seen Blue Man Group they are showing now.
jafabrit.blogspot.com/2008/04/las-vegas.html -
I live right outside of Las Vegas. The two biggest attractions on the Vegas strip right now are the shows that are playing at the Mirage: Terry Fator (he is the guy that won America's Got Talent)
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Donny and Marie at the Flamingo (they are the siblings that didn't win anything)
But seriously...these two shows are so hot that they are hard to get into right now.
The helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon is great.
Go up to Mt Charleston and cool off
Go downtown and watch the most incredible light show you will ever see at the Freemont Street Experience...Free
Visit Lake Mead
Make sure you go into the new Wynn and Encore Casinos...Amazing
Check out the gondala rides inside the Venetian..Better than the real thing...(well kind of)
City Center is about to open. It is the largest private building project in the history of mankind. Also the most expensive which is why they almost went bankrupt.
Check out Trump Tower on the strip....It is all gold and looks great.
Check out Town Square outdoor mall on the strip. Lots to do, see, and eat!!-
Thanks for the tips!
I hadn't considered going to Wynn and Encore yet, but good idea! -
POTATOCHEF is right about Terry Fator. We saw him when he came to Vegas for the first time then again a few weeks ago. He is very good and worth seeing. I forgot about the Laser show at the Freemont Experience. Awesome and a lot of fun. Bear in mind that the heat in Vegas during the summer is horrific. The temps stay at over 102 to 108 every day and can climb to 115. The nights cool down to a nice balmy 100. LOL.
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Well since we're going in October we shouldn't have insanely high temp's, but thanks for the warning anyway.
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If "O" is still playing there (it's been 6 years since I was last there) ... go see it. It was fabulous.
Love the Blue Man Group.
And, do some old time schlock ... go see Wayne Newton. LOL, he can't really sing anymore, but it's old time Vegas!!
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October is still summer in Vegas. It has no idea when to stop being summer. LOL
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Well in that case I'll prepare myself extra :P.
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STILLTHINKING: I can't believe that as an architect, you don't know that the Bellagio and Venetian hotels are exact duplicates of the same hotels in Italy. Vegas is not all kitsch. Could you really consider Wynn Las Vegas, Encore, Bellagio, Venetian and the Mirage as pure kitsch? Forget Excalibur, Paris and Luxor. I have to agree with you, those are just plain ridiculous themes. And of course New York, New York is awful. Vegas was meant for fun and games and it does that with a vengeance. The buildings are fun to look at, walk through and not take so seriously. Your statement that Steve Wynn builds theme park hotels and that he owns half of the hotel in Vegas is definitely off track. Do some research. By the way, I live in Vegas.
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