Itinerary
So,
I thought that we should jot down a few things that were thinking of
doing in
Las Vegas. I'll try to update things as I think of them. If you
think of things, let me know and I'll put them in. Though it is
presented like a day to day itinerary, it
is
really meant to be a list of possible things to do while in
Vegas…besides going
to Nick and Tanya’s wedding of course.
Cindy
and I will be flying in on the evening of May 25. After an
overnight at
Chez Nick and Tanya, we will be heading to Zion
National Park. We’ll probably stay at the Bumbleberry Inn, with
its
famous 
Bumbleberry pie
and fabulous live
show (hey,
it’s Utah. What did you expect, La
Femme?).
It’s
not far from Las Vegas (about 3 hours, 165 miles) and it looks
gorgeous.
We’ll probably do some hiking, maybe horseback
riding, maybe some biking,
hit a ghost town and
then hit the
Spotted Dog Café.
We
will be heading back to Las Vegas on Monday to the Las Vegas Gura
Headquarters:
The Vegas Pimphouse.
We have
the house rented from late afternoon of May 29 to June 4. We are
thinking
that people might want to do a night at the Mandalay Bay during the week
when it is
cheaper. That way we can all take advantage of the Beach,
which is free
to guests and looks pretty swank. Not that the Pimp House is
without
amenities, we just may tire of the stripper pole after a couple of
days. There
is a Trader
Joe’s
nearby, so we can eat at the house. I’m sure Nick and Tanya can
point us
to other supermarkets too.
So
obviously we can just go up and down the Strip and around town and
ogle.
There is plenty to do just doing that. We can see Sirens
of TI,
the adultified version of Treasure Island’s pirate battle.
There’s the Volcano
in front of the Mirage, the Fountains
of Bellagio, The Botanical
Gardens at the Bellagio, The Lion
Habitat at the MGM Grand, Wildlife
Habitat at the Flamingo, Circus
Acts
at Circus Circus. The best bit is all that is free.
Obviously, we
may want to wander around a few of the casinos as well, though I guess
it
depends on the kids. As to food, we can either head home at lunch
time or
hit a buffet along the way. After the boys are down to bed, there
are
cultural activities for Nancy, Cindy,
Sue
and Cathy.
So after making a mint with a single evening of gambling, we may want to hit some of the not free attractions around town. There is the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay ($15.95 for Adults, kids 4 and under free). There is also the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage ($15 for Adults, Kids 4 and up $10). Circus Circus has Kiddie Rides (junior pass is $14.95 for a day pass, or $4 per ride). If we want do something not sponsored by the casinos, there is the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum ($7 for adults and $6 for kids).
When the kids are asleep, the parents can cut loose. I know that
Cindy
wants to go to Star Trek
Experience. She has always wanted a
Vulcan Vow
Renewal ceremony. After that there
are plenty of shows.
So
feel the need to breathe and get away from it all? Well there are
some
cool things to do pretty close by to Las Vegas. We can all 
head over to Red Rock Canyon ($5 per car
load). Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area [RRCNCA] is
only about
17 miles from the Strip, so it we could do it in a morning. It
encompasses 197,000 acres within the Mojave Desert and is the home to
about 50
wild burros--don’t bug em…it’s against the law. There are a lot
of good hikes
and horseback riding, but
you can just
drive around in the car.
Another
good trip would be to Valley of
Fire State
Park ($5 a car load) It is a bit further, but still do able for a 
part of a day
thing (about
55 miles). The park takes its name from fiery sandstone
formations, which
were formed by shifting sand dunes years ago. The geology here is
similar to
Red Rock, but the area also offers a glimpse into early Native American
cultures. It was frequently visited by the ancient Basket Maker people
and
Anasazi, who used the area for hunting and religious ceremonies. (Check
out the
ancient Anasazi sedan in this picture of Atlatl Rock!)
If the
desert
isn’t your taste, Mt. Charleston is less than an hour’s drive from the
Strip.
Located in the 316,000 acre Toiyabe National Forest, Mt. Charleston
has an
elevation of 11,918 feet—the highest peak in southern Nevada.
Pack warmer
clothes as the temperature averages 30 degrees cooler up there—the
environment
is completely different. Here’s a neat factoid: The
climatic
change in elevation going from Las Vegas to the peak of Mt. Charleston
is
equivalent to the climatic 
change in
latitude between
Mexico and Alaska! For those interested, there is Mt. Charleston Lodge,
with a
restaurant and cabins—they also do weddings. Ditto for Mt. Charleston Hotel.
Of course, there are great hikes to be had. There is
also
horseback riding, but perhaps the less adventurous among us might need
something that is more
their speed.
If
the mountains and the desert aren’t good enough, there is always Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam.
General
Vegas Guides
http://www.hikinglasvegas.com/