Online guide for staying and playing in Las Vegas. Find out where to eat, what to do, where to stay, and everything else you might want to know about Las Vegas.
When going on a trip, you always want to bring everything that you may need while away from home, but not to bring too much because you don't want to carry too much stuff, especially if you don't use some of it. So what should you bring on a trip to Vegas? Well it depends, what are you visiting Las Vegas for (work, pleasure, family, wedding, bachelor party, etc.)? How long will you be in Las Vegas? What time of year are you visiting Las Vegas?
What clothes to pack when going to Las Vegas?
Most of the year the weather in Las Vegas is warm and the sun is always out, so you should be sure to bring sunscreen and hats to protect you from the sun as well as clothing suitable for warm weather like shorts and t-shirts. The majority of the year the weather is clear and sunny. So unless you check the weather and it says otherwise you probably won't experience any rain or precipitation so you don't need to bring rain coats or umbrellas. The best use for an umbrella in Las Vegas is to shade from the sun. The weather starts to cool down at the end of September and by November the temperatures average in the 40s-50s until the end of January when it starts to warm up again. If you visit Las Vegas in the winter months, be aware that you will need clothes to keep you warm at night so you may want to bring jackets and coats as well as gloves, hats, scarfs, etc. If you are in Vegas for a business event or wedding you will need to bring whatever you will wear to those events. Make sure your suits match and you have all articles of clothing you need, including ties, vests, jackets, pants, shirts, socks, shoes, cuff links, tie bars, bow ties, etc. You don't want to be stuck with everything that matches except one thing and be stuck buying something new or looking like a fool. Of course the longer you stay the more clothes you will want to bring. Many hotels offer laundry service so if you have at least two pairs of clothes you can get by but that is cutting it close. Most laundry services try to be done in a day but they do not always deliver, so come prepared.
What else to pack when visiting Las Vegas
Most hotels in Las Vegas offer free samples of soap and shampoo, etc. so you don't need bring any from home but you will still want to bring your tooth brush and toothpaste, as well as any deoderant or perfumes you may want and hair care products that you may need for your hair and shaving supplies and razors. You may want to bring a camera, but another option is to use disposable cameras that you can buy for about $10 and have them developed at your local photomat. This way if you lose your camera or it gets stolen then you are only out a few bucks, not the few hundred dollars that your digital camera is worth. Don't forget to bring copies of all your identification cards and passport, as well as copies of any other travel documents you may accidentally lose or get stolen. Make sure you bring your charger for your cellphone and any other gadgets or devices you might bring along. Remember though, whatever you bring you will have to carry around with you the whole trip and could possibly be lost or stolen. So try not to bring anything too heavy or too expensive.
This summer has even particularly hot for the entire country, especially Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Valley has experienced triple digit temperatures for the better part of the summer, but recently the change in the rather has given a nice break in the heat for all those living or staying in Las Vegas. For a city in the middle of the desert that doesn't get much precipitation it has rained a decent amount in the past week for Las Vegas. The cloud cover and rain has helped the temperatures in Las Vegas to stay well below 100 and the locals and visitors are very happy for the drop in temperature. But along with the cooler temps the rain brought higher humidity to make it feel hotter and stickier than it actually is. And the rain storms prohibit many outdoor activities and hinder many travel arrangements. All in all the Las Vegas is happy to have some cool weather during the hottest part of the year. If you are in Vegas then enjoy the cooler weather while you can because it is going to get right back up to 110 soon enough.
It seems like this summer is much hotter than it has ever been in the past, with most of the country experiencing highs of over 90 degrees and many places reaching over 110! And of course, being in the middle of the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas is no exception. Around the country heat shelters have been popping up to deal with the myriad injuries and illnesses that have been reported. Most in danger are the very young and the very old because their bodies cannot endure such high temperatures for extended periods of time. People of all ages, however, have experienced dehydration and heat stroke due to such heat.
Summers in Vegas are always hot so this year isn't a surprise. But most days so far this year have been above average, hinting that the high heat is here to stay. If you plan on visiting Las Vegas, be sure to be prepared. Put on sunblock before going outside and make sure that you and your family drink plenty of water. Most people don't realize how hot it is and how dehydrated they are before it is too late. Don't spend too much time outside especially in the sun. If you must be outside take precautions to stay cool by trying to find shade or using a sun umbrella and keeping plenty of cold water with you to drink often. Even if you aren't necessarily thirsty you need to make sure and drink plenty. The average daily intake is 8 8 ounce glasses of water and in the heat you should have more than the recommended 64 oz. Try to find places with air conditioning if you don't have it at home. Many public places like stores, libraries, movie theaters etc. have air conditioning that you can enjoy. If you are in Las Vegas they casinos all have massive air conditioning systems to make sure to keep their customers happy and comfortable and most Las Vegas hotel rooms have personal thermostats that you can use to keep your room as cool as you want. Also be sure to keep an eye on kids and the elderly and make sure that they have plenty of fluids to drink. Soda is bad for the body when in extreme heat as the sodium actually dehydrates your body. Coffee and teas are also not as good at keeping you hydrated. Besides plain water, sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade are also good as they contain electrolytes that are lost when you sweat without having too much bad sodium to dehydrate your body. If you know people who are very old and live by themselves, make sure to check in on them during the day to make sure that they are alright.
Electric Daisy Carnival, better known as EDC, is music festival that is held in different locations around the world throughout the year. The annual June concert has been held in Las Vegas for the past 2 years, and will continue that as the 2013 EDC kicks of tonight in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and goes from Friday until Sunday. Last year the Las Vegas EDC event attracted 300,000 people, making it the largest North American electronic music festival and dance music event. Wind and weather conditions forced the show to shut down early one of the nights during last years Las Vegas event. Hopefully weather will be much better this year and allow the show to run as scheduled all 3 days. Right now the it is actually very nice outside, so it looks pretty likely that the weather will cooperate this year. The first EDC was held in 1997 by Insomniac Events, and has blossomed into many different events held throughout the world throughout the year. Tickets are sold out, but they cost over $200 for all three days. VIP packages run as much as $20,000 for 20 people. Many people travel in groups from around the country to come to EDC events, and the Las Vegas one is one of the most popular. This year's Las Vegas EDC event will feature six full stages of music, many different carnival rides, an area for merchandise and other vendors, interactive art installations and much more. Literally hundreds of performers are scheduled to appear at the 2013 Las Vegas EDC. Some of the great spectacles that made an appearance at last year's EDC Las Vegas included huge fireworks shows, skydivers who were lit up as they were falling from the sky, as well as vintage military plane flyover. Party goers must be 18 or over for general admission, and 21 or over for VIP sections and bar areas. Last year's EDC even in Las Vegas brought over $200 million to the local economy according to Insomniac.
Mayor Oscar Goodman is one of Las Vegas' favorite and most popular mayor ever. Although he served his maximum amount of terms and is no longer the mayor, Oscar has made a name for himself and is now a permanent fixture in Las Vegas. In fact, Oscar Goodman and the Goodman family are so well known and popular that his wife ran for and was elected mayor of Las Vegas since he could not run any more. Carolyn Goodman is keeping on the Goodman legacy as mayor of Las Vegas, while their son Ross is working as an attorney in Las Vegas. He recently released his own book, an autobiography written entirely by hand by the former Las Vegas mayor. Oscar has done it all, and his new book tells about it. While he served as a lawyer to members of the mob, he was followed by the law enforcement and had his phones tapped. They thought he was in cahoots with his clients and wanted to catch him doing anything wrong. But they never found him doing anything illegal. Still, they did whatever they could to intimidate him. Oscar said that while all this was going on that "The first $7,500 I made every year was to go to my accountant, because I was going to be audited. Guaranteed. I was audited every year of my law practice." It got so bad that he and his wife would whisper to each other in their own home for fear of being listened in on. Now though things are much different for Oscar. He is now an icon for Las Vegas, known around the world. Some people may not know his name, but they know his face, and they know that it is the face of the mayor of Las Vegas. In 1995, Goodman appeared in a cameo role in the hit Martin Scorsese move Casino as himself as well as an episode of CSI. More recently he opened his own restaurant, aptly titled Oscar's Steakhouse located in downtown Las Vegas. His memoir, Being Oscar, recounts all his experiences over his 73 years, from his life as a lawyer, serving as council for mob bosses, serving as mayor of the city of Las Vegas, and now his journey into retirement. And with Oscar Goodman you know you are in for a good story. So pick up a copy today and read all about mayor Goodman's history, told by Oscar himself.
Oscar has recently held many book signing events. He has even said in a news article that people have dropped their copy of his new book on his doorstep with a note on it that asks him to sign it to them. So get your book now while there is still a chance to have him sign it. It will definitely be worth it to have a one of a kind personalized memento from a significant icon of Las Vegas history.
Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, the Fashion Show Mall is one of the best places to shop in all of Las Vegas. With hundreds of places to shop and many great places to eat, the Fashion Show Mall is a great place to visit while in Vegas. Whether you just want a bit to eat or you want to pick up some souvenirs for your friends and family at home, the Fashion Show has it all. From the many small booths and stands to the 8 large department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Niemen Marcus, and Nordstrom, there are shops of all kind at the Fashion Show Mall. In fact the only Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus stores in the whole state of Nevada are located in the Fashion Show Mall. If you forgot to bring an extra pair of socks, there are places to buy clothes. If you need a new case for your iPhone, there is an Apple Store. If you want a quick meal there is a food court. If you want a nice sit down dinner, there are fancy places to eat like Maggiano’s Italian restaurant. There are even special places where they hold special events and shows, like the fashion shows that are held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So depending on when you visit the Fashion Show Mall you may see something different every time you visit. And no matter when you visit, there is always a lot for you to see and do. There are even massage booths and comfortable massage chairs in which you can sit down in and take a break while you get massaged and your mate gets to go shopping.
With almost 2 million square feet of retail space covering 3 floors, whatever it is that you are looking for; you should be able to find it at the Fashion Show. And it is located right on the Las Vegas Strip, right across the street from the Wynn Hotel and Casino at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Spring Mountain Road, so it is close to just about anywhere on The Strip. Originally opened in 1981, the Fashion Show Mall has undergone many changes throughout the years. Currently the front of the mall looks as if a giant UFO had landed right in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip. Hours are 10 am – 9 pm Monday thru Saturday and 11 am – 7 pm on Sunday. However some of the restaurants have separate entrances and may be open longer hours than the rest of the mall.
Circus Circus’ Adventuredome theme park is a huge indoor theme park that is geared directly towards families and kids. It is like a mini Disney Land or Six Flags right in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip, complete with rides and games galore. So if you plan on bringing your family to Las Vegas, the Adventuredome at Circus Circus is one of the best places to visit. Although Las Vegas is known as Sin City and historically there are not many places to take your kids in order to have fun in a safe kid friendly environment, the Adventuredome theme park is an exception to that rule. You can bring your kids and be comfortable and safe in the gigantic air conditioned dome that makes you feel as if you were outside but it has all the comforts and benefits of being indoors, such as air conditioning and less chance of being sunburned by the direct sun. Although you still may want to wear sunscreen and you should definitely put some on younger kids and make sure to limit their time in the sun whenever possible. The dome may block some of the harmful rays of the sun, but definitely not all of them, so it is a good idea for you and your kids to wear hats and sunscreen if you plan on being there all day. There are many rides, games, arcades, and much more for you and your family to enjoy in the Adventuredome. You can be sure that your kids will be safe and won’t be subjected to some of the seedier, adult oriented sides of Vegas while inside the Adventuredome. In fact, the entire Circus Circus hotel and casino is kid friendly and geared towards families. The Circus Circus is themed after – what else? – a circus carnival. With clowns and carnival games all over the place, this is one of the best places to bring your family in the entire town. So if you want to enjoy Las Vegas with your kids in tow, definitely consider staying at the Circus Circus Hotel or visiting the Adventuredome theme park while in town.
Along with some great carnival style games where you can win prizes and toys such as stuffed animals, there are some great theme park rides in the Adventuredome. You can ride rollercoasters and water rides – whatever you want to do. You can pay per ride or you can get a wrist band with unlimited rides. There are also arcade games galore that you can play and win tickets that you can put towards prizes as well. You always want to keep an eye on your kids wherever you go, no matter if it is in Las Vegas or in your home town. But in the Adventuredome you can be sure that your kids are safe going on a ride without you if you feel a little queasy going on rollercoasters and other motion rides. Just wait by the exit of the ride and they will come out as soon as the ride is over. The Adventuredome has won top safety awards from places such as the Safety Awareness Award from Recreation Engineer Inc. But of course anything can happen anywhere so always keep tabs on your little ones no matter what city you’re in.
If you visit Las Vegas during the month of October, the Adventuredome turns into what they call ‘Frightdome’ for Halloween and the entire place turns into a giant haunted house. This may be scary for the younger kids, but for tweens and teens (and even older ‘kids at heart’) the Frightdome is a great Halloween themed place to go for your Halloween frights and scares. There are many different haunted houses to visit inside, games to play, and all kinds of things to do. There are even actors around the entire complex that dress up in different costumes to try and scare visitors. As stated before, be careful with younger kids as they can get very frightened from some of these actors since they can seem very realistic in the darkness of the Adventuredome at night. Some even have real chainsaws (without the actual saw part) that they pretend to attack people with so be sure you warn your kids that it is not real before you go. But if your kids are mature enough to realize they won’t get hurt it can be a very fun place to visit during Halloween time.
Some of the different types of rides available at the Adventuredome are family rides, kids rides, and rides for larger kids and adults. The family rides are for the entire family, fun for kids and adults alike. Included in the family rides are a ferris wheel and a merry go ‘round. There are junior rollercoasters available for younger kids. And some of the larger and premium rides include bumper cars, swinging ship, laser tag, tower ride, big rollercoasters that go up to 55 mph, 4D Special Effects movies featuring Sponge Bob and Dora the Explorer, spinning rides, tilting rides, and much more.
On most days, the park is open from 11 am to 6 pm on weekdays, and 10 am to 12 midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The regular price for an unlimited ride pass is $28 and for kids under 48 inches it is $17. Ride tickets can also be bought separately. The Adventuredome has won awards from many different places, such as the Las Vegas Review Journal’s Best Family Attraction Award, Best Indoor Playspace from Nickelodeon Parent’s Picks Award, Safety Awareness Award from Recreation Engineering Inc.
If you have ever flown in or out of Las Vegas then you most likely went through McCarran International Airport. The airport was named after former Nevada senator Pat McCarran. It now has 4 runways and is one of the top 25 most popular airports in the world in terms of people coming in and out of the airport. Since the airport is in Las Vegas, it is only fitting that the airport has slot machines for people to gamble when they first arrive in town or when they are waiting for their plane to go home, and McCarran Airport has over 1,000 of them. Originally the Las Vegas Airport was on the sight of what is now Nellis Airforce Base. In 1942 George Crockett built what was known as Alamo Airport on the site that is now McCarran Airport. Then it was bought by the county in 1948 and the airport was renamed to McCarran Field. Since then the airport has undergone many changes and remodels to become what it is today. It went from a small little airport in the 40’s to a huge multi-terminal international airport that it is today. In 1957 there were an average of 10,000 departures per year and now has over 500,000 takeoffs and departures each year. The airport also handles other types of flights beside just passenger flights. McCarran Airport handles over 200 million pounds of cargo per year. Military and government aircraft also use McCarran, making it the 8th in the world for most aircraft movements.
Nowadays, McCarran has many high tech amenities such as free wireless internet access for passengers who are waiting to takeoff or those who are waiting for a ride from the airport once they arrive. This is can be a great thing when you are waiting for a lay-over and you have many hours to kill as most airports and other places charge a fee either hourly or daily for internet usage. When the wireless internet network was installed at McCarran Airport in 2005, it was the largest free internet installation in the world, covering over 2 million square feet. Another new feature that helps passengers is something called SpeedCheck which lets people get their boarding pass from a kiosk instead of having to wait in line and go to a person at a counter to get their boarding pass. There are also SpeedCheck kiosks at other places where travelers frequent, such as the Las Vegas Convention Center. You can also print out your own baggage tags at these kiosks in order to further speed up the boarding process.
There are also many other interesting things about McCarran Airport that most people don’t even know about. For instance the airport was featured in many films, including the 1971 James Bond flick Diamonds are Forever starring Sean Connery. Also there is an aviation museum located on level 2 above the baggage claim area. Admittance to the Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum is free, so if you are stuck at the airport waiting for your plane, you can check it out to kill some time until your flight is ready. There are also displays of public art around the airport as well as many high end lounges for the more high-end fliers.
You would imagine that a town like Las Vegas would have a water park, being in the middle of the desert with constant hot temperatures and a lot of tourists each year - many of them families. Sure, there are a few city operated parks in neighborhoods around town but they are small and not well suited for tourists. Well Las Vegas did have a water park, it was named Wet n' Wild and it closed about 20 years ago. And soon Las Vegas will once again have a waterpark! And what will the name of this new waterpark going to be? Well Wet 'n' Wild of course. No its not the exact same name. There is an extra apostrophe, didn't you notice it?
Well whatever the name or it's punctuation, this new waterpark is long overdue. There is a big need for family friendly options in Las Vegas, and the fact that its almost always hot in Vegas adds to the appeal and attaction of the idea of a waterpark. Wet 'n' wild will be be in a new location and is set to open in time for summer this year. The waterpark will be over 40 acres set with 2 pools and 10 waterslides.
When it actually opens in May, we will offer a lot more detailed information including location and prices. Leave a comment below if you have any questions or comments.
Today, hit TV, radio ad internet pesonality Adam Carolla is doing a live tasting for his new acoholic beverage Mangria at Lee's Liquor. He will be at the Lees Liquor location on Rainbow and Flamingo in Las Vegas, NV at 5:30 this afternoon. Adam will be doing a tasting as well as signing merchandise for his fans. This marks the availability of his new Mangria cocktail in Las Vegas at all Lees Liquor locations throughout the valley. Mangria is a concoction that Carolla has been talking about for years that he created one night when going to top up his glass of red wine. He was out of wine so he was in a conundrum: either stop drinking or make up something else fast. So he surveyed his stock of liquor and added a few items such as orange vodka to help maintain his buzz. He actually enjoyed the resulting mixture, so much so that he went on the radio the next day and told his listeners about his new creation. Years later, Adam has made into a commercially avilable product and has been making its way slowly into different markets accross the country.
Las Vegas has been called the city of lights, or the neon city because of all the lights and neon signs used to advertise the casinos and hotels to passers-by. But since many of the old casinos and hotels are no longer standing or have been remodeled or renamed, the old sings have been taken down and sent to the landfill. However, some of the signs have been saved over the years and have been collected into what is known as the Neon Graveyard – a museum of sorts for old neon and other lighted signs from Las Vegas’ past. For a long time, this was just a final resting place for these signs and was closed to the public. But recently the Neon Boneyard Museum (also known as the Neon Graveyard) has been opened up to the public so that anybody who is interested can go see the signs. Some of the signs have been dismantled and are in pieces while others are only a portion of their former selves. Still others are the entire sign in pristine shape, having been reconditioned to look as good as new. If you visit Vegas, or even if you live in town or somewhere nearby, it is highly recommended that you come take a look at the Neon Boneyard neon sign museum.
Among the neon artifacts that have found a home at the Neon Boneyard Museum are more than 150 signs and parts of signs from many very famous and not so famous Las Vegas landmarks from the past. One of the most popular and notable items is the old Aladdin’s Lamp from the original Aladdin Hotel and Casino, which looks like a giant genie’s lamp that you could run and be granted 3 wishes. The original Aladdin Hotel and Casino was first known as the English Tallyho Motel when built in 1962, and in 1966, after a remodeling, the building was renamed the Aladdin. The next year the Aladdin was made famous as when it became the place where Elvis and Priscilla Presley were married. Later on in 1998 the original Aladdin was imploded and another Hotel and Casino was built in its place. It has since been renamed the Planet Hollywood Hotel. Also in the Neon Graveyard museum is the giant high heel from the old Silver Slipper, which was bought by Howard Hughes in 1968 reportedly because the light was so bright that he could see it from his room, but they would not turn it off so he bought it on a whim so he could turn the lights off and dismantle the rotating mechanism so he could get a good night’s sleep. It is also reported that he thought a camera could be mounted inside the slipper and it could allow people to spy into his room. In 1988 the Silver Slipper was demolished and turned into a parking lot. Another famous sign in the Neon Boneyard Museum is the one from Sassy Sally’s.
To take a day tour of the Neon Boneyard Museum it costs $18 for adults and $12 for students and Nevada residents. Night tours are slightly more expensive, at $25 for adults and $22 for students and local residents. Day tours occur at 9:00, 9:30, and 10:00 am and night tours are held at 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, and 9:00 pm. You can call (702) 387-6366 (NEON) for more information.
Las Vegas, which translates to “The Meadows”, was originally started by the Mormons in the form of a small fort as they were traveling through the area from Salt Lake City, Utah to California. The name the meadows refers to the fact that there were originally springs of fresh water which the settlers stopped at to refill their water tanks and allow themselves and their animals to get a drink of fresh water and clean up a little in the small bodies of water. Established in 1905 and officially incorporated as a city in 1911, Las Vegas eventually became a trading post for those on their way to or from California. During the Great Depression, when President Herbert Hoover called for the Hoover Dam to be built near Las Vegas on the Colorado River, the small city Boulder City was created to house all the Dam workers and Las Vegas grew as well. When gambling was legalized in 1931, the Las Vegas area exploded with growth, and ever since, Las Vegas has become a destination for people all over the country and even the world to come to in order to stay and play, while they relax and rest.
In fact, there are so many casinos, hotels, concert and show halls and all sorts of other entertainment venues that Las Vegas has now turned into what many people call “The Entertainment Capital of The World! Because of all the hotels in Las Vegas, and the close proximity to California and other places on the West coast while still being a central hub for pretty much the entire country, many convention centers and banquet halls have been built to attract tradeshows and conventions from around the country and even around the world. Many of the largest conventions and tradeshows come to Vegas, sometimes multiple times a year. From Star Trek fan shows to gigantic construction tradeshows with all sorts of tractors, cranes and other types of equipment on display. In fact some shows span multiple locations and even utilize the parking lots because of the size and amount of products on display. In recent years Las Vegas has undergone a revitalization of sorts, with many of the old hotels and casinos being demolished or imploded to make way for new state of the art properties. Las Vegas is a city that is constantly changing but even with its relatively short past, it has a lot of history.
One of the nicest hotel and casino mega-resorts in the Las Vegas area is The M Resort. Located on Las Vegas Boulevard, also known as “The Strip”, but actually located in the city of Henderson as it is about 8 miles south of the Mandalay Bay, which is usually considered the last large hotel in the resort corridor of the strip. The M Resort is a 92,000 square foot gaming facility and 390 room hotel that was opened on March 1, 2009. The total cost of the land and building of the M Resort is said to be $1 billion. 7 bars and 6 restaurants are located inside the M, including a wine tasting room named The Hostile Grape which offers over 120 great wines from all around the world. The Hostile Grape’s collection includes wines from America, Italy, France, Spain, South Africa, Germany, and more. Another bar, named 32 Degrees Draft Bar offers 96 selections of beer on tap including pilsners, stouts, ales, and lagers. Or if you would rather stay in your room, the M offers in-room dining for its hotel guests which allows them to enjoy top notch food in the comfort of their own rooms, since the rooms are so cozy that you may not want to leave including top of the line high tech entertainment systems and touch screen display panels to control various features of the room. The M even offer Mercedes’ top of the line flagship car the Maybach as house cars available for use to its patrons. If you require business services such as fax machines, computer and internet access, as well as equipment rentals such as cell phones and much more to make sure you and your business remains working at top efficiency. If you would rather relax, you can do so in the well-equipped high tech Spa Mio with many different treatments and services available. Some of the services include sauna and steam rooms, hot tub, full fitness center gym, day beds, and even a hair and nail salon so you can get a new hairdo or get your nails done so you look good holding your cards at the tables downstairs in the casino. The resort was actually featured in season 6 of the hit TV show Top Chef with the top winner of the series winning $65,000.
