Vegas!

[sakon76]

Wonderful Husband's birthday is next month, and he would quite like to see "O," so we are in the planning stages of a trip to Las Vegas. Drive out Friday night, drive back Sunday night. Traffic all the way!

Since one show will not fill a day and a half, and neither of us are that enamored of gambling, or of the cigarette smoke that permeates everything in the casinos, we are looking for other things to fill the time. I know there's a fabulous shop there where cosplayers get feathers; I need to find the name and hours and address.

Being me, and being into the things I'm into, I suggested we tour Hoover Dam. I was not expecting Wonderful Husband to perk up and also think that was a nifty idea. (He knows the source of my interest; he reminded me that Megatron was no longer there.)

We're debating whether or not to see a second show while we're there, and whether or not it should be a second Cirque show if so. Also, where to stay! Last time we were there (10+ years ago) we stayed at the Golden Nugget. This time, he wants to stay on the Strip itself. I have vetoed the Luxor because I remember being in it and just being on the ground level induced mild panic in me. There are very few buildings that make me acrophobic; in thirty-mumble years, I've only been in three. The Luxor was one.

Anyone have any thoughts/suggestions for our getaway weekend?

Comments

[flybystardancer.livejournal.com]

I thought the CSI Experience was rather fun... And I tend to like to do a tour of the free stuff at the different casinos. The Flamingo has a small zoo, just a handful of species of birds, that's free. I liked having dinner at Margaritaville.

[dragondancer515.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I'd wanted to do the CSI Experience when I was out there last visiting my bro. Wasn't able to, but maybe next time. 8D

[dragondancer515.livejournal.com]

If you decide to stay somewhere off The Strip after all, the Southpoint is really good. My parents and I stayed there once when we were out visiting my brother and his partner, who live only blocks from it. And I think my parents have stayed there at least one other time. It's close and convenient for visiting Bro and Partner, but it's also just a really nice hotel - we liked it.

Dad is suggesting that maybe you get a room either /at/ the hotel that "O" is in or one very close, and then take a cab if it's too far to walk - that way you don't have worry about trying to find parking, especially in time for the show. Though if I remember my brother telling me right, valet parking at most of the major hotels is....well, either /free/ (with tip) or free with voucher from the hotel (with or without tip) - I can't remember, though I could find out again from my brother. Though even if it's not free, though, valet parking would probably still be cheaper than a cab, and the room cost would be cheaper off-Strip than on it, and then driving in for the show.

As for other shows . . . I have to, of course, shamelessly pimp my brother's, "Absinthe". It's been described as "Cirque du Soleil meets Rocky Horror Picture Show". XD The acts themselves are /awesome/, though the MC and his assistant between acts can get really REALLY crass. Normally, that's not my cuppa and might not be yours either, but /knowing/ that going in, being prepared for it, I was able to anticipate it and could just tune it out if I needed too. I wound up not doing so. I laughed SO hard for most of it. And again, the performers are awesome. OMG the two strength/balance performers are /just/ incredible! And it's all a really intimate setting too. It's a theater-in-the-round setting, meaning the stage is in the center surrounded by the seating. And the stage is only /maybe/ 8-10 feet across, so again the whole thing's very small and intimate. The show's not for everyone, or you might find something else you want to do more, but if you're interested, let me know. I can ask my brother if he can get discounted tickets for you guys. He'd make sure you've got really good seating too - not that there's /really/ any bad seating, but...yeah. =3

There's lots of shops and stuff up and down The Strip too. Bro took my BFF and I to the Coca-Cola Store and the World of M&M - those were fun! There's Madam Tussaud's at...I forget which hotel, and the Gangster Museum. Oh! And the Neon Boneyard! Wanna know what's become of all those iconic neon signs from hotels still standing and those that are no more? Interested in the history of Las Vegas? The Neon Boneyard is awesome! Bro and Partner took me and our parents and grandmother when we visited last September. It was really fascinating!

And I've been to the Hoover Dam once, but it was 20 years ago and I'm afraid I don't remember it. Enjoy it for me too! 8D

[flybystardancer.livejournal.com]

Madam Tussaud's is the Venician IIRC... It's also fun. :D

[dragondancer515.livejournal.com]

8D Wanna go see that sometime.

[flybystardancer.livejournal.com]

Supposedly it's haunted with the ghosts of the Ratpack and Elvis from when that ground was the Sands Hotel... Ghost Adventures did an episode there.

[dragondancer515.livejournal.com]

I SAW THAT, YES! I love Ghost Adventures! <3

[dragondancer515.livejournal.com]

Regarding Hoover Dam - I called my brother this morning about something else, and while we were on the phone I also mentioned you guys going out to LV and possibly going to the show (just in case you did decide you wanted to, my contacting him about it /then/ for a favor wouldn't seem quite so out-of-the-blue). I told him about your tentative plans including Hoover Dam, and he commented that you might want to book your tour in advance, as the tickets tend to sell out really quickly.

Just something to keep in mind!

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

Hoover Dam was indeed faboo. The Liberace Museum was fantastic, but sadly, it is no longer around.
The art galleries in the Bellagio and the Venetian are worth a visit. An entire retrospective of Monet is in the Bellagio on loan from Boston-- it's probably the same one Eric and I saw, so I can definitely recommend it.

Peter Max is in the Forum shops, if 60's pop art appeals to you.

Looks like the Guggenheim Museum in the Venetian will be closed or has closed permanently, which is/would be a goddamn shame. A Velasquez I've never seen before was on display when we went there. :( Also in the Venetian, but I'm not sure if it's still there, was an entire shop featuring the works of Thierry Mugler.

The Star Trek Experience is apparently a hoot (didn't get a chance to go) and I really enjoyed the Shark Reef in the Mandalay Bay.