Chances are, if you like trying your luck at the tables or on the slots, you’ve already been to Las Vegas.
After all, it is the premier gambling destination in the world. No news there, right? But perhaps you had a tough time breaking away from the casino to venture out and see what else the city has to offer.
Whether traveling with family, friends or your significant other, there’s so much more to Las Vegas than rolling dice.
GET SETTLED IN
Of course, if you’re staying at a place like Aria Hotel and Casino, one of Las Vegas’ newest properties, breaking away from your temporary living quarters during that Vegas getaway won’t be easy. Located in the heart of Vegas’ new City Center, Aria plays hosts to some of the city’s hottest attractions.
The guest rooms at Aria feature some of the latest technology like one-touch control of lighting, room temperature, television/video systems, music, wake-up calls, draperies and requests for service through a single, easy-to-use remote control. Guests can set the system to wake up gradually through controlled temperature, lighting, curtain opening and preferred music.
The hotel features three pools and Liquid Pool Lounge, an adults only water playground if you’re into more of a party scene. Be sure to have that credit card on hand, though, if you plan on visiting Liquid. The pool is a bit pricey but partying in Vegas usually is.
Of course, the party at Aria doesn’t stop poolside. The hotel features a number of lounges and HAZE, one of the latest clubs presented by the industry leaders, The Light Group. The plush club features a one-of-a-kind sound system for an unforgettable nightlife experience at the hotel.
Aria also features a unique onsite spa and salon that offers everything from massage therapies to facial care. Just don’t get too comfortable because there’s so much more to do.
LET’S EAT
Once out and about, picking a spot to dine in Vegas won’t be easy because there are so many options.
If you’re in the mood for a more casual atmosphere, there’s The Pub at the Monte Carlo. With more than 70 beers on tap and countless big screen TVs, The Pub is a great spot to stop in and grab a cold one and catch a game while in Vegas. And with a menu that includes fresh mango chicken quesadillas, grilled fish and some of the biggest burgers you’ve ever seen, you’ll find more than enough to eat.
The Pub is also known for its famous adult milkshakes, such as “The Luck of the Irish” or “Peppermint Snowflake,” and hosts live entertainment on the weekends.
For fine dining, look no further than Michael Mina’s American Fish located at Aria. The menu includes signature dishes like shrimp and grits (loved it), cornmeal-crusted rainbow trout, and Hawaii Big Eye Tuna, and impeccable service.
Another one of my favorite restaurants in Vegas is the Burger Bar. Whether you’re in the mood for a beef, buffalo, turkey or vegetarian burger, you’ll find it here along with a range of gourmet toppings and buns. If you like sushi, be sure to check out Social House, now located in City Center.
SHOWTIME
From magic to musicals, the shows in Las Vegas are endless, but Disney’s ”The Lion King,” playing at Mandalay Bay, is definitely the must-see. Based on the celebrated 1994 Disney animated film, ”The Lion King” features an amazing ensemble of international performers, whose detailed costumes, carved masks and intricate makeup transport the audience to the gorgeous vistas of the African Savanna.
”The Lion King” is, in one word, breathtaking. Then again, as the winner of more than 70 major awards worldwide, including the Tony for Best Musical, and the Grammy for Best Musical Show Album, you kind of expect an amazing show. And it definitely exceeds those expectations.
You might also want to check out comedian George Wallace at the Flamingo or an interesting spin on some Motown classics with the Australian group Human Nature and their show, “Smokey Robinson presents Human Nature, The Ultimate Celebration of the Motown Sound,” at the Imperial Palace.
Las Vegas is also home to The Liberace Museum that features the legendary entertainer Liberace’s dazzling jewelry, rare antiques, unsurpassed wardrobe, unique and historical pianos and his custom car collection.
SHOP TILL YOU DROP
Looking to do some shopping while in Vegas? Well, name it and you’ll find it.
Whether it’s The Grand Canal Shoppes, inspired by Venice and nestled in the heart of The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, which features 80 shops, or the 75,000 square feet of retail space featured at Wynn Las Vegas’ Esplanade, just about every designer you can imagine has an outlet somewhere in Vegas. You’re also likely to stumble on a few talented but unfamiliar designers.
A short cab ride from the strip, you’ll also find Las Vegas Outlet Center, that features 130 stores including Adidas, Ann Taylor, Ashworth Golf, Calvin Klein, Coach, Ecko Unltd, Gymboree, Hurley, Levi’s, Liz Claiborne, Nautica, Nike, Reebok, Tommy Hilfiger, VF Outlet – Vanity Fair Wrangler Lee, Volcom.
This indoor mall, complete with two food courts and an indoor carousel, is located on the southern end of the Strip.
BREAK THE NORM
If you find the human anatomy interesting, there’s “Bodies: The Exhibition.” The exhibit showcases more than 275 full body, organ and partial body specimens. These real human bodies have been meticulously dissected, preserved through an innovative process and respectfully presented, giving visitors the opportunity to view the beauty and complexity of their own organs and systems.
It’s a strolling lesson on the anatomy of the human body in a much cooler format than those days spent flipping though textbooks or dissecting frogs back in school.
If you’re looking for a little adventure, Pink Jeep Tours offers tours of the Grand Canyon — an exclusive section of nature’s solitude that few have ever witnessed and where civilization seems but a distant concept.
The tour goes through beautiful Mesquite, the rugged Virgin River Gorge and picturesque St. George, Utah, then across the historic Arizona Strip where you travel on America’s treasured back country roads inaccessible to most, with vast prairie plains, mountainous horizons and traditional active ranches.
At the rim of the Canyon you will enjoy dramatic views at the narrowest, deepest part of the inner Canyon, over 3,000 feet vertical above the Colorado River and where you can see and often hear Lava Falls Rapids, the largest and wildest on the river.
For a walk on the wild side, there’s also the Shark Reef Aquarium where you can come face-to-face with some of the earth’s most fascinating creatures in North America’s only predator-based aquarium and exhibit. Located in Mandalay Bay, the Shark Reef features sharks of all kinds, along with sawfish, giant rays, endangered green sea turtles, piranha, moon jellies and the rare golden crocodiles.
In all, there are over 2,000 animals in 1.6 million gallons of seawater.
Probably never thought about getting that close to a shark of doing an off road adventure in La
s Vegas, huh? See, I told you — there’s a lot more to this city than gambling.