My wife and I are considering a vacation in LV this fall. Any input, advice and guidance would be appreciated. We're not really gamblers, but a couple of shows, some nice meals, and a tour of the desert would be refreshing.

I can be hot - very hot.

With that though - I, like you, do not gamble but I like to watch people and walk around while doing it.

Find a show (Eagles?), relax, enjoy. Watch people go crazy cause they won,or lost money - or just watch the crazy people.

Other options:

take a dam tour of the Hoover Dam.

If you're golfers, there are some good courses to play there. Spent a lot less money in 5 hours on the course than same amount of time in a casino.

There are also gun ranges with full-auto rentals.

You could also rent a houseboat on Lake Mead for a few days

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

Cirque - O, at the Bellagio was a great show.
Hell's Kitchen was good dining, we were fans of the show.

I'm an outdoors guy. Close in, there is Red Rocks. Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Zion are all within driving distance.

^ Zion was awesome, been a long time since I've been

Another thumbs up for Red Rock and Zion.

The only advice I would give is to go when there’s something, or someone, that you really want to see. For me that would be something like the National Finals Rodeo in early December, or someone like Van Morrison, who was there last year IIRC.

Comedy Clubs, Cirque shows, usually a few good music venues. There is a bar in he middle of New York New York casino floor that does dueling pianos.

I would pick out what activities you want each night and buy tickets months in advance. They sell out and then you have to make concessions.

I've been to Las Vegas a few times and spent only a little time on the strip. I use Las Vegas as a jumping point for outdoor activities.

Red Rock
Zion
Death Valley
Valley of Fire

We drove through it only stopping at Costco. Most shows were by tribute performers. At Costco, no one would make eye contact. Lots of poor areas. Drove across the dam. Stopped in Winslow AZ. Basically, just driving around.
We don't know how to vacation

Just got back a couple of weeks ago from a long weekend trip.

We saw the Cirque show Mystere @ Treasure Island. I would describe it as someone's fever dream. But it was awesome and some of the bits were really funny.

The visitor center of the Hoover Dam was closed while we were there. They were doing some work on it so if you plan on a trip out there make sure you can actually do what you want to do.

quote:

Originally posted by comet24:
...
Valley of Fire

I forgot about that. Elephant Rock. The Little Wave.

Another vote for Valley of fire.

I posted this thread with photos I took when we went in 2020

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...020089774#1020089774



What kind of food?

Komex is a Korean/Mexican fusion hole in the wall place that is fantastic. Was recommended by another SF member when I asked for recommendations a few year back. Not fancy but good and priced right.

https://www.komexexpress.com



For fancier food, they have a great buffet at the Cosmopolitan hotel “The Wicked Spoon” - gourmet quality in an all you can eat style. Lots of variety and all good.

https://www.cosmopolitanlasveg...aurants/wicked-spoon

I saw the Cirque show "Ka" at MGM in 2010. It was the most amazing live show I've ever seen.

If I could go back and watch any show free of charge, I would watch Ka again.

Back in the 80s/90s, they had cheap food to lure people in. $5 steak and egg breakfasts, really reasonable buffets, etc. Now, they seem to have gone the 'gourmet' route. Ate at the Gordon Ramsay pub at Caesar's Palace this summer. My fish and chips was $33. That was almost the cheapest thing on the menu. Now, it was good, but I REALLY wanted something more, but the prices were just nuts ($75 for beef wellington, $40 for a half dozen fried scallops (no sides; just the scallops).

I just can't spend that much money on meals. I guess I'm cheap that way. They did have a 'food court' with reasonably-priced food, but the people I was with wanted something 'nice.'

Caesar's also had a Bobby Flay restaurant, the Hell's Kitchen place was just outside. Seems every casino has a major (and expensive) restaurant.

Heck, for breakfast I had yogurt, granola, and fruit, and that was something like $20. . . I miss the old days.



Vegas is a yuge vacation destination place. Just walking the strip (the new one - I hate the old one with the roof - it is just way too touristy for me). You can people watch. They have a Coca Cola store, and an MM store, with the most dizzying variety of merch. . . Those were neat. At night, it gets kind of nuts. All the girls with their seductive outfits, passed out/hammered drunks, a free fountain show at Bellagio. It's kind of much, but I would go just to see what it's like.

I enjoyed the Mob Museum.

I was there a month ago with family. Landed in Vegas at 10 am on Sunday. Got a car and did Red Rock for a few hours. That night hit up Michael Jackson show. Monday drove to Grand Canyon West Rim and stopped by the Dam. Tuesday hit Zion for most of the day. If you go to Zion get there early and bring good walking shoes. Zion was my favorite by far. We stayed at the Sahara and wouldn’t stay there again. Best part was the flight home. We were supposed to fly home at noon. Delta asked for 15-20 people to get off plane due to heat. We got $1,000 each to fly home at 10 pm. The 10:30 am flight folks got $1,500 ea. Made money on my vacation and didn’t gamble.

Been there 30 times in 30 years. Have never gambled. Required education credits. Best entertainment in the world. Expensive but worth it. Great food. Expensive but worth it. Consider it an adult Disney Land.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
Another vote for Valley of fire.

A few years ago at Valley of Fire. I didn’t know what this place was going to be but I can say I was blown away.

Fall season in Vegas isn't horrible but, it'll still be hot. Won't cool down until after Thanksgiving, after that it just gets windy as all hell.

Lots of stage acts and performers to choose from, pick a night that you and your partner can get a bit dressed-up, take in a show and a grab a nice dinner. Vegas is a major international destination so not only is there a variety of cuisines to choose from but, there's any number of Michelin-stared and recognized (no stars) locations to treat yourself.

Getting away from The Strip is a good move, multiple days there can be overwhelming and make one irritable. If you're interested in science and technology, check out the Atomic Musuem. Its apart of the Smithsonian and even for non-science/military enthusiasts, it's pretty interesting; I found it quite facinating. Figure 2hrs a visit.