What to see in and around Vegas?

[Clemsonfan15]

I'm headed out to Las Vegas for spring break and was hoping some of y'all could point me in the right direction of some things I should see.

We are flying into Las Vegas and staying there at least a few days. I think we'll probably see a show and try out one of the buffets.

Some places I've thought about going. Let me know which ones are better than the others.

-Grand Canyon
-Hoover Dam
-Arches
-Bryce
-Death Valley
-Yosemite
-Zion

Give me some opinions.

 

[MikesToy]

Las Vegas has everything. Whatever happens there, stays there! lol
Check out the Hoover Dam. Hope you rent an SUV to drive to/from Hoover Dam. Some shows are pricey (unless you're wealthy). Check out the clubs. Try the Stratosphere ride. Don't forget to buy souvineers.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

-Spend the money to do the expensive tour at the dam. Leave your pocket knife in the car, you'll go through security like getting on a plane. It's amazing and worth the time and money. The expensive tour is approx $35/person IIRC. The whole experience is a 2-3hours plus the drive in & out of the city.

-Car museum at the Imperial (on the strip).

-This sounds So Gaybut it's not... A couple of blocks off of the strip spend 1.5hours at the Atomic Testing Museum. It's really cool...

 

[MikesToy]

Bet on black on the very first roulette table you see.

 

[Uneek]

If you do Grand Canyon, you might as well do Hoover Dam too. It's along the way. You don't get to see much on the less expensive tour now after 9/11. I did the less expensive one of the two in 2005 or 2006 and they don't take you inside to see the turbines and generators, etc. They use to bring you inside and you can see the dam from down below (1995 or 1996). Go with CJ's suggestion and do the more expensive tour, unless you'll be in Vegas in the not so distant future again.

There's two vantage points to see Grand Canyon, the north and south rim. It's two different routes depending on which rim you want to see GC from. IIRC, north rim is closed during the winter. South rim is opened year round maybe with the exception of bad weather. GC is about a six hour drive from Vegas. There's also the Skywalk in GC now. It's pretty much like a glass spring board over a swimming pool. IIRC, from the info I've read about Skywalk, you're not allowed to bring your own camera.

In Vegas, I heard Tao is a great night club in The Venetian. Other things to do are the shows.

 

[MikesToy]

Buffets are alright if you just want to have something in your stomach. Check out Seafood City. Lotta places to eat. Hope you like asian food. hehehe... On the sidenote (IMHO & experience), most vegans outside the strip are (let's say) mean especially taxi drivers.

 

[Bigrupp]

Right about the time the sun starts to go down, stop in the Paris and get one of the big plastic Eiffel tower slushies and have them dump a bunch of 151 in it and start walking the strip. Just go- wherever you go. No real plans. The next afternoon when you finally get back to your room and you hope you remember all the crazy stuff that happened you'll be glad you did it, even if your feet hurt like hell. You gotta do it at least once.

 

[4X4snowRunner]

Check it out Bellagio Hotel. The best all you can eat buffet.

 

[SeattleMike]

Take Charleston Blvd west, past the Red Rock Casino, out to Red Rock Canyon. There is some great climbing and hiking out there, less than 30 minutes from the Strip.

In the other direction, head for Boulder City and Lake Mead, take the Dam tour, skip GC until you have time to do it as a destination by itself. Same with Yosemite.

Valley of Fire, Zion, both reachable in a couple hours. Bryce might be a longer drive than you want to take on "Spring Break".

Death Valley isn't much, but you might enjoy a side trip to Laughlin.

I lived in Vegas for 5 years... can you tell?

 

[MikesToy]

Don't spend too much time at Sheri's Ranch. :biggrin2:

 

[Bigrupp]

Don't spend too much time at Sheri's Ranch. :biggrin2:

How much time is too much?

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Las Vegas has everything. Whatever happens there, stays there! lol
Check out the Hoover Dam. Hope you rent an SUV to drive to/from Hoover Dam. Some shows are pricey (unless you're wealthy). Check out the clubs. Try the Stratosphere ride. Don't forget to buy souvineers.

Not quite. We got a full size car. Why would we need an SUV?

-Spend the money to do the expensive tour at the dam. Leave your pocket knife in the car, you'll go through security like getting on a plane. It's amazing and worth the time and money. The expensive tour is approx $35/person IIRC. The whole experience is a 2-3hours plus the drive in & out of the city.

-Car museum at the Imperial (on the strip).

-This sounds So Gaybut it's not... A couple of blocks off of the strip spend 1.5hours at the Atomic Testing Museum. It's really cool...

Thanks for letting me know about the different tours. If we go over there we'll be sure to do that one.

Bet on black on the very first roulette table you see.

Haha. I wish I was old enough to gamble there. My friends and I have already planned a trip out there when we turn 21.

If you do Grand Canyon, you might as well do Hoover Dam too. It's along the way. You don't get to see much on the less expensive tour now after 9/11. I did the less expensive one of the two in 2005 or 2006 and they don't take you inside to see the turbines and generators, etc. They use to bring you inside and you can see the dam from down below (1995 or 1996). Go with CJ's suggestion and do the more expensive tour, unless you'll be in Vegas in the not so distant future again.

There's two vantage points to see Grand Canyon, the north and south rim. It's two different routes depending on which rim you want to see GC from. IIRC, north rim is closed during the winter. South rim is opened year round maybe with the exception of bad weather. GC is about a six hour drive from Vegas. There's also the Skywalk in GC now. It's pretty much like a glass spring board over a swimming pool. IIRC, from the info I've read about Skywalk, you're not allowed to bring your own camera.

In Vegas, I heard Tao is a great night club in The Venetian. Other things to do are the shows.

Are their hotels near the Grand Canyon? My Grandparents did the Skywalk and said it was neat, but really expensive.

Right about the time the sun starts to go down, stop in the Paris and get one of the big plastic Eiffel tower slushies and have them dump a bunch of 151 in it and start walking the strip. Just go- wherever you go. No real plans. The next afternoon when you finally get back to your room and you hope you remember all the crazy stuff that happened you'll be glad you did it, even if your feet hurt like hell. You gotta do it at least once.

Sounds like fun. 151 will mess you up. Good stuff.

Check it out Bellagio Hotel. The best all you can eat buffet.

I want to stay there, but probably won't. Is it best to go to the dinner buffet?

Take Charleston Blvd west, past the Red Rock Casino, out to Red Rock Canyon. There is some great climbing and hiking out there, less than 30 minutes from the Strip.

In the other direction, head for Boulder City and Lake Mead, take the Dam tour, skip GC until you have time to do it as a destination by itself. Same with Yosemite.

Valley of Fire, Zion, both reachable in a couple hours. Bryce might be a longer drive than you want to take on "Spring Break".

Death Valley isn't much, but you might enjoy a side trip to Laughlin.

I lived in Vegas for 5 years... can you tell?

Thanks for the info. How far is Bryce? What's in Laughlin?

Don't spend too much time at Sheri's Ranch. :biggrin2:

I saw this place online. Looks like fun.

 

[MikesToy]

Not quite. We got a full size car. Why would we need an SUV?

The roadway up there to Hoover Dam is steep. You'll see everything better while you're in a higher vehicle (SUV, Bus, Truck, etc.) vs in a car. I can't stop you from the full size car but just my 2 cents.

 

[MikesToy]

How much time is too much?

When you're still there after shift change. hehehe...

 

[JeremyH]

Take Charleston Blvd west, past the Red Rock Casino, out to Red Rock Canyon. There is some great climbing and hiking out there, less than 30 minutes from the Strip.

Agreed! Red Rock Canyon is a great place!!

 

[MikesToy]

Be aware of the newspaper stands. They're always updated. :biggrin2:

I have like 10+ pages on my experience in Vegas. So i'll just pick up a few blots and jot 'em down here.

 

[HouseCat]

Las Vegas has everything. Whatever happens there, stays there! lol
Check out the Hoover Dam. Hope you rent an SUV to drive to/from Hoover Dam. Some shows are pricey (unless you're wealthy). Check out the clubs. Try the Stratosphere ride. Don't forget to buy souvineers.

Yes! Good advice...rent an SUV. Going by tour bus blows.

I got married in Vegas! I had an Elvis wedding...it was awesome. I had a bad sinus infection the whole time so I don't really remember a lot of it. I know we stayed in the Excalibur and saw the show where they're jousting and you eat yard bird with your fingers. That was pretty neat. Definitely go see the big water fountain show...that is worth the walk. That's about all I remember between all the Benadryl, NyQuil and SoCo.I consumed. :wow2:

 

[Uneek]

Are their hotels near the Grand Canyon? My Grandparents did the Skywalk and said it was neat, but really expensive.

I stayed in Williams and drove in the next morning about a 1.5 hour drive.

 

[tkr128]

Definitely do the "expensive" tour at Hoover Dam. I did it back in 2006 and it was pretty interesting.

Here are some pics from that trip...one on the drive down to the dam (in my 4Runner) and a pic inside the dam from the tour.

The thing about Vegas is...you'll always find something to do.

 

[4X4snowRunner]

I want to stay there, but probably won't. Is it best to go to the dinner buffet?

Actually we stay in Paris Hotel and we visit the hotels around and buffet. Bellagio Hotel has the biggest buffet I’ve seen and the foods are great.