Las Vegas Things to Do Tips by madamx

Wynn is the new kid on Las Vegas Blvd., and it's worthwhile to stop by and take in the beautiful gardens full of waterfalls. If you're into home decor, the interior is something to see, especially the lighting fixtures and luxurious fabric curtains. The decor theme is funky french country with a bit of asian influence thrown in. The hotel is also conveniently located across from the Fashion Show Mall.

The lower level has a water wall outside that has laser shows starting after dusk, located beside the restaurant Daniel Boulud. The shows are every 30 minutes starting at 7:30 pm, but I would confirm that as I'm not sure if that's seasonal. We didn't see the actual show, but in the evening, before the shows start, the wall and surrounding trees were beautifully lit in morphing colors.

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Address: 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S
Directions: Approximately mid strip
Website: http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/index.jsp

We just saw this show in Las Vegas, and you must beg, borrow or steal to get tickets, it's that good. The show is so incredible. It filled all my senses with such beauty I was on the brink of tears. Hubby said it was "amazing" and he has never used that word as long as I have known him, so I'm not the only one who thinks it's impressive!

The Cirque du Soleil show is based on a retrospect of the Beatle's music, and covers it pretty much from beginning to end. Some special features of the show include speakers on the back of each chair to surround you with the music, plus if you are in the orchestra to upper orchestra sections, you get included in the show. Ahhh, it would be tellling if I spill the beans how exactly you get included in the show. So go get some tickets now!!

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Directions: Love is currently playing at The Mirage.
Website: http://www.mirage.com/entertainment/entertainment_cirque_du_soleil.aspx

The fountains at the Bellagio may sound cheesy (so I thought) but, they are absolutely mesmerizing. In fact, we stood there for probably over an hour, just to watch the show over and over again. If you've never heard of the fountains, 1200 moving spouts of water are choreographed to music. The shows are every 15 minutes until about midnight, and last maybe 2-3 minutes depending on what song they are using. They are really quite something to see, but I suggest if you don't have much time, to go at night, as they are at their most beautiful, with colored lights.

Probably the best view is, of course, in front of the Bellagio, but more to the sides, as you can get in the whole show without turning your head from side to side.

Also, a tip: You can view them from your own private little balcony. Go up inside the enclosed escalators/staircase to the Bellagio shops, north of the fountains, and there is a little balcony overlooking the fountains out two double french doors. My husband and I stood there for quite some time without any hassle and had a wonderful view of the fountains.

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Phone: 1 - 888 - 987-3456
Address: 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Directions: In front of the Bellagio Hotel
Website: http://www.Bellagio.com

If you are a plant lover, you must not miss the conservatory at the Bellagio.

These beautiful gardens are made with potted plants and other transplanted plant materials, as well as from what I could see, silk plants. These gardens are stunning and impressive. You can view the gardens from about 6:30 am until about midnight. If you can, see the conservatory during the day, as your pictures will turn out much better, as you will be taking pictures, you just can't help it. The flower arrangements are changed according to the seasons.

The outdoor gardens as well as arrangements in the lobby are coordinated to what is in the conservatory.

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Phone: (888) 987-3456
Address: 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Directions: Head straight through the Bellagio lobby, you can't miss it.
Website: http://www.Bellagio.com

The Venetian, like The Bellagio, is one of those must-see hotels, just to drink in the beautiful architecture and the overall atmosphere of elegance. On our return visit (2006) we noticed even the air is perfumed as you enter the hotel!

You are taken back in time to the artistic, architectural and commercial centre of the 16th century. They spare no expense with detail, as even the washrooms in the lobby are done up in grand style. The grounds are modelled after, well, as the name says, Venice, complete with canals with gondeliers and their boats. Great concept, but I just don't see the attraction of sitting in a boat while people are staring at you as you go past.

However, it really is something else. It also has a branch of the Guggenheim inside as well.

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Phone: (702) 414-1000
Address: 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Website: http://www.venetian.com/home.cfm

The addition of The Palazzo tower makes the Venetian the biggest hotel in the world, at 7,000 rooms. At the time of this writing, we saw that finishing touches are still being applied, such as flooring in parts of the shopping area, and some restaurants are still yet to open.

If you are into high-end shopping, The Palazzo has it all -- but if you don't have the money, it's fun to look anyway. The public areas are beautiful and luxe, with the crowning touch a gigantic frosted glass sculpture fountain.

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Directions: Right beside The Venetian
Website: http://www.palazzolasvegas.com/

Paris, Las Vegas is yet another hotel which is so over-the-top it's beautiful. You really do feel like you are in Paris -- it comes complete with an Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysees, Parc Monceau, and the Paris Opera House, and all very tastefully done.

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Phone: (702) 946-7000
Address: 3655 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Directions: Center Strip next to Aladdin's Hotel and Casino
Website: http://www.paris-lv.com

The exterior of this hotel is highly entertaining, and gives you a compacted, cartoony version of the New York skyline. There is a half-sized Statue of Liberty, you get a small Brooklyn Bridge, plus there is a roller coaster that goes around the complex as well.

If you are a big fan of roller coasters, my husband reports that this one is very ordinary, and you're better off going somewhere else, such as the Adventuredome at Circus Circus.

The interior is designed to take you through Greenwich Village, Times Square, and Wall Street. This hotel, as you can imagine, is quite popular and is very, very crowded.

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Phone: (800) 693-6763
Address: 3790 Las Vegas Blvd
Website: http://www.nynyhotelcasino.com/pages/index_flash.asp

Located almost at the end of the strip, beside Mandalay Bay, the Luxor is shaped like a giant pyramid and is 30 stories high. The rooms are situated around the outside from top to bottom, with a gigantic open atrium inside.

The theme, of course, is Egyptian and the interior is very impressive with lots of palm trees and Egyptian motifs and statues dramatically lit.

There is almost a museum-like atmosphere here, and of all the grand "theme" hotels, we found this is one of the quieter ones on the strip. You probably won't spend much time here as there isn't a whole lot to see, but it is worthwhile.

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Phone: (800) 288-1000
Address: 3900 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Directions: South end of the strip between Excalibur and Mandalay Bay
Website: http://www.luxor.com

This place is MASSIVE. You are almost struck speechless when you first see the hotel and grounds because it's just so huge. I guess this Roman theme echos the excess and fantasy of the ancient Romans, and it pulls it off with a grand flourish.

We, in fact, didn't have time to go inside the hotel/casino itself, but walked around the perimeter of the property, plus we went into the Forum Shops, which is basically, a gigantic shopping mall, complete with beautiful Italian architecture and gorgeous fountains. Like the other theme hotels, the shop fronts are meant to make you feel you are on a street, this time in Rome.

This is an extremely busy area, and the crowds were overwhelming. We did return here early in the day, but it didn't seem to make that much of a difference.

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Phone: 1-(800) 634-6661
Address: 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Directions: Center Strip between Bellagio and The Mirage
Website: http://www.caesars.com/Caesars/LasVegas/