Viva Las Vegas!

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to visit Vegas. Although my trip was all about business, I did get a chance to mix a bit of pleasure to the pot. My main reason for being there was the annual IPW which is a huge travel fair that features all kinds of US travel suppliers from all over the country. I took on the daunting task of representing our company and let me tell you - it was probably one of the best choices I have made!

Las Vegas is not a simple city by any means. I mean, come on, it's Vegas for crying out loud :) But I think I left a tiny part of myself there, because leaving was pretty hard. So to relive my moments in Las Vegas, I thought I'd write a little something about it.

There once were meadows greener than green...

Colorado River

That is actually true since hundreds of years ago the place where now stands Las Vegas was filled with lush meadows. They say that the name Las Vegas actually translates to "meadows" from Spanish. Today paints a totally different picture of course, although...

...I have to say that approaching the city at sunset is a sight to see. First you see nothing but sand and a couple of almost green shrubs and small houses - typical desert you think. But then! The last rays of sun glisten back from something..and there it is - the Eiffel tower, the Luxor pyramid, New York skyscrapers, hotels decked with colorful lights - yep, you have arrived! :)

Today, the best way to see some greenery is to either walk along the Strip and look at the palm trees planted there or take a trip to the Colorado river. I got a chance to go on a rafting trip along the river and let me tell you - even the 116 F heat didn't bother me. A kayaking or rafting trip on the river is a favorite past time for the locals as well. You should give it a try! Maybe you'll even see some cute little sheep when you're there - I did ;)

Let Vegas entertain you...

Surrender Nightclub at Encore Resort

Vegas is a city of great contrasts - it is the number one party place in the States and one of the best on a world scale as well. But then again it is also a place that you could take your family to. This can't be true? Let me explain...

As I already said, Vegas is the party capital of the States. There isn't another place to throw the bachelor or bachelorette party of the decade (Lee Abbamonte can give you a few tips on that here). The number of clubs and bars is outrageous and the party goes on from dusk till dawn and then back again. The Surrender nightclub at Encore is quite small, but combined with the Beach Club, it is a great outdoor/indoor place to shake your behind a bit. I got the chance to visit it during IPW and I was not disappointed, although the Beach Club at Mandalay Bay is to die for. I mean a beach party smack in the middle of Vegas? In Vegas you say - why not?

All kids ahoy in Vegas!

As I said Vegas can be done with the little ones in tow as well. Don't be frightened by the party capital status since all that jazz goes mostly on during the night, but during the day...

The Circus Circus hotel houses an indoor theme park called Adventuredome that gives the outdoor parks a run for their money. It has a roller coaster, a lift things that shoots you up high and then drops back down and of course some rides for the faint at heart as well. Of course you can not forget the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. The huge! aquarium is home to about 100 sharks from about 15 different species. They also have all kinds of other colorful fish and I bet you could find Nemo there as well. If animals are your thing then the Mirage has a Secret Garden, where you can say hi to lions, leopards, cheetahs and dolphins. Think of it as a mini zoo in the middle of Vegas.

Besides animals and thrill rides, you can find lots of different museums and other attractions in Vegas. For example the M&M's World and Ethel's Chocolate Factory. I bet I don't have to explain what those places are about, but you might want to keep the visit to one time only. Otherwise the dentist will charge you double ;)

You can also visit the Madame Tussauds wax museum where you can say hi to all kinds of celebrities. Who wouldn't want to shake hands with the US president or....Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie?
I already mentioned the Colorado river, but I didn't add Lake Mead which is a huge lake and also offers all kinds of water activities. A day in the sun full on fun is guaranteed!

It's showtime!

Fireworks at Caesars Palace

One thing that never stops in Vegas besides the cash flow, are the shows. Every night, hundreds of artists grace the stages across town to entertain you and your comrades. And let's not forget that Caesars Palace is home to the one and only Celine Dion - better get those tickets fast!

As an IPW attendee I got a chance to see a 45-minute preview of the new Cirque du Soleil show "Michael Jackson ONE". If the 45 minutes gave me goose pumps then I don't even dare to think what the full length show will do. If Michael Jackson is not your thing then there are at least 8 other Cirque du Soleil shows to see - something for everyone.

You can also make a selection from a variety of concerts, stand-up comedy shows and so on and so forth. There is something for everyone, I can guarantee that!

We all need our beauty sleep

Every once in a while, we all need to crash for a little and have a power nap. For that, Las Vegas offers a ton of different hotels. There is one rule though - staying on the Strip costs you more than staying somewhere a bit further away from the fuzz. This probably doesn't come as a surprise, but it's better to throw it out there - just in case.

Wynn and Encore

The main hotels, that even people who haven't been to Vegas know, are of course Caesars Palace, the Venetian, the Palms, Palazzo, the Mirage and the home of the dancing fountains, the Bellagio. Still, you should keep your eyes and options open to some other hotels as well.

Like the Mandalay Bay which houses a huge beach club, like I already said. The Wynn & Encore just look super stylish and then there's a hotel named Vdara which is a bit different. Vdara is special in that sense that it is the only hotel on the Strip that doesn't have a casino in it. It's sort of a safe haven for those who want to get away from all the gambling, but then again a great place to stay since it's still close to all the action.

Sunrise in Vegas at 5 AM

After being to Vegas I think that you could draw a line between Vegas and the opera. You either like it or you don't. I'm not very fond of the opera but Vegas on the other hand...

One thing's for sure - Las Vegas, we will meet again! And until then, remember that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas ;)