Hints wanted: What to do in Vegas

[isbre]

[EDIT 01/20/2011:] Planning a new trip "Across the Pond" in March. I'll arrive in Las Vegas March 7th and plan to actually check out the city a couple of days this time, let me know if anyone wants to meet up somewhere and/or join in on the roadtrip in post 41!!

Now back to the original first post
[/EDIT]

Hi guys!

I'm going on another roadtrip around new years and I'm going to spend a couple of days in Vegas, probably December 31st to January 6th. I have neven been to Vegas and to say that I'm looking forward to spending new years eve in Vegas would be an understatement.

I'm looking for hints on what to see and where to stay in Vegas, especially hints on interesting places to see that a tourist normally doesn't see or even know about, so if anyone know about some unknown Las Vegas gems, please post them here.

(For more information about my roadtrip see my thread in the California section.)

 

[LX_StreetGlow]

hmmm if you never been to Vegas than for sure you'll enjoy, first of all there's

* The Strip - yes its full of tourists, but for a reason, you'll enjoy what it has to offer, with each casino a theme of its own, it's fun to see them all... Note that each casino has some sort of a entertainment shows, some are free, but others cost $$$.

* Hoover Dam - 45min drive from the strip and you can tour the hoover dam, and for about $50 you can get a helicopter ride around the Hoover Dam and surrounding canyons.

* Red Rock Canyon - beautiful place to check out and go hiking, entry fee per car is only $5..

* Lake Las Vegas - (not lake Mead) in case you want to get away from all the craziness and just relax a bit, and chill.

* Fremont - Old downtown, also tourist place but none the less should check it out.

 

[Focus]

Don't forget the Bunny Ranch

 

[isbre]

hmmm if you never been to Vegas than for sure you'll enjoy, first of all there's

* The Strip - yes its full of tourists, but for a reason, you'll enjoy what it has to offer, with each casino a theme of its own, it's fun to see them all... Note that each casino has some sort of a entertainment shows, some are free, but others cost $$$.

* Hoover Dam - 45min drive from the strip and you can tour the hoover dam, and for about $50 you can get a helicopter ride around the Hoover Dam and surrounding canyons.

* Red Rock Canyon - beautiful place to check out and go hiking, entry fee per car is only $5..

* Lake Las Vegas - (not lake Mead) in case you want to get away from all the craziness and just relax a bit, and chill.

* Fremont - Old downtown, also tourist place but none the less should check it out.

Hey, thanks for the hints, The Strip, Hoover dam and Fremont I know about, the rest I'll (google) and check out further, thanks.
How far out is Red Rock Canyon?

Don't forget the Bunny Ranch

hehe, being single (cryhard) I'll think about it, but I think I'll rather spend some money on engine management and transmission internals.

 

[TunerzEdge]

Red Rock isn't far at all! its on the west side of town and a good driving experience. To bad you are not staying until the 10th. CES!! ill be there for sure. If you need a guide hit me up!

 

[isbre]

I guess I'll go there then. Too bad about CES, but let me know if you want to meet up somewhere in Vegas when I'm there.

What is truly spectacular on new years eve in Vegas?

 

[isbre]

I haven't booked the hotel yet, maybe that's overdue. Got any hints which ones are nice?

 

[alphanumeric]

I haven't booked the hotel yet, maybe that's overdue. Got any hints which ones are nice?

Depending on how far away from the strip u want to stay, I'd book ASAP. A lot of the stuff south of the strip is pretty nice, Luxor, Mandalay, u might get a better deal toward the center of the stip where the older hotels are (Riviera/Flamingo). But remember these are older and won't be as nice as the newer hotels (Wynn, Encore, CityCenter: should be open by the time u come down)

shoot me a pm and ill see if we can get a meet or something together, i run some of the meets for our local club so let me know and maybe we can plan a cruise, hike or night out or something.

Valley of Fire is a little farther but is worth the drive, i think the drive is better than Red Rock. If u wanna hike/climb though, Red Rock is the place.

 

[funcrew]

As a local, I recommend the Imperial Palace Car Collection. Takes about an hour to walk through, and among other things, they always have numerous 1960's & 70's Ferraris, Aston Martins, Porsches, and more obscure very expensive cars that have nice styling and good paint jobs.

Here's a place to print out free admission for two:

http://autocollections.com/index.cfm?action=free&tab=free

If you like Thai food, make sure to eat at Lotus of Siam:

http://www.offbeattravel.com/siam.html

Enjoy!

 

[isbre]

Thanks alphanumeric and funcrew!

I've geen lazy and my friend that's joining me will return from a long business trip tomorrow, time to get the hotel stay ordered this week.

I will of course let you guys know when I arrive.

 

[Crazypato]

I like cruising on the 215 Beltway at night (its a freeway that goes around half of vegas)...if you take it from the 95 freeway which on the south side of vegas on to the north side of vegas...you'll end up with a pretty kewl view of the casinos. Then when you get to the I-15 freeway (which is where the 215 ends) just take the south ramp and it'll get you back to the casinos.

There's also a helicopter on the strip, ive never been on it but im pretty sure its a blast!

 

[isbre]

Thanks for the hint Crazypatom, I think I'll take that drive.
Do you know how much a helicoper ride cost and where to get tickets?

One month left until I leave now! (headbang)
What do you guys do in Vegas to celebrate the start of a new year?

 

[Crazypato]

Just Google "Las Vegas Helicopter tours" or go on looktours.com and a couple of options of rides should come up...the lowest I found was $70 per adult and the ride is approximately 1.5 hours...

And for New Years, most people go to the strip because they close up the street and no cars are allowed....but i heard that it gets pretty crazy (ive never done it)
I just hang out with friends and family...But hope you have a really great time bro!

 

[isbre]

Thanks, I'll probably at least take a night tour over the strip.

Spending newyears with family and friends is also what I normally do, but I figured that some change doesn't hurt. I'll be in Las Vegas until the 6th, let me know if you want to meet up somewhere.

 

[Crazypato]

Ok kew kew...we could probably go to the Mazda meet we have on thursday's. I would just have to make sure that we would meet up that day since it would be the first meet of the year. But ill let you know (lurk)

 

[aturbolvr]

we should do a mazda run thru red rock, or from Overland thru the lake.. at night... gotta check out the Red Rooster

 

[mr_mazda329]

we should do a mazda run thru red rock, or from Overland thru the lake.. at night... gotta check out the Red Rooster

Some of our locals from LVmazdas take cruises. We do Red Rock, Valley of Fire, St George, Mt Charleston, and hoover dam ones. and of course, tri-state and some MOCC ones as well.

LX... let us know when ya get in town.

 

[isbre]

we should do a mazda run thru red rock, or from Overland thru the lake.. at night... gotta check out the Red Rooster

If you do that while I'm there I will definitely join you in my Pontiac G6 or similar (my rental) - or ride along with one of you to keep the run Pontiac free.

 

[Crazypato]

That sounds alot like fun! We should definetly do a run....Just hope to do it like on saturday cuz im off and that way i can make it.

 

[mr_mazda329]

That sounds alot like fun! We should definetly do a run....Just hope to do it like on saturday cuz im off and that way i can make it.

check the local forum... trying to get a cruise going.