It’s Vegas week here at Tripandom and we thought we’d start with one of our favorites the Paris casino situated on the Las Vegas Strip. The casino features a 5/8ths scale replica of the Eiffel Tower (they wanted to build a full size one but the airport was too close), a neon sign in the shape of the Montgolfier balloon, a two-thirds size Arc de Triomphe and a replica of La Fontaine des Mers. The front facade of the building imitates the Paris Opera House and the Louvre. The tower contains a french restaurant between the top of the legs as well as an elevator that takes you to the top of the tower for a fantastic view of the strip. The legs of the tower go down into the casino floor where a bar sits between them. The complex is home to around a dozen restaurants and cafes all with a French or European theme so it’s a great place to go if you want to get away from the American burger or Vegas buffet. Read the rest of this entry »
About 30 miles from Las Vegas on the border of Nevada and Arizona you will find the massive Hoover Dam Hydroelectric Powerstation holding back Lake Mead. Completed in 1935 it was the largest electric power station and largest concrete structure in the world. with enough concrete to pave a two lane highway from New York to San Francisco. Tours of the power station are available daily where visitors can see and hear first hand the amazing engineering and construction feats accomplished to build this mighty structure. The power generated serves not only the glittery lights of Las Vegas but much of Arizona, Nevada and most of Southern California. Interestingly the power station dosn’t store power it just generates what is needed at the time.
You no longer need to travel to Italy to see the wonders of Venice they are all available in Las Vegas- there’s the Grand Canal complete with gondola ride, the Rialto Bridge, St Marks Square- the statues the artwork and even St Mark’s Campanile and Doge’s palace. The detail is just amazing and inside are just spectacular. As for the casino and hotel it is one of the biggest on the Las Vegas Strip. There are over 4000 suites and a new tower is under construction. The gaming halls have over 100 different games and there are 17 dining experiences, and we mean experiences with some of the world’s best chefs cooking up a storm. If it’s entertainment you want, well the Blue Man Group and Wayne Brady have shows and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s classic musical Phantom of the Opera also shows at the Venetian performed in a theatre to resemble the famous Palis Garnier in Paris. There’s nightclubs, bars, 5 acres of pools and decks and huge spa club and if that’s not enough there is nearly 2 million square feet of convention and exhibition space. An amazing building for an amazing city. Read the rest of this entry »
If you are looking for one of the hottest Las Vegas shows to see on the Strip, look no further than those of Cirque du Soleil! Famed around the world for their amazing feats of athleticism and talent, Cirque du Soleil is a true show stopper. In Las Vegas there is not just one Cirque performance offered, but SIX! Choose from LOVE , Zumanity, “O” , KA, Mystere, or, the newest show, CRISS ANGEL Believe . They are all great shows and each offers something different for its viewers! Read the rest of this entry »
We have a treat for our readers today- Courtney from the Best of Vegas.com has written a story for us and has some great ideas for anyone visiting Las Vegas!
There has never been a more exciting time to visit the Las Vegas, Nevada! With Las Vegas constantly changing, there is always something new and exciting to see on the Strip. Whether it is a new hotel, nightclub, or show, you are sure to see something unique. This year may mark one of the most exciting show changes in Vegas history. Some of the biggest names are heading right for Sin City and you need to make sure you check them out!
Grammy Award winners seem to be attracted to the glitz and glam of the Strip, especially for 2008! In 2008, alone, Cher, Elton John, and Bette Midler will all be performing in Vegas and all at the same location! The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is THE spot to see performances this year. All three artists will be performing at the 4,100 seat Caesars venue. The performers will be trading out time spots throughout the year. America’s sweetheart, Bette Midler , has been performing in Vegas since her February debut. Bette took over for Celine Dion’s long run at Caesars. Bette performs some of her famous hits, as well as her light sense of humor, which will make you fall in love with her and her bubbling personality. Cher began her Las Vegas run back in May. Make sure to check out the pop sensation on this tour, because this may be her last live run! She said that she was done on her Farewell Tour, but nothing can seem to stop this pop diva from trucking on. She will even be keeping her original style by reuniting with her infamous costume designer Bob Mackie. And, to top off the Grammy winner trifecta there is Elton John The legendary singer, song-writer, and all-time musical genius will be performing his classic hits at the Las Vegas venue throughout the year. Elton’s colorful persona and music define everything that is Las Vegas, so Elton fits perfectly with the personality of the city! Read the rest of this entry »
Now if it is 3 top things we like about traveling it would be fast trains, Disneyland and Las Vegas. Unfortunately you can’t combine all three in the one trip, but that may change in the future according to this Slashdot story. Apparently the Bush administration has approved 45 million in funding towards a 300mph maglev train to link Disneyland to Las Vegas in under 2 hours. Maglev’s have been touted as the future of train travel as their speed is comparable to an aircraft but by being a train can move more people to and from a central city spot. The biggest problem with maglev’s is building the track that allows the train to levitate magnetically is frightfully expensive. The Shanghai system in China (video above) cost around 1.2 million US to build a 30 klm track and experts predict that this money will never be recouped over the life of the train via its fares. Apparently the 45 million set aside for the US system is to pay for environmental studies on the first leg of the project. With the length of the proposed track being around 250 miles we hate to think how much the train will cost if completed. Perhaps Bush’s plan is to make it so expensive GM will never be able to buy it to close it down! What do you think great idea or white elephant? Hit up our comment form below. Read the rest of this entry »
Liberace was one of the pioneers of entertainment in Las Vegas, he brought a new type of glitz and glamour to the strip with the most over the top and lavish stage shows ever seen. He arrived on stage in jewel encrusted vehicles and had rhinestone covered pianos and his costumes were the most amazing and outrageous with sequins, jewels and diamonds. Stripped away from all the flamboyance Liberace was one of the world’s greatest performers and his classical piano playing was second to none, but it was the glitz and glamour for what this mega celebrity will be remembered for. Today Liberace is no longer with us but his legend lives on in Vegas with a huge collection of his pianos and vehicles including a mirror tiled Rolls Royce and rhinestone laden roadster are on display with many of his costumes, the amazing jewelry and the entire story of his performing life. The museum itself is larger than life just like the superstar with huge neon piano on the roof. There’s a great gift shop and the trust which runs the museum puts the money into the Liberace Foundation which invests in performing arts scholarships for the young, a cause Liberace was so deeply involved in. Read the rest of this entry »
Siegfried and Roy are Las Vegas institutions they performed amazing animal and magic shows on the Las Vegas strip for decades until a horrific accident involving a tiger nearly killed poor Roy a few years back. Today the duo are remembered with a magnificent animal park at the Mirage Casino Complex. Here amongst an amazing tropical sanctuary are the most beautiful royal white tigers which the team were so famous for along with leopards, white lions, panthers and even an elephant. The sanctuary also includes a watered area with 2.5 million litres of tropical seas and coral reefs which are home to Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. The centre is committed to conservation and hope this centre will help people understand the importance of these amazing animals and the real threats they are exposed to which threaten their species existence. This is a magnificent way to escape from the neon and artificialness of Vegas and experience some of the world’s finest animals in their very own Vegas oasis.
Why go to all the expense of dozens of family and friends and churches and reception for your wedding when you can get married in Las Vegas style in a couple of minutes in a drive thru with a Elvis impersonator or something even more tacky. The Little White Chapel on the Las Vegas strip is the perfect place for wedding, If it was good enough for Britney Spears, well its good enough for you!. She is one of the dozen’s of clebs who have tied the knot at the chapel, even Michael Jordan, Joan Collins, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Bruce Willis have been married here and Mickey Rooney loved the place so much he got married there twice. There are a few different style weddings available, you can use the chapel or if you are in a real hurry to start the honeymoon why not use the drive thru, and you don’t need a reservation although you do need to have a wedding license. If you need a dress, some flowers or even a few bridesmaids you can hire them on the spot. Prices are pretty cheap but if you don’t have cash on you they have a handy ATM in the foyer where you can pay for your needs. Read the rest of this entry »
Las Vegas is known for excesses and things larger than life, well this fantastic free attraction is no exception. M&M World on the famous Las Vegas Boulevard offers four floors of chocolate mayhem with all the cute brightly colored characters from one of the world’s most popular chocolate snacks. M&M World is a great escape from the casino’s and buffets (and probably better on your waist line) and the kids will love it. The first floor is basically the gift shop with heaps of M&M merchandised goods to buy. Second floor guess what more things to buy, and the third floor has all the collector stuff. There’s even a M&M guitar or some European M&M crystal to purchase. On the top level there’s guess what, another shop where you can buy M&M house hold furniture and a really cool replica of the Kyle Busch race car. For some added choclatey fun make sure you catch the great 3D &M film- it’s full of colour and plenty of funny M&M guys it’s interestingly titled “I lost my M in vegas”. The M&M World is easy to find, it’s right next door to the massive MGM Grand Hotel Casino at the corner of Tropicana Avenue. Just as an added treat a new M&M world has just opened in Orlando, so if your off to Disneyworld drop in . Read the rest of this entry »
