By Juan Ramirez
Las Vegas is a city of loud excess, so if you can't find what you're looking for here, sensory overload and swollen food buffets are probably not for you. One of the most popular destinations in America, Las Vegas is a strange anomaly--a tremendous, glittering, 24-hour circus plopped down in the middle of a desert. Since there's more to do in Vegas than gamble--even if gambling is what the city is known for--this article covers other attractions that having nothing to do slot machines, dice or cards.
Casinos and Gambling
Harrah's Las Vegas Casino & Hotel
3475 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
The Harrah's official web site states that the casino has over 87,000 square feet of space, over 1,200 slot machines and 80 different tables. If that still isn't enough in the way of gambling options, there are official sports betting rooms and keno halls, as well. Of course, there's a first class hotel connected to the casino, as well as a spa and a large theatre with concerts.
Caesars Palace
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Even larger than Harrah's Caesars Palace has over 129,000 square feet of casino space with all of the slots, gaming tables, keno, and sport betting one would expect. The Colosseum at Caesar's Palace is where major singers and comedians perform nightly, though one could be easily impressed by the space itself, a huge replica of the Colosseum in Rome, with painstaking attention paid to the acoustics.
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
3799 Las Vegas Blvd S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
If Harrah's and Caesar's still aren't big enough for you, there's the MGM Grand Casino, all 171,000 square feet of it. There are also multiple renowned restaurants within the hotel, offering a wide array of different cuisines, as well as a replica of New York's famous Studio 54 club. Needless to say, the headlining performers here are heavyweights who've had long, lucrative careers.
Museums and Galleries
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
Las Vegas NV
3600 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
One might not expect a gallery of fine art in Sin City, but the Bellagio Gallery hosts some fine retrospectives from some of the most renowned artists in the world. The gallery is part of the large Bellagio Hotel and Casino. As of July 2009, general admission was $15, but seniors got in for $12 and students and military were pricedf at $10.
Guggenheim Hermitage Museum
Las Vegas NV
3355 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Part of The Venetian Hotel and Casino, this branch of the Guggenheim is an impressive showcase of twentieth century artists, from Picasso to Monet to VanGogh. The cool, minimalist building itself stands in remarkable contrast amongst its glitzy surroundings. A must-visit for fans of modern art.
Madame Tussaud's Interactive Wax Museum
Las Vegas NV
3377 Las Vegas Blvd S # 2001
Las Vegas, NV 89109-8911
Though somewhat of an eerie experience, the wax figures at Madame Tussaud's are extremely impressive to behold. From pop stars to world leaders to Hollywood celebrities, Madame Tussaud's has something of interest for everyone. In July 2009, a new offering was their maze-style haunted house attraction, aptly named "Scream! One Way Out."
Amusement and Recreational Parks
Gondola Ride
The Venetian resort Hotel Casino
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
The same hotel that offers the Guggenheim Hermitage museum offers a gondola experience meant to mimic what one might experience in Venice. The gondolier takes you down the Grand Canal in a Venetian gondola and sings to the passengers as well.
Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat
Department of Animal Care
The Mirage
3400 Las Vegas Blvd. So.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
For animal enthusiasts of all ages, this tropical-style garden is home to a wide variety of beautiful lions, tigers, and panthers. One of the neatest features of the adjoining Dolphin Habitat is the "Trainer For A Day" feature, which allows participants 13 and older the opportunity to work and play with dolphins for an entire day. As of July 2009, adult admission was $15, while children ages 4 to 12 got in for $10.
Roller Coaster at New York New York Hotel and Casino
3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89109
The roller coaster at New York New York Hotel and Casino reaches a top peak of 203 feet, and travels at speeds of up to 67 miles per hour. According to the official New New York Hotel and Casino website, the coaster also turns 180 degrees and will suspend you 86 feet in the air. Not for the faint of heart, or the recently fed. As of July 2009, tickets cost $14 per person.
IMAX Theatre and Ridefilm
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S
Las Vegas, NV
One of the most state-of-the-art IMAX theaters in the country, this theater is part of the Luxor hotel and casino. The theater offers not only the standard, two-dimensional surround visuals of other IMAX theaters, but also offers 3-D films as well. The Ridefilm, according to the Luxor website, is a motion-simulator ride, with varying adventure, horror and sci-fi themes. As of July 2009, tickets cost upward of $12 for IMAX films, and tickets for the Ridefilm were $10 for IMAX Ridefilm.
About the Author:
Juan Ramirez has been a writer for over 14 years and worked for two years as an assistant editor with an internationally circulated journal. Ramirez holds a Bachelor of Arts in English writing from Potsdam State University and a Master of Arts in individualized study from New York University.
