LasVegas

L a s V e g a s

Last updated November 2002
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Ron was a speaker at IBM's 2000 Technical Conference,
2001 WebSphere Conference, and the 2002 WebSphere Technical Exchange Conference.
On the first 2 trips, we were at the MGM Grand and this last trip, we stayed at Caesars Palace.

I love MGM's FREE lounge acts. JOHNNY SEATON sings as Elvis starting at 11 AM and ends at 2 PM followed by the Heroes of Rock & Roll impersonators including Aritha Franklin, Ricky Nelson, Tina Turner, Buddy Holly, and Rod Stewart.
We ate at MGM's Stage Deli and their Buffet. We also ate at Luxor's Buffet. While both were enjoyable, Ron preferred MGM & I preferred Luxor.
The buffet at Bellagios was extremely good but I'm not sure if it is worth $28 per person. The best prices for dining can be had from midnight to dawn.

Day Trips from Las Vegas

The first tour I took was with All Las Vegas Tours from Las Vegas, Nevada to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
We toured around the rim of the Grand Canyon with a stop for a buffet lunch.
We also stopped at Hoover Dam, Arizona Lookout, and were able to take photographs.
Our pickup was at 6 AM and our return was at 10 PM. I highly recommend this tour!
PHOTOS
The second tour was with Gray Line to Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston.

SEE US AS ELVIS and SHOWGIRL

LAS VEGAS LINKS

ALL OF THE ATTRACTIONS THAT WE SAW WERE AT THE TROPICANA, which was just a "step" away from MGM.
ILLUSIONARY MAGIC OF RICK THOMAS: Rick Thomas is a charming and very tall (6-foot-4) magician who shows his stuff during an hour performance using cabinet tricks, lovely temptress assistants, and white Bengal tigers.In the beginning of 2002, Rick Thomas was awarded Magician of the Year from the Academy of Magical Arts. If you get a chance to see a show, I highly recommend this one. Tickets were $17 and $22. Go early and tip the person seating you for the best seats.

THE COMEDY STOP: can be very entertaining depending on your likes in humor. Tickets are from $16 TO $18.

FOLIES BERGERE: The seating arrangements suck! If you happen to spend only $45 for your ticket or get a discount ticket or a promotional ticket, give it to someone else because you can not enjoy the show from table seating. However, if you are lucky enough to buy a $55 ticket you will be able to sit in a booth and you will probably enjoy the show a great deal. The best part of this show was watching the juggler entertain between the Folies acts. Now he was amazing.

Below you will find resorts that we went to and what I found memorable about each one.

At the top of the list has to be BELLAGIO'S. In my opinion there is no place better than this. It overlooks an 8.5-acre lake where thousands of dancing fountains are choreographed to lights and music. You must not miss seeing the exotic plants and flowers in The Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The Garden will have different trees, different flowers and an entirely different theatrical presentation with each of the four seasons. Specialized light fixtures make it possible to light every flower. Staffs of 115 people prepare and maintain the Botanical Garden.
Ceasars: At the entrance to the people mover is a rotunda that houses a miniature city of Rome as it may have looked 2,000 years ago. At the north property border, you find four gold leaf horses and a charioteer. I love to come here and stroll.
The Mirage simulates travel to a tropical Polynesian paradise. Do not miss the lagoon with waterfalls and grottos, as well as the FREE volcano show that erupts every 15 minutes after dark, enhancing the front entrance. This is a great place, inside and out.
New York, New York: The best of New York experience including the Statue of Liberty, Chinatown, Little Italy, and the nostalgia of Coney Island. You must not miss the fun of the Dueling Pianos in the Bar at Times Square.
Excalibur is a sparkling white castle complete with moat and drawbridge. We had a costumed photo taken here.
Luxor is a 30-story, pyramid-shaped hotel featuring a full-scale reproduction of King Tut's Tomb.
Circus Circus presents live circus acts FREE everyday! Different acts perform each half hour from 11 a.m. to midnight. We saw a performance that featured a live rag doll. This was amazing!
Monte Carlo is modeled after the famous Place du Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco, with its fanciful arches, chandelier domes, marble floors, ornate fountains, and gas-lit promenades.
Paris: The Eiffel Tower soars 50 stories into the Las Vegas Sky.
Venetian Resort:Stroll down stone walkways along nearly a quarter mile of Venice's famed Grand Canal.
Treasure Island: The front is designed as an outdoor theater resembling the small bay village described in Robert Louis Stevenson's famed novel, "Treasure Island." Every ninety minutes, weather permitting, a FREE show is performed. The pirate ship Hispaniola does battle with the British frigate Britannia. The ship-to-ship cannon battle in "Buccaneer Bay" involves live actors.
Mandalay Bay: To us, this place was a disappointment and definitely does not live up to the "Strips" reputation for extravagance.
Aladdin : Cheekiest waitress genie costume on the strip.

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