Although Las Vegas is famous for it’s gambling, it is also a place where you can take the family and explore. If you’re willing to take a short drive, your family will have some great experiences to take home.
Bonnie Springs Old Nevada
Bonnie Springs, located on One Gunfighter Lane, is situated on a 115-acre ranch, reminiscent of an old mining town in the 1880’s. It features an old Western town, restaurant, petting zoo, motel, chapel, convention facilities and shops. It’s a perfect place to bring the kids and spend the day exploring the western town and watch shows where they are encouraged to participate.
On weekends and holidays there is a “posse” show where kids can help track down the bad guys. By the way, all the shows are all kids friendly. There are cowboys and cowgirls, a western shootout, a miniature train ride and horseback riding as well. There is a $35-40 per person/hour fee to go horseback riding.
The Bonnie Springs Old Nevada is open daily from 10:30am – 5pm. For information call 702.875.4191.
Hoover Dam
Named as one of the Top Ten Construction Achievements in the 20th Century, it is also the highest dam in the US, about 726 feet from the bottom of Black Canyon. Hoover Dam was named after the 31st President of the United States, Herbert Hoover.
The dam is one of the largest hydroelectric power facilities in the country. It produces 4 billion kilowatts of electricity per year.
There are two tours available for the public. The Power Plant Tour costs $11, but discounts are available for seniors, kids and US Military (active and dependents). US Military in uniform and children three and under are free.
The Hoover Dam Tour costs $25. No children under the age of eight are permitted. This tour is not accessible to those in a wheelchair or on crutches.
Visitor Center admission is $8 without access to the dam or the power plant and it’s open from 9am – 5 pm. Parking is $7.
Adventuredome Theme Park
The Adventuredome Theme Park (pictured) is located at the Circus Circus Casino. This 5-acre indoor themed park is filled with thrilling rollercoaster rides, midway games, a free clown show, arcade, ferries wheel ride, rock climbing and bungee jumping, carousel, bumper cars and many more fun activities.
This is definitely a family affair that everyone will enjoy. Make sure to bring towels if you plan on going on the Rim Runner water chute ride. You’ll get wet.
An all day ride pass is recommended to save money. A regular pass is $24.95 and junior pass is $14.95. Individual ride passes ranges from $4 – $7each. Most of the fast rides have height restrictions, a minimum of 48 inches tall.
The Adventuredome is open daily from 11am – 6pm (M – Th), 10am – midnight (F – Sa), 10am – 9pm (Sunday). The themed park is open at later hours on holidays, Spring Break and summer vacation. For up-to-date hours call the hotline at 702.794.3939.
Mount Charleston Recreation Area
If you need a refresher from the hot summer days in Vegas, take a drive up to Mount Charleston where you can cool-off and relax. It is about 35 miles west of Las Vegas. The Mount Charleston Recreation Area offers plenty of activities for the whole family. It’s a great place to go picnicking, camping, hiking and horseback riding. In the winter, it is where most Las Vegans go skiing and snow boarding.
The temperature at Mount Charleston is usually 20-30 degrees cooler than Las Vegas. The greenery on the mountains is so beautiful that you won’t believe you’re in Vegas. Some of the featured trees are the Ponderosa and Aspen Pine, Juniper and Mountain Mahogany.
Songbirds, deer, wild burros and desert tortoises are some of the animals that you can find up there too.
Hotel accommodations are available year round. While you’re up there don’t forget to try the hot chocolate at the Mt. Charleston Lodge, it’s the best on a cool day.
Lake Mead Recreation Area
Lake Mead is the 16th largest man-made lake in the world. It is located only 30 miles from Las Vegas. It has a lot of features including boating, skiing, swimming, hiking and fishing.
Over seven million people visit Lake Mead every year. Spring and summer are the busiest times at the recreation area.
Lake Mead is home to many animals and plant species, some of which are only found here.
The facilities at Lake Mead includes: 8 campgrounds, 5 motels, 7 RV campgrounds (with hook-ups), 5 marinas, boat and ski rentals, snack bars, restaurants, beaches, and a visitors center.
Whether you’re in Vegas to gamble or on a family vacation, these 5 attractions will surely make your visit enjoyable and fun.
Photo credit: Adventuredome.com
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Las Vegas is known as the wedding capital of the world. Wedding is performed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you want an intimate ceremony or a big wedding, Las Vegas has everything to make your wedding perfect. Here are few things to remember when getting married in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Weather
In Las Vegas, the summer is a popular time to get married in Vegas. However, the weather between May and September can be brutal—June – August is very hot. The temperature can rise up to 110. So if you’re planning a summer wedding, it is better to have the ceremony in the evening when it’s a little cooler.
Holidays and Tourism
Although people choose to be married on special holidays like Valentines Day and New Year’s Eve, it is the worst time to do it. There are literally hundreds of people getting married on those days and you will have to wait in line for hours. Also, unless you’ve made plans way ahead of time the flights, hotel rooms and even reception venues are booked.
Wedding Times
Chapel weddings normally last for only half an hour. Don’t expect to have plenty of time for picture takings after the ceremony. Although, if you need longer time you have to shell out more money for the package you choose. And Las Vegas offers plenty of venues for traditional wedding ceremonies.
Legal Issues
You can’t just walk-in a chapel and say marry us. Legal documents are still required. Even though Las Vegas is known for quickie weddings, it is still necessary for a couple to get a marriage license—no blood tests or other tasks. Marriage licenses are $55.
You can go to Clark County Marriage Bureau at 201 Clark Avenue to get one.
Their hours of operation are from 8am – midnight daily. For more information call 702.671.0600.
Wedding Witnesses
If you decide to get married out of the blue with no friends or family to witness for you, no need to worry, the chapel always have somebody to witness just in case something like that happens.
Officials
Outside officials or ministers are not allowed in most chapels. If you want a civil or religious ceremony, the chapels provide the officials, minister or rabbi. So, if you have something special in mind, quickie chapels aren’t the way to go.
Marriage Convenience
Casino chapel weddings are sometimes better because they usually have a wedding coordinator to help you with the arrangement from picking out the flowers to the photographer and you can do it all over the phone or you can do it online.
Wedding Affordability
Las Vegas is the ultimate in selection. If money is no object, you can have the most lavish wedding you can dream up. However, if you’re on a budget, Las Vegas wedding chapels are the perfect option. For a couple hundred, you can get everything done.
Hair and Make-up
Many of the big hotels have salon and spas built on the property. But if you prefer to hire somebody to do your hair and make-up, make sure to make an appointment in advance, especially during weekends and holidays. If you’re from out of town, ask some of the hotel employees for recommendation, it always helps.
Language
Many chapels perform ceremonies in other languages such as Spanish, German, Japanese, French, Italian and others for people who don’t speak English.
Whether you decide to have a small intimate wedding or not, I hope somehow this tips will help you in any way.
Some people think just because the Las Vegas Strip looks so grand that you have to pay a lot of money to enjoy yourself, but that’s not the case. There are various activities on the Las Vegas Strip that you can enjoy without spending a dime.
Here are six ideas for enjoying the Las Vegas Strip without dipping into your wallet.
Conservatory at the Bellagio
This is one of the must-see places in Las Vegas. The Conservatory at the Bellagio (pictured) has an amazing display of exotic plants and flowers—100 horticulturists and employees of the Bellagio put the display together. There are five seasonal exhibits, including the Chinese New Year, Spring Celebration, Summer Garden Party, Harvest and the Holiday.
This free exhibit is open 24 hours a day, except for each time they change the theme—during this time the13,573-square-foot atrium is closed for a week.
Fountain at the Bellagio
The dancing fountain outside the Bellagio is a wonderful sight to see, especially at night where you can see the colors of the lights as it changes. It’s been featured in many TV shows. The water movement varies depending on what music is playing. The jets shoot the water up to 240 feet into the air.
Songs by Frank Sinatra, Broadway musicals and Andrea Bocelli are some of the musical selections featured at the fountain. You can see the water show from weekdays from 3pm until midnight and on weekends from noon until midnight. These fantastic shows go off every 30 minutes until 7pm and every 15 minutes after that until midnight.
Wildlife Habitat at Flamingo
Located next to the pool area of the Flamingo Hilton is the wildlife habitat where more than 300 birds call this home. While only a few steps away from the noisy casino, the tropical setting with walkways and bridges gives it a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy. The Chilean Flamingos are also seen walking around their habitat. Aside from birds, there’s a lot of turtles and koi as well. The habitat is open 24 hours.
Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain show at Caesars Palace
These two shows at the Caesars Palace are a big hit—everyone loves them. The use of lifelike animatronic figures, special visual and sound effects makes this show unique. The show is every hour on the hour, Sun – Thurs. from 10am – 11pm and Friday and Saturday from 10am – midnight. It is located in the Forum Shops next to Cheesecake Factory. Be there a few minutes before the show to get a good spot for it gets very crowded in the area. Make sure you bring a camera!
Lion Habitat at the MGM
The glass-enclosed Lion Habitat at the MGM is an excellent place to spend some free time. You can watch the lions play, sleep and feed. There are a total of 31 lions, but only a few of them can be at the habitat at a given time. The 5,000-square-foot habitat is complete with stone mountains and waterfalls.
It’s open everyday from 11am – 10pm. No animals are on display from 3:30pm – 4:30pm, because that’s when they switch the lions.
Streetmosphere at the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian
Where else in the world can you find a shopping mall where you see “living statues,” classically trained actors, opera singers and entertainers performing all day long to make your shopping more enjoyable. Make sure to catch the Gondolier March at 9:45am and 4:15pm and the Venetian Trio at St. Mark’s Square from 6pm – 10pm—it’s like being in Venice.
The living statues can be seen from noon – 8pm in front of Ann Taylor and from 10am – 6pm at St. Mark’s Square. The other performances can be seen all throughout the day.
So, if you happen to stroll down the famous Las Vegas Strip, stop by these wonderful places and you’ll have an experience you’ll never forget.
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Las Vegas has some of the finest dining in the world. Five-star hotels features world-renowned chefs, such as Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali, and Joel Robuchon. From fancy steak & seafood dinners and excellent buffets to other specials, like shrimp cocktail, whatever you’re in the mood for, Vegas has it.
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Some people think just because the Las Vegas Strip looks so grand that you have to pay a lot of money to enjoy yourself, but that’s not the case. There are various activities on the Las Vegas Strip that you can enjoy without spending a dime. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bellagio, caesars palace, conservatory bellagio, fall atlantis festival fountain, family trip tips, flamingo, fountain bellagio, grand canal shoppes, Las Vegas, las vegas family vacation, las vegas strip, las vegas travel tips, lion habitat, mgm, nevada, nevada tourism, streetmosphere, tourism, travel, vacation, wildlife habitat
The Wynn Las Vegas is an upper class, extravagant masterpiece. It’s not your run-of-the-mill establishment. Approximately $2.7 billion was spent on this property, which includes 2,700 fabulous guest rooms and suites. Read the rest of this entry »
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Being a 24-hour city, it is easier to obtain a marriage license in Las Vegas than anywhere else in the US. Many people make Las Vegas their wedding destination, especially when they don’t want to go through the hustle of planning a wedding. This way it is quick and simple.
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Las Vegas is known for opening new clubs and lounges all the time. The nightlife is hopping. The competition in Vegas is very tight, which is great for you. Read the rest of this entry »
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Although Las Vegas is famous for it’s gambling, it is also a place where you can take the family and explore. If you’re willing to take a short drive, your family will have some great experiences to take home. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: adventuredome theme park, bonnie springs, family travel tips, hoover dam, lake mead, Las Vegas, las vegas family travel tips, las vegas family vacation, mount charleston, nevada, tourism, travel, vacation
Las Vegas is known as the wedding capital of the world. Wedding is performed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you want an intimate ceremony or a big wedding, Las Vegas has everything to make your wedding perfect. Here are few things to remember when getting married in Las Vegas.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Las Vegas, las vegas wedding, las vegas wedding chapel, las vegas wedding tips, tourism, travel, vacation, vegas weddings, wedding, wedding chapel, wedding tips