Sin City for Non-Sinners
by Howe Sim,
published in Guiding Stars
Known as a mecca for gambling, sex,
and alcohol, Las Vegas has been marketed as the Entertainment Capital of the
World. It attracts 40 million visitors a year, and is one of the main convention
cities in the United States. We were
there a couple years ago for one of the other reasons people go to Vegas: a
wedding.
Our plane landed at the McCarran
International Airport late at night, so we were glad to finally make it to our
hotel after dropping my friend and his fiancée off at the Clark County Marriage
License Bureau at a bleary-eyed 3 AM. The next day, after a 30-minute ceremony
at a small but quaint wedding chapel on the southern end of the Strip, we were
left to our own devices. Since our
flight from Toronto had taken over five hours, we had decided to stretch out
our stay for a full five days. Happily, we found plenty to do in Las Vegas,
even for us non-gambling types.
There is much more to Vegas than just gambling
Perhaps the most unique and, for
many, interesting activity in Sin City is taking a stroll down the Strip. Known
officially as Las Vegas Boulevard South, the Strip is home to many of the
largest hotels and resort properties in the city. For maximum effect, walk the
7 km between the Stratosphere Hotel at the northern end to the Mandalay Bay at
the southern tip at night. Even seasoned travelers who have seen it all
will be in awe of the bright lights and unique skyline. Nowhere else in the world can you see a
replica of the Sphinx, Eiffel Tower, Manhattan skyline, and Venetian canals,
all within a few hours.
The Strip is home to many of Las Vegas’ biggest hotels and resorts
Be sure to catch the Mirage Hotel’s
exploding volcano, the Bellagio’s beautifully choreographed fountain show, and
Treasure Island’s pirates’ battle, all free of charge. And don’t forget to explore the hotel
interiors, often as elaborate and intricate as the exterior façades. Families
with children are naturally drawn to Siegfried & Roy’s white tigers at the
Mirage, the MGM Grand’s lions, and the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin habitat.
After walking down the Strip, you
can make the return trip on foot. If you are too tired, grab a taxi at one of
the hotel entrances, though doing so at rush hour may result in a hefty tab.
Another option is hopping aboard the Las Vegas Strip Trolley, a streetcar that
runs from Mandalay Bay to the Sahara (just south of the Stratosphere), stopping
at all major hotels along the way. The
fare is US$1.75, with trolleys running every 15 minutes between 9:30 AM and
2:00 AM. Alternatively, you can ride the Las Vegas Monorail from the Sahara
down to the MGM Grand on the southern end of the Strip. The price is US$3 one
way.
Vegas comes alive at night
For those with a taste for culture
and entertainment, Vegas offers its share of concerts and shows. Every major hotel has free lounges with live
music, for those intent on saving a buck. Plus there are major showroom
productions held in hotels on the Strip. To find out who’s performing while
you’re there, call the individual hotels, check out the www.vegasfreedom.com
website, or contact the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Shows tend
to be quite expensive. They range from the somewhat cheesy burlesque revues
featuring leggy showgirls to the headliner shows (for example, impressionist
Danny Gans and entertainers Penn &
Teller) to the polished but pricey Cirque du Soleil productions (Mystère at the
Mirage, O at the Bellagio).
Those who love to shop will also
find that Vegas more than satisfies their cravings. Not only does each hotel
have its own shopping arcade (ranging from the high end designer boutiques at
Bellagio to more affordable chain stores at other hotels), but there are also a
few large shopping malls on the Strip.
Even if you’re not much into shopping, some of these places are still
worth a peek, such as the beautifully designed Caesar’s Palace’s Forum Shops
and the Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes.
Bargain hunters often rent a car or take a shuttle from the MGM Grand to
‘Fashion Outlets Las Vegas,’ located forty minutes outside of town.
Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops houses an impressive array of stores
If, like us, you’ve had your fill
of glitzy neon-washed Las Vegas, rent a car for the day and take a trip out to
nearby Red Rock Canyon. A mere 30 kilometres away, you will find this national
conservation area a breath of fresh air, both literally and figuratively. Those who prefer not to drive there can go
as part of an organized bus tour – just ask your hotel concierge. Informative
ranger-guided hikes are available at certain times, so call ahead to inquire.
There is a US$5 entry fee per
vehicle. Just past the visitors’ centre
is the entrance to the 20 km one-way two-lane scenic loop. As you drive the
loop, you’ll encounter one trail head after another. At each of these, stop to admire the fabulous views and tackle
hikes of varying difficulty levels. Trails range from easy 1 km strolls to
longer and more strenuous treks. Keep
an eye out for rock climbers ascending the 2,100 metre tall Mount Wilson, the
area’s highest sandstone peak. Be sure to bring good footwear and plenty of
water, and give yourself extra time on hikes, as it’s quite easy to get
disoriented when the landmarks on your trail map start to look the same. Don’t
miss an opportunity to visit Red Rock Canyon, considered by many to be one of
Las Vegas’ best kept secrets.
Red Rock Canyon makes for a freshening getaway from Vegas’ bright lights
Other popular day trips for visitors
to Las Vegas include the Hoover Dam (www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam), Lake Mead
(www.nps.gov/lame), the Bonnie Springs Ranch (www.bonniesprings.com), and the
Valley of Fire State Park (http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm). Again, if you prefer
not to rent a car to visit these attractions, organized tours, such as those
offered by Coach USA, are plentiful. Further afield but still within a day’s
drive are the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Parks, southwestern
USA’s pride and glory. We were
fortunate enough to get a taste of Zion’s spectacular cliff & canyon
landscape, and look forward to dedicating a full trip to Utah’s first national
park in the near future.
Utah’s Zion National Park features stunning cliffs and canyons