Las Vegas Attractions - Las Vegas Vacation Packages


	Las Vegas Attractions Casinos Aladdin 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip Las Vegas. 702-785-5555. Toll-free 877-333-9474 Apropos of the ever-changing world that is Las Vegas, today's Middle Eastern-themed Aladdin will become tomorrow's Planet Hollywood Resort & Hotel. The 2,567-room Aladdin went into bankruptcy, and its new owners plan substantial construction beginning in 2005. Desert Passage, the 140-store mega mall surrounding Aladdin, replete with eight-story mountain and full-sized freighter anchored alongside a replica of a North African harbor, started remodeling in summer 2004 and will relaunch in October 2005. Bally's 3645 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Central Strip, Las Vegas. 702-739-4111. Toll-free 800-722-5597. Shows include Donn Arden's Jubilee, with a Bob Mackie-gowned showgirl extravaganza and spectacular effects such as the sinking of the Titanic. A multimillion-dollar refurbishment added a dramatic entrance from Las Vegas Boulevard, including four 200-ft. people movers, along with light, water and sound displays. Bellagio 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip, Las Vegas. 702-693-7111. Toll-free 888-987-3456 An 8-acre lake provides a choreographed display of fountains, lights and rousing music every half-hour 3-8 pm, and every 15 minutes 8 pm-midnight. For the most spectacular visual effects, see the complex after dark. The Via Bellagio shopping avenue features such famous names as Gucci, Prada, and Chanel. Caesars Palace 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Central Strip, Las Vegas. 702-731-7110. Toll-free 877-427-7243. The city's first themed casino, it opened in 1966. Two outstanding additions include the 4,100-seat Colosseum, home to resident performer Celine Dion, along with "part-timers" such as Elton John and Jerry Seinfeld; and the Forum Shops, a series of Roman streetscapes with ever-changing "skies" that move from dawn to dusk to night, filled with haute couture, restaurants, the unusual and the ornate. There are also two free shows within the Forum Shops at the Festival Fountain, and Atlantis, with laser special effects and animatronic Roman characters, plus a new 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. Circus Circus 2880 Las Vegas Blvd. S. North Strip, Las Vegas. 702-734-0410. Toll-free 877-224-7287. The free attraction is the varied daily circus shows, and that's why it's a must for families. Trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, acrobats and jugglers from around the world perform every 30 to 45 minutes on the Midway Stage: 11 am-10:30 pm. The non-free attraction is the Adventuredome Theme Park, the largest indoor theme park in the U.S., with a variety of thrill rides, IMAX movies, laser tag and more. The three casinos feature table games, slot machines, poker and more. Excalibur 3850 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (at Tropicana Avenue) South Strip, Las Vegas. 702-597-7777. Toll-free 877-750-5464. The medieval theme is clear from the exterior. It's an imitation castle. Inside, there are strolling Renaissance entertainers and a stairway descending to the Fantasy Faire Midway, which includes carnival games and a Magic Motion Film Ride. Children are entertained at the Court Jester's stage, which features puppet shows, magicians, storytellers and more. The casino has slot machines, electronic games, poker, table games and keno. Flamingo Las Vegas 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Central Strip, Las Vegas. 702-733-3111. Toll-free 800-732-2111. Though it no longer resembles the original palm-tree studded low-rise that Bugsy Siegel built in 1946, the Flamingo is one of the few remaining Strip properties with a name relating to those days. Now, the Flamingo comprises a series of six high-rise towers dressed in pink, with a Caribbean-style pool area, plus a free 15-acre wildlife habitat. It is located at the famous "Four Corners" of the Las Vegas Strip. Hard Rock Casino 4455 Paradise Road at Harmon (two blocks east of the Strip), Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. Toll-free 800-693-7625. This casino is filled with sound! It features rock memorabilia and attracts the world's hottest music stars to perform in The Joint, which seats 1,400 people. A chandelier with 32 gold saxophones dangles in the entry. The outdoor hotspot is the lagoon pool, replete with floating craps table and a waterslide; it also doubles as an outdoor nightclub in warm weather. Las Vegas Hilton 3000 Paradise Road (two blocks east of the Strip), Las Vegas. 702-732-5111. Toll-free 800-732-7117. Barbra Streisand opened the hotel in the late '60s, when it was known as the International and was one of the first major off-Strip properties. Then came Elvis Presley, who dominated the hotel's entertainment roster in the '70s. Now it is a favorite for meetings and conventions because of the adjacent Las Vegas Convention Center. The property's most popular draw is the Star Trek attraction, with the newly opened Borg Invasion in 4-D, the 20,000-sq. foot SpaceQuest casino, Quark's Bar & Restaurant, and the Deep Space Nine shopping promenade. For gaming fans, the Sports Book is the largest betting house in town. Luxor 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. S. South Strip, Las Vegas. 702-262-4000. Toll-free 888-777-0188. Named after the ancient city of the same name in northern Egypt, Luxor's black-glass pyramid is one of the most striking big-casinos from the outside. At night, the world's brightest beacon shoots straight up, so that even high-flying planes can see where they are. Inside, Egyptian artifacts and hieroglyphics line the walls of the 30-story pyramid. The replica of King Tut's Tomb is interesting and a more thorough re-creation than most theme attractions in Las Vegas. The Pharaoh's Pavilion has IMAX theaters that show a variety of features, including some in 3-D. Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., South Strip, Las Vegas. 702-632-7777. Toll-free 877-632-7000. Mandalay Bay has an understated South Seas/Far East feel. The main floor of the casino has lots of wide walkways and tropical greenery inside and out. Behind the complex, there's a lagoon, an enormous sandy beach, a man-made river and a water complex that includes a wave pool. The main sightseeing activity is the Shark Reef aquarium, which features creatures sharks, moray eels, stone fish, crocodiles, pythons and piranhas. One of its key entertainment venues is the legendary House of Blues, playing an eclectic mix of live music in its 1,800-seat facility. Mandalay Place is the new shopping complex, located on the bridge between Mandalay Bay and Luxor. A free tram runs between Mandalay Bay, Luxor and the Excalibur . MGM Grand Hotel and Casino 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., South Strip, Las Vegas. 702-891-1111. Toll-free 877-880-0880. Features the Lion Habitat, with lions trucked in each morning from a nearby ranch (like other Vegas stars, they're primped and groomed prior to making an appearance). Other activities center on nightlife (two large theaters for limited engagements and a smaller showroom that hosts a revue and the Studio 54 nightclub) and shopping (the Studio Walk shops). Television City in the Studio Walk area is a free attraction with CBS videos and logo merchandise. The MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park is now available only for group events. The Mirage 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Central Strip, Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. Toll-free 800-374-9000. One of the forerunners of the shift to themes and big spectacles, the Mirage's tropical motif centers on the South Seas. Outside is a gigantic waterfall topped by a volcano that "erupts" every 15 minutes after dusk, with elaborate lighting effects simulating the lava flow. The resort also houses two natural habitats, including a network of dolphin pools and the Secret Garden, a misted, lush sanctuary with rare white tigers and other animals that have performed with famed illusionists Siegfried and Roy.