We flew on Southwest Airlines into Las Vegas McCarran International Airport and thought we were landing on the moon, as we circled above the mountainous desert landscape of the southern tip of Nevada,one of the most barren states in the United States. Although hot in summer, the 12,000 foot peaks of Mt Charleston nearby may be snow-covered. And no matter when you arrive, you’ll have pleasantly cool to cold desert nights and, most likely, lots of wind. If you’ve never been there before, go just to see the sights! You could spend a week or more, with your mouth agape in amazement, just walking up and down the Strip or Fremont Street, the downtown rennovation of the original glitzy casinos from the mid twentieth century. If you haven’t been there in a couple of years, you’ll be overwhelmed at the incredible new casinos that keep going up. With every new one we all ask, “What will the architects think of next?”
To review some of the most amazing theme sites the Strip holds, there is the Bellagio with the world’s most wondrous waterfall and music show nightly on the hour. Caesar’s Palace has revamped statues who “move” and talk to you periodically. There you can also experience a very realistic virtual flight simulator “ride.” You’ll see the replica of midtown At New York New York the Manhattan skyline and from the air you think for a moment you’re in a zone warp, it seems so real. On another block you’ll be transported to Egypt via Luxor’s famous reflective glass pyramid which rivals any of the Pharoah’s.
We are so sad over the recent tragedy which ended this act. We send our best wishes to Siegfried and Roy.
Mirage has a volcano fountain which erupts with fire at regular intervals in the evening. You’ll also want your whole family to see the beautiful aquarium and botanical gardens with fountains and orchids. Mirage is also famous for its Dolphin experience and as the home of Siegfried & Roy’s famous white tigers. Even if you’ve seen Siegfried and Roy on TV and think their illusions are just the magic of trick photography, you HAVE to see the show! We had front row seats and watched their amazing illusions right in front of us and are still in awe. Absolutely impossible, yet we saw Roy cut in half, with nowhere for “extras” to hide, no way it could be tricks of lighting, and we’re still shaking our heads in amazement! 
The pair have the reputation of being the greatest illusionists in the world and for good reason. Their show is one you’ll be talking about the rest of your life. The love they show for their beautiful white lions and tigers is touching, and the animals seem as tame as lap kittens. For thirty-three years Siegfried and Roy have kept these albino strains from extinction and now have over sixty of these magnificent animals, which they make appear and disappear right in front of your eyes, and an elephant too! It is a marvelous show, but arrange your tickets well ahead of time by clicking here,or call 702-769-9999.
Stratosphere’s view tower, which looks like an enormous airport control tower, will capture your attention, and you’ll certainly want to go to the top to view all your surroundings by day or night. If children are with you, or if you’re just a kid at heart, you’ll not miss Circus, Circus which is a BigTop in itself with acts going on overhead at all hours. At the Venician be sure to ride a gondola and see a wedding with operatic serenade in St. Mark’s Square. There you’ll also enjoy gypsy music and dancing and can have a sidewalk artist sketch your caricature. Kids and adults will all enjoy the Bucaneer Pirate Show in front of Treasure Island in the evenings. The huge pirate ship comes to life for the mock fight. The show is free and is repeated every hour and a half inthe evenings, but get there early because it draws great crowds. Excalibur’s wondrous Castle is a must for all family members. In short, all you have to do to have fun as a family in Las Vegas is to put on some good walking shoes and sunscreen and walk for hours just looking and experiencing the marvels of architectural genius, endless fantasy. Free shows are performed continuously at all the Casinos, suitable for all ages to enjoy as you stroll through. 
But don’t stop with just seeing the newest part of the famous city. You must also visit the retro casinos downtown, where it all began. The Fremont Street Mall has been rennovated with an amazing attraction of an enormous canopy of millions of lights. Every night beginning at 6:30 PM and repeated on the hour after that, is the thrilling canopy light show which is an indescribable experience of light, color, music, and sound effects, which you must not miss. While in the Freemont Street area, you’ll find numerous free shows with very good dancers, singers, and musicians, costumes and lights almost equal to some of the famous expensive Reviews. In stiff competition with the newer Strip attractions, these Casinos have come up with all kinds of attractive odds and extras for gamblers, as well as lots of free extras for any visitor. 
Be sure to visit the venerable Gold Nugget Casino with her gorgeous chandeliers, the first of the original old casinos to be rennovated to its present luxuriant beauty. It began the revamping of the original downtown strip area of Las Vegas. In the Fremont area on St. Patrick’s week-end, there are lots of wonderful shows, and special drinks and entertainment with Irish themes, including the annual, elaborate St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday morning on Fourth Street, like a mini Mardi Gras. Always lots of fun! 
But no matter what time of year you’re there, you must see at The Gold Nugget the incredible Irish Spirit of the Dance. Straight from the Green Isle these artists have learned their beautiful dances since early childhood when they were learning the Irish jig. With fancier footwork and wonderful costumes the jigs become the marvelous, and impossibly light and nimble dance steps RiverDance made famous worldwide. The Troup of Spirit of the Dance are excellent dancers and the singing is equally beautiful. You’ll enjoy it so much that the only frustrating thing becomes how badly you’ll want to learn to do these amazing dance steps. The dancers appear to be free of gravity, almost as if a puppeteer were moving their feet while their bodies remain rigid and “unconnected.” It is a beautifully enjoyable show! While at the Gold Nugget do not miss eating at ZAX’s Restaurant, whose chef Arion is the creator of a large selection of sumptious cuisine that you’ll find nowhere else on earth in one place. Chef Arion grew up moving every few months because his father was a geothermal engineer, much in demand. Arion, who has lived in numerous places on every continent, has created dishes which combine his favorite flavors into what he calls “Con-Fusion.” The setting is quiet and friendly, and the food is delicious. Adrion, who moved so much that he had no friends as a child, goes around to each table making friends of his clientelle.
Nevada Council of Problem Gambling, a non-profit, non-biased organization, has done a good job of placing literature in the casinos for Help for Problem Gamblers, encouraging people to have fun but not to let gambling ruin their lives. The pamphlets tell how to identify a gambling problem and offer free help for the gambler and the family. Nevada has strict laws forbidding gambling under age 21 because the statistics prove young people can become addicted easily, even by some adult buying them a lottery ticket as a gift. Minors must be accompanied by an adult over 21 in any casino. Most Casinos have done a great job of getting rid of the once horribly smoky atmosphere. Although smoking is allowed, the air systems are so efficient you won’t even have hair or clothes smelling smoky. That is a very welcome improvement for non-smokers, probably thanks to OSHA and employee health laws.
Famous for its amazing Shows, Las Vegas attracts huge audiences, some of whom never even enter the Gaming area of Casinos but come strictly for the variety of entertainment. Show tickets are always best purchased ahead, but there is usually availability to many shows when you arrive. One show you do not want to miss is Cirque Du Soleil’s incredible MYSTERE at Treasure Island. This is a fantastic experience of art, music, and acrobatics that are so wondrously interwoven we held our breaths in delight throughout the performance. Cirque Du Soleil originated in Quebec as “a striking, dramatic mix of the circus arts and street entertainment, featuring wild, outrageous costumes, staged under magical lighting and set to original music.” These actors/acrobats perform graceful body movements which defy reality, in this their tenth anniversary year at Treasure Island in the theater built for its performance.
Cirque du Soleil has the stated mission to invoke, provoke, and evoke the imagination, the senses, and the emotions of people around the world,” and this it does! No words can convey this amazing experience which is neither circus nor dance yet is both. You HAVE to see it to believe it and experience this truly magnificent art form for yourself. The director, Franco Dragone says “MYSTERE is a voyage to the very heart of life where past, present and future merge, and all our emotions converge. MYSTERE is the enigma of time, the bearer of hopes and dreams but also of tragedy. It is above all the rememberance of time past, memories of life unfolding, following its course and ultimately surviving against all odds.” You’ll see the ballet with a cube of light which defies gravity, Chinese pole artists who spring up and down poles in impossible positions and maneuvers, the Bungee ballet devoid of gravity, a Korean team in springing synchronicity on a plank, the acrobatic artists having fun on the huge trampolene and flying on the aerial high bar, and the gentle and fluid, muscle-bound strengths of the two brothers who “demonstrate impeccable precision and alignment and strength.” By all means, when you go to Las Vegas see one of Cirque du Soliel’s shows: “MYSTERE” or “O.” Arrange for your tickets well in advance by calling 702-894-7223 or click here.Las Vegas is a city of lights which knows no day or night. In the warrens of the Casinos it is always twilight, so you may find yourself hungry for breakfast at any time of day or night on your watch. If you are in the Fremont Street area go to Binion’s Horseshoe 24 Hour Coffee Shop for the best home-cooked breakfast you’ve ever eaten, and reasonably priced with clean, friendly service.
There are so many things to see and do in Las Vegas, we have only touched the surface in this article. And the shopping is amazing, from an array of factory outlets to high end specialty shops in many places. A good place to park to walk to some of the Casinos is at the Fashion Show Mall. You’ll love shopping in the brand new Saks Fifth Avenue, which is the pilot store for Saks’ new shopping concept: Service First. It is a concept we predict many other high end department stores will want to immulate. There is free car valet parking service and a doorman awaiting your arrival. A Concierge in teh center of the store is there to serve you and answer all your needs from the friendly expediter and locator service to connecting you with a personal shopper who will help you coordinate and select fashions just right for your needs, or will do it all for you, for free. The Concierge will store your bags for you while you do more shopping. And the men who hate to shop will love this experience because they have their own “Living Room” with free coffee, tea, cookies, Television, newspapers, big leather sofas and chairs, Internet and E-mail computer kiosk, and even a Play Station to use while they await the real shoppers. There are two other Living Rooms in other parts of the store also: in Contemporary area and in Designer Coterie. Each has its own hostess to supply your needs. These are all free services in this new concept store and a delight to visit and shop.
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