There is always something new to do in Las Vegas including
special events like the return of Barry Manilow and other performers but, no matter how many times you have been to Las Vegas you can always find something new and different to do – plus enjoy your old favorites. If you don’t like vocalists there is always Cirque
du Soleil presentations and freebies such as the spectacular music, water and light fountain held on frequent intervals outside Bellagio. Most of the major casinos offer some sort of free entertainment.
One of my favorite Vegas museums is the Mob Museum where the
true story of the mob is revealed along with the myths and legends. The Mob Museum opened on Valentine’s Day 2012 in the very building where some of the Kefauver Committee hearings to investigate organized crime were held in the early 1950s. The courtroom has been restored to the way it looked during the hearings. When we got into the elevator to take us to the third floor to start our tour a video informed us of our Miranda Rights. It set the mood for the tour! There is always a lot to do. On my “gotta’ do the next time list” is the Museum of Neon Art – the night tour.
Looking for some educational activities for the younger set then visit the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum which opened in 2013 in a new location next to the Smith Center in Symphony Park. It has many family-orientated, hands-on learning experiences with a focus on science, the arts, and culture. It is a fun learning experience for all ages. The Summit, a 70-foot climbing tower ascends all three floors with interactive activities along the way.
A personal favorite, and one of the most unique experiences in the desert, is flat water rafting. The tour puts into the Colorado River at the foot of the massive Hoover Dam and floats down the river through 12 miles of Black Canyon. The slow moving, wheelchair accessible, trip allows time to marvel at the canyon walls and includes a stop at a cave and a beach for lunch. Transportation between the city and the put-in area can be included if you don’t have your own transportation.
Renting a car in Las Vegas is rather reasonable as long as you return it to the same location. A favorite out-of-Vegas trip for most people (tours are offered, if you don’t have a car) is to Red Rock where there is a one-way, 13-mile scenic drive plus a nature center and several hiking trails. One of my favorite trips was to Valley of Fire State Park; one I plan to revisit on my next trip. There are petrified trees, petroglyphs dating back more than 2000 years and, of course, a visitor’s center.
On this trip we attended our granddaughter’s high school graduation. It was even more special because her father, our oldest son, is a school administrator at the same high school so he was able to personally hand his daughter her diploma. Sometimes people are amazed to realize that Las Vegas is more than gambling. Actually, most of the gambling is confined to two distinct areas; however, there are slot machines in stores, gas stations and the like. We seldom stay on the Strip. This time we stayed at La Quinta Inn & Suites Airport South for less than $100 a night including breakfast, transportation to/from the hotel airport and Strip, and a great pool.
