OT Vegas

g8golfer

Wife and I are going to Vegas Jan 21- Jan 25on a business trip (golf trip). We have never been but Vegas has so much going on it’s hard to pin down what to do and what not to do. Flying in on Sunday day and playing golf in an outing Monday so we have got Tuesday and Wednesday to do whatever. Any suggestions? Thought about going to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam one day. I have only gambled 1 time in my life at a casino and won $400 but I’m sure I won’t be that lucky again. Not really going to gamble but to sight see. 

lkapigian

FWIW  I really enjoy the Fremont Street Experience in Old Town Vegas, I prefer that over the Strip. They have Several Canyon trips of varying rates- Enjoy Have fUN

fishlessman

we went west of vegas off road thru the high desert, prolly a stupid thing to do but had a blast finding old mines etc.  not as stupid as my room mate in college going back and deciding to get married though

epcotisbest

Never been myself, but if I ever do, I can't imagine being that close and not seeing the Grand Canyon. Vegas I could take or leave, but will see Grand Canyon some day.

lkapigian

I am Armenian and Proud that my Family , the Erosion's, but that Great Canyon

StillH2OEgger

It's not my cup of tea, but you should spend an hour or two downtown to get some old-school Vegas. You don't have to gamble to have a good time in Vegas. There are plenty of great shows and if you are a fan of the Beatles I highly encourage you to see "Love" the Cirque du Soleil show at the Mirage.

SaltySam

I like food way more than gambling.  I'll play blackjack until I lose about $100, which is normally about 30 minutes.   Beyond that, it just doesn't float my boat.  So, casinos aren't the biggest draw for me to Las Vegas.

However, the seafood buffet at the Rio is ridonkulous.   It's been 10 years since my wife and I went, but it was about $45-$50/each back then.  Still, worth every single penny.  Crab legs, sushi, salmon, sashimi, shrimp, you name it, it's there.  We ate until we couldn't, and then had several desserts each.  And it wasn't standard Golden Corral buffet-fare.  It was all top notch. 

I'd totally do it again.  

jazimmerman

I second Love at the Mirage, great show if you like the Beatles.

Circus Circus has a great Steakhouse, crappy hotel though. A bit of a bawdy show, but very good is Absinthe at Caesars, it’s in the circus tent in the front and you should be able to get tickets very reasonably. The VooDoo lounge at Rio is very cool also, they have an outdoor area on the 51st floor, great views of Vegas from there.

People watching is always a great way to pass some time in Vegas, find a nice bar and have a few drinks and watch almost the entire spectrum of humanity wander by. 

td66snrf

Try the High Roller at the Linq. It's a 550ft ferris wheel. The cabins move slowly so it's not a thrill ride. Go at night, buy your tickets ahead of time and pay the extra money for the happy hour car. The online purchase sites make you pin a time down but when you get there they'll let you go whenever you want. The cabins hold up to 40 people so that's why you want the bar car even if you don't drink. They put at least 30 people on the regular car ahead of us. We had a group of 6, four other people got on with us plus the bartender. It was great you could walk around and take in the different views and we were all friends by the time it ended.
You don't have enough time for the Grand Canyon. 
Be prepared for Downtown. 
If you go to Hoover Dam, go early because they do not sell the best tour online, you have to be there because it sells out. Definitely take the best tour.

stlcharcoal

Grand canyon is a long freaking way away.  Unless you're taking a helicopter tour, it's an all day trip and then some.

Hoover dam is a must.  Take the long tour and you get to  go down into the tunnels, spillways,  etc.  Pretty awesome.

Pinball hall of fame, organized crime museum, atomic testing museum, car museum in whatever the imperial is called now......all worth the trip during the day.  Anything in a casino is open at night.

Shot show is Jan 23-25 so I might see you out there.

g8golfer

Thanks guys. We are excited to be away by ourselves for the first time in 3-4 years. Going to be a fun few days away 

Jeremiah

We went last month. Not my cup of tea in any way, but still a bucket list trip. The Hoover dam is a must see. We were idiots and rented a car and went to the grand canyon. 4 hours each way but the desert alone was cool to see--especially for someone that's never been out west. As for the casinos and all that-- not my idea of fun. 

g8golfer

So if you guys had your choice would you go to the Hoover dam or the Grand Canyon? 

Jeremiah

g8golfer said:

So if you guys had your choice would you go to the Hoover dam or the Grand Canyon? 

The Hoover dam is on the way to the Grand Canyon (if you drive it) there's tourist packages that do the dam then helicopter the canyon. I'd do that. I personally found the Grand Canyon underwhelming. 

DoubleEgger

Unless you’ve got a few days to spend exploring and hiking the Canyon, it’s a waste of time. To a day tripper, it’s just a big hole in the ground. 

kl8ton

You don't have enough time to devote to grand
Canyon in my opinion.  

g8golfer

Ok then I might just do the dam 

stlcharcoal

g8golfer said:

Ok then I might just do the dam 

Much better idea.....1-hr to get there.

Otherwise you're going to waste most of the day in the car just to look over the edge and say you've been there.  Take a Grand Canyon trip later and explore it.

Thatgrimguy

go see the water show in front of the Belagio, the flower at the Wynn, and the volcano in front of the Mirage. All free.

Go to Fremont St and walk around.

Buy a ticket to a cirque show. Any of them. 

Spend too much on dinner and one of a hundred of the 5star restaurants. 

You have golfing covered

go to as many casinos as possible and just check out all the architecture 

go ride the rides on top of the stratosphere if you like thrills.

the Ferris wheel thing on top of the linq is awesome 

go drive super cars at Las Vegas speedway $$$$

its a great city, but it’s really best as a convention town. I have been probably 15 times or more. The car business loves Las Vegas. 

DoubleEgger

The Imperial Palace has a pretty nice car collection 

Acn

Don’t know what it’ll be like in January, but Valley of Fire State Park was incredible, and also only like an hour and 15 outside of Vegas.

U_tarded

DoubleEgger said:

The Imperial Palace has a pretty nice car collection 

It is (or was) they rebranded it the linq when they built the wheel.  It got completely remodeled.  We was there in November but it was a quick trip so I didn’t even think about the car collection that trip. 

Edit* after a quick google it is still there. 

lkapigian

Fremont Street now has a huge Taco Truck venue , check it out 

theyolksonyou

go to as many casinos as possible and just check out all the architecture 

This

Todd-Man

Red Rock Canyon, about 30 min West of Las Vegas.

theyolksonyou

Rent a Lambo on the strip and drive like a bat outta hell to the damn. 

theyolksonyou

Also, don't take the fliers from all the folks in the strip, unless you have a cool wife. 

theyolksonyou

Oh, and the chicks that hit on you while your wife's in the restroom. The ones that seem out of your league, they are, unless you pay.  

g8golfer

you think I can write it off my taxes? 

theyolksonyou

Not sure which one , but yes. 

Battleborn

Valley of Fire over Red Rock, Hoover Damn over the Grand Canyon (given your time constraints). If you have your own car, get off the Strip for food. There is so much to do here, just have fun.