Las Vegas for Non-Gamblers (2002)

Las Vegas for Non-Gamblers
MedioCom
©2002 by Debora Hill

I don't gamble, which is part of the reason I never felt the need to visit the oasis in the Nevada desert. But a little research confirmed my suspicions -- Las Vegas has a lot to offer non-gamblers.
After the events of September 11th, my friends and I expected long delays at the airport. Instead, we sailed through security checkpoints and there were no lines for ticketing. We stayed at the MGM Grand, one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever enjoyed. If you're not staying there, it doesn't offer a lot of amenities in the non-gambling department, except a first-class show in EFX. But first-class shows are everywhere in this town. The rooms are beautiful and spacious, at least in the Grand Tower -- the Emerald Tower contains the cheap seats, and the rooms are reportedly small -- but still beautifully decorated.
There are five pools, but only one is open during the winter months. Since the weather was nice enough that the one pool was crowded, it was hard to say why the rest were closed. There is a 'river' pool which can be rafted on rented rafts, but it was closed as well. The theme park has been closed indefinitely, and no one could tell me when it would re-open. Since the hotel is film-themed, there is an interesting option we weren't able to experience due to time constraints -- films and clips are available for viewing in their private theatre. 
The MGM is connected by an overhead walkway to the New York New York. The facade of this hotel is fabulous, a sight in itself, particularly at night when the little tugboats in the harbor spout water around the Statue of Liberty. There is a roller coaster on top of the hotel that runs through the skyline and in and out of the casino.
New York New York connects to the Excalibur. It has a basement full of games for children, and an outdoor dragon battle that wasn't showing when we were there. But the Tournament of Kings is a wonderful adult participation show, and the price of $45.00 includes dinner -- one of the best deals in town. A word about prices, here -- they change continuously in Las Vegas. If you buy a guide book, Frommer's is good, but the prices were already much more than quoted in this year's edition.
The big stage shows are very expensive. We think Mystere and O are the ones most worth the money, but that money is high. When we were there, Mystere tickets were $88. each and O went for $120. Two months later, it's gone up $20. a ticket.
The Excalibur is attached to the Luxor by another moving walkway. The Luxor is fabulous; the rooms are in the pyramid, and overlook the center of the hotel. There are a lot of amenities here; we most enjoyed the re-creation of Tutankhamen's tomb. Children would enjoy this as well, and they can also see a film about ancient Egypt. There are several of the popular virtual reality games here, but they're not good ones. They're short, and involve mostly jolting about. For the real thing, visit Race for Atlantis at Caesar's Palace or the premiere virtual reality experience, Star Trek.
The Luxor connects to Mandalay Bay. Don't bother here, unless you want to visit one of their restaurants. Their theme is murky, except for being expensive, and it doesn't offer anything for non-gamblers. It is reputed to be the most expensive hotel in Las Vegas.
Moving northward from the MGM Grand is a tram that connects with Bally's, where you can see a free show that sinks the battleship Titanic nightly. In between are the Aladdin, which is unfortunately not connected, but shouldn't be missed -- their Desert Caravan is a miracle of construction. Every hour there is an indoor rainstorm in the 'Lost City', at the 'port'.
Next to the Aladdin is the Paris, our most favorite of the casinos. The front is a beautiful re-creation of the city, and inside you wander the streets of Paris amidst shops and restaurants. Napoleon's is their premiere restaurant, and their buffet features an all-French menu. Inside and outside both is a half-size replica of the Eiffel Tower; you can go up to the top and see all over the city. We loved this one.
Bally's also connects by a bridge to The Bellagio, one of the most expensive hotels in Las Vegas. It was rather disappointing to us; we went particularly to see their art gallery, which is touted as being fantastic, but it was closed until January of this year.The outside lagoon and surrounding restaurants are beautiful, but not as well-done or eclectic as the one at Treasure Island. Their one big attraction, and well worth the visit, is an evening water and music show in the lagoon. All the restaurants fronting the lagoon are expensive but offer exceptional food, and a good viewing of the show.
Caesar's Palace is fantastic; extensive and fascinating. Ride the Race for Atlantis, a virtual reality ride that is far superior to any at The Luxor. And the interior, while not as extensively or intricately designed as The Aladdin, has some wonderful fountains and a two-story Trojan horse containing a toy store.
The Mirage is next door to Caesar's Palace. It contains some wonderful attractions; The Secret Garden of Seigfried and Roy and The Dolphin Experience are two of the best; there is a Volcano in their lagoon that goes off every hour after dark. The interior of the hotel is designed to resemble a rain forest.
Adjacent to The Mirage and accessed by a walkway is Treasure Island. Visit Kahunaville for dinner, the most fascinating tropical drinks, and an indoor water show. Every night in their lagoon is a free battle between a pirate ship and a British naval vessel. It's a great one, and the Pirate captain is a real hunk.
Perhaps this would be a good time to tell the single women out there that Las Vegas is a flirter's paradise. Women of a certain age (like me, at 40) or those just barely old enough to enter the casinos are in luck in this town. Handsome men are everywhere; I met a fabulous German at the top of the Eiffel Tower; if he hadn't been leaving the next day I would've asked him to have dinner with my friends and me. Looking for a high roller? All the posh casinos have a high limit room; try Mandalay Bay, The Venetian or the MGM Grand.
The Venetian is an all-suite hotel, and suitably luxurious. The exterior is beyond beautiful; gondolas are poled around the lagoon by singing gondoliers; during the evening hours they move to the interior and go up and down the canal. Another city is inside, with a bridge over the canal and a re-creation of St. Mark's Square. Don't miss the Guggenheim Collection; chances to see some of this art up close don't exist in many places in this country.
The Rio is the other all-suite hotel in Las Vegas; they and the Orleans have the most popular buffets in town; the Rio is also the most expensive at $25.00 a person. 
All the casinos have nickel slots, but the Casino Royale, in the middle of the strip, has penny slots! You won't win much, but you won't lose much, either, and you can try out slot machines practically free.
The north of the strip contains Circus Circus and The Stratosphere, sitting amongst a conglomeration of smaller and older casinos. Circus Circus is a disappointment, and probably shouldn't be attempted by adults without children. The Blue Iguana, a restaurant on the AdventureDome level, is quiet and has good food -- it functions as an oasis amidst the desert of chaos that is Circus Circus.
The sky tram from the parking garage takes visitors from the sky casino to the main building. The sky casino is the only quiet place in Circus Circus, apart from some of the restaurants -- it was obviously placed there for people who wanted to gamble and be able to think at the same time.
The Stratosphere is the newest theme casino in town. Spectacular and visible from as far as Lake Mead, the spire has a ride at the top that is for true thrill-seekers; it drops down inside the spire and bounces back up again, night and day. The view from the spire is incredible; all the way to Arizona.
The Hilton contains the best ride in Las Vegas, and the most expensive. If you buy your tickets to Race for Atlantis and Star Trek at the same time, you'll save seven dollars a ticket. Star Trek isn't just a ride, it's an all-around sensory experience with uniformed crew members, rides in elevators that take you to your 'pod', and a 'landing' at the Deep Space Nine Promenade, where you can eat at Quark's bar. We highly recommend the creme brulee. If you're lucky a Klingon will come by your table and abuse you for eating dead food.
Downtown Las Vegas contains the older casinos. The downtown association decided tourists were avoiding the area for the new theme-park casinos, so they established the Fremont Street Experience. A huge metal canopy was built covering three downtown blocks, with electrical connectors that transmit laser shows at night. Each night features three different shows of music and lights. The best place to see the Fremont Street shows is from the Center Stage Restaurant in the Plaza casino. The Center Stage has dining tables in a glass dome that pipes in the music from the Experience; we had a table at the center front of the dome and watched two of the shows while dining. If you watch from the street, go into the La Bayou; a little bar with slot machines -- they make wonderful drinks in foot-tall glasses, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic.
When you get tired of the strip, drive out of town, west to Red Rock Canyon. There are tours that go from the major hotels, and you'll see some of the most dramatic sights on this planet -- in places, you'll be convinced you've been transported to mars. There is a visitor's center (closed on holidays) and a thirteen-mile scenic drive with picnic spots. But be warned; there are only chemical toilets this far out.
Old Nevada is on the site of an original mining settlement about an hour's drive from the city. It is mostly hokey and tourist-oriented, but there is a small section of the original mine open for viewing. Kids love this place; they feature interactive street scenes in which children are deputized to round up 'villains' and lock them in the makeshift jail. And there is an incredibly silly melodrama featuring two men who play all the roles -- the older man with the beard and mustache plays the heroine. 
Drive west from the city (again, there are featured bus tours from all the major casinos), through the foothills to Lake Mead. When you reach a beautiful Hyatt Regency hotel and some very upscale mini-mansions, you're almost there. The lake itself is more of an inland sea, surrounded by the stark, striated mountains of the desert. The best way to see it is by paddle-boat cruise; we took the daytime cruise, 1.5 hours -- I would recommend it or the brunch cruise if this is your first view of the lake. There is also a dinner/dance cruise. There is a narration that gives the history of the lake and the dam.
That's it, folks...at least until next time! 
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