Vegas, so Much More Than Just Gambling...

[NOTE: This is now an ARCHIVE Article in/at/on BEFORE IT'S NEWS and therefore any images/pictures oringally contained here-in stripped - they do that/this to save Server space but still preserve the text of them longer term]

[COMING APR 2022: New book from Joseph M. Lenard TERROR STRIKES:
http://terrorstrikes.info / http://terrorstrikes.info/synopsis / http://terrorstrikes.info/about-the-book 
including a chapter about Vegas/Laughlin Nevada area]

HAVE YOU NOT BEEN TO VEGAS? SO MUCH MORE THAN GAMBLING! Great Sights, Great Food (though, not as cheap as it used to be), Great Shows, Great Atmosphere, Great Shopping (lots of Shops, but hard to find reasonable priced Gifts or Keep-sakes to bring Home), etc….

If you do finally decide to go, for the Shows….
If you decide you have to see a Cirque-de-solee (or however the hell it’s spelled) show I greatly recommend MYSTERE (the original CDS show, still at #TreasureIsland) over the others – sorry I wasted my time/money on the other ones)
#BlueManGroup, if they’re still around (they were at #Luxor when I saw them. Had a great time. I painted my face BLUE for our visit to the Show and it got great reactions from the Troupe and other Visitors alike).
#Impersonators, if they still have that Show at #Stratosphere
any of the many great #ComedyClub theaters in town.
The original #SHOWGIRLS still showing (like for forever now) at the #Tropicana (or has that one changed its name too?) as that is the proverbial/classic Vegas Show.
Unfortunately, #Riviera torn down and long-gone is #SPLASH the long-running Water Show (unless they were able to move it somewhere else or it is brought back when whatever new property is built there).
Highly recommend #RATPACK (impersonators, great Show) if it is still there, was “Downtown” (at the UNION) last I knew, but I know it has moved around a few times it was in the original Copa room at the Sahara (where it should have been) for a long time.
I wish #EFX was still at #MGM, it was originally with #DavidCassidy (#PatridgeFamily fame) then #RickSpringfield took over (I have an autographed Guitar from him from one of the Shows). I saw that like 6 different times during visits.
and so many other great choices

Unfortunately, long gone are the good ole days of the 99 cent full-breakfast specials locations, $10 Steak and Lobster, cheap Steak and Egss (of the old, now gone, Maxum), etc…. All replaced with pathitically over-priced high-end snob-specialty-locales. 　 You can, if you hunt, find a great Buffet Sale night (Flamingo, used to be Tuesdays, Sahara, now gone, etc…) but even them have greatly ballooned in price as income from Gambling/Gamblers has somewhat reduced over the years and they make it up in increased Room Rates (they used to be artificailly low/reduced to entice travelers to stay and gamble on the premises) and Food options and over-priced “trendy” Clubs (Studio54, used to be at #MGM, and reasonable, now gone).

You have to go up to the #TopOfTheStrat (#Stratosphere Hotel) for the view of the entire area! And, of course, the great FREE (outdoor) Shows…. #VOLCANO (somebody help me out, I’m having a mental block on what Casino that is??), which has to be seen at night to fully appreciate. During the Day, be sure to see the NAVAL FIGHT at #TreasureIsland (that has been revamped and is not as ellaborate as it once was but still great to see, the one ship use to actually sail from the front of the building around and into battle position, hopefully it still Sinkss). Be sure to venture Downtown (if you don’t decide to even stay there to save a few Bucks then venture out to things on the Strip, rather than vice-versa) and see the #FreemontStreetExperience (gotta see it after Dark)….  What else am I forgetting folks?!?!?

#SightSeeing galore… Short Drive, get a Map with the Top Spots to stop along the Route, to #RedRockCanyon… Short trip to #HooverDam… Bus trips available to #GrandCanyon (and if you can splurge, Helicopter Tours are the most breath-taking and you often have Lunch at the Canyon Floor with many of those Tours)! My now ex-wife and I, I think it was back in 2004ish, did a “Drive-yourself-tour” (sadly, I do not think they exist anymore; you used to be able to buy cassettes from them that would take you step-by-step to destination and point out great “highlights” to look at along the way). And speaking of driving tours: #Area51 – loved the Van Tour we found from one of the local Things to see/do in Vegas Magazines (with stops at “Little A’Le’Inn” (small Restaurant/Bar and eatery/gift-shop and more (http://www.littlealeinn.com/))!

Speaking of #HelicopterTours, if you can spare the Cash for Helicopter Tour of the Strip is wonderful as you often (and make sure you either ask, or the listing you find about any tour in the local Vegas ToDo Magazines you absolutely should invest in and digest cover to cover before plotting out your week, says) get  a Tour Guide / Pilot that points out not only all the current Casinos but the HISTORY of the Properties (Bellogiao on the Dunes, new #MGM the old #Mariner, #Ballys is the old/original #MGM (and the story about the Fire, that inspired the 1970′s #ToweringInferno Film), etc…).