Viva Las Vegas (Rule of thumb: always try to get off the strip at least once either for a nature trip or at least a jaunt downtown.)

HOTELS (great lobbies, too)
The Venetian and Bellagio are tied for luxurious digs; The Luxor is more mid-range.

The Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 414-1000

Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 693-7111

Luxor
3900 Las Vegas Blvd S.
(702) 262-4900

SPAS
Again, Canyon Ranch is much larger than the Luxor Spa.

Canyon Ranch (The Venetian)
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Luxor Spa
3900 Las Vegas Blvd S. Casino

RESTAURANTS
Bouchon (The Venetian)
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Grand Luxe Cafe (The Venetian)
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Kahunaville (Treasure Island)
3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Simon’s Kitchen (Hard Rock Hotel)
4455 Paradise Road

BUFFETS
Mandalay Bay
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Carnival World Buffet (Rio)
3700 Flamingo Road

LOCAL RESTAURANTS
Bahama Breeze
375 Hughes Center Drive

Habib’s Persian Restaurant
4750 W. Sahara Avenue, #24

ICEHOUSE LOUNGE
650 S. Main St.

Paymon’s Mediterranean Cafe & Hookah Lounge
8380 W. Sahara Avenue

The Pepper Mill Inn Restaurant (Fireside Lounge)
2985 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Tinoco’s Bistro (two locations)
103 E. Charleston Blvd.
310 E. Warm Springs Road

Ventana’s (Henderson)

DAY TRIPS
Red Rock Canyon Lake Las Vegas
Have a drink at the Ritz-Carlton

Lake Las Vegas
1610 Lake Las Vegas Parkway Henderson, NV

Lake Mead Hoover Dam & Environs

BIG SHOWS
Celine Dion
Colosseum at Caesar’s Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South

“O” at Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 693-7111

REAL SHOPPING
Fashion Show Mall Macy’s, Saks, Nordstrom’s, all the big department stores 3200 Las Vegas Blvd., South #600

FANTASY SHOPPING
Forum Shops at Caesar’s
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South

BEST COCKTAILS
Fontana Lounge (live music & the fountains)
Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South

The Pepper Mill Inn Restaurant (Fireside Lounge)
2985 Las Vegas Blvd. South

ART
First Fridays
Las Vegas Arts District; Area of Main Street, Charleston and Casino Center boulevards

Steven Spann Gallery in the Art Factory (he’s my talented brother-in-law; give him my greetings)
109 E. Charleston Blvd. #101

The Guggenheim Hermitage (The Venetian)
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South

FAMILY ACTIVITIES
The Adventuredome at Circus Circus Circus Circus, 2880 Las Vegas Blvd. South Star Trek: The Experience (Las Vegas Hilton) 3000 Paradise Road (My nephews raved about this)

NIGHT CLUB
Just watching is instructional. Think “Animal House.”

The Beach
365 Convention Center Drive

ATTRACTIONS
Fountains of Bellagio
Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Fremont Experience (light show) Downtown Las Vegas 114 S. 4th St.

Downtown Hotel and Gambling
Golden Nugget 129 Fremont St.

PLACES I WANT TO GO ON MY NEXT VISIT Andre’s French Restaurant
The Artisan Hotel

Bellagio’s Art Gallery

Drai’s Jazzed (for music)

The Summit at Mt. Charleston

Wynn Vegas

NOT YET BUILT BUT INTRIGUING

Acqua Blue (Michael Jordan and friends do a Condo building)
Las Ramblas (George Clooney and friends do a Condo building)