Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for las vegas
Pinball Wizardry
By Linda Tancs
The world’s largest pinball collection is housed at the Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. It’s a museum of sorts but quite interactive; fun is mandatory here. Close to The Strip, it’s run by a veteran arcade operator. You’ll find 152 machines: Gottlieb, Bally, Williams and other makes. Solid-state and electro-mechanical. It’s all there, including the 1975 Bally Wizard, featuring pinball score glass art work with Ann-Margret and Roger Daltrey of The Who’s “Tommy” musical.
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Water, Music and Light
By Linda Tancs
Themed water shows are nothing new, but few of them consistently make the world’s top 10 lists. Of that class, the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas rank supreme. Over 1,000 water-emitting devices spout streams choreographed to light and musical routines ranging from classical to Broadway. Running daily, it’s free, too. Now you have something fabulous to see once you’ve donated all your money to the tables.
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Tripping the Light Fantastic
By Linda Tancs
Neil Young sang that it’s better to burn out than to fade away. When iconic neon signs in Las Vegas burn out, they don’t just fade away. They find a home at the Neon Boneyard. Home to more than 150 historic signs that once graced the likes of Caesars Palace, Binion’s Horseshoe, the Golden Nugget and the Stardust, each sign is accompanied by a history lesson about its design and development. The outdoor museum is accessible only through daily one-hour guided tours, weather permitting. Park for free at McWilliams Avenue.
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The World’s Highest Wheel
By Linda Tancs
There are plenty of high rollers in Las Vegas, but one High Roller is getting all the attention: the 550-foot-tall observation wheel commissioned by Caesars Entertainment. Debuting in March, the wheel promises unparalleled views of the Strip. At 51 stories high, it bests the Singapore Flyer, the Star of Nanchang and the London Eye, making it the world’s highest observation wheel. As usual, Vegas will not be outdone by anyone.
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The Mob Mentality in Las Vegas
By Linda Tancs
In the heart of downtown Las Vegas is a former federal courthouse and U.S. Post Office included on both the Nevada and National Registers of Historic Places. Hearings on organized crime were conducted in this building at a time when legendary mobsters ruled The Strip. Nowadays it’s better known as the Mob Museum, where theater presentations, artifacts, and interactive exhibits capture the struggle between organized crime and law enforcement. Nothing but the truth prevails here, if you can handle it.
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Into the Stratosphere
By Linda Tancs
In Las Vegas, the rides at The Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower will make your head spin, as actors Michael Douglas and Mary Steenburgen discovered while shooting the movie Last Vegas. They rode the X-Scream, which propels you over the edge of the Stratosphere (866 feet above the ground) for that cherished bird’s-eye view. Stunt double, anyone?
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British Invasion in Vegas
By Linda Tancs
The Beatles aren’t the only British import lighting up Vegas. Queen Victoria is alive and well on the Strip, too. That is, the Queen Victoria Pub, located inside the Riviera Hotel and Casino. The only British-owned and operated establishment boasts 24 draught beers and over 40 bottled varieties from around the world. Needless to say, you can savor such island favorites as toad in the hole, shepherds pie and fish and chips. Cheers!
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The Curious Class in Vegas
By Linda Tancs
Nearing a whopping $4 billion, the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opened in mid-December. A new luxe resort on The Strip, they aspire to cater to what they refer to as the “curious class.” Are you curious? Given the low fares to Vegas these days, you can afford to indulge it.
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Family Friendly Las Vegas
By Linda Tancs
It’s easy to think of Vegas as an adult playground. But don’t forget all the kid-friendly details like Adventuredome at Circus Circus, the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay and the arcade at New York New York. Hotel deals offering as much as 50% off mean the whole family can enjoy a Vegas jaunt. And why not now, with temperatures averaging 14 degrees celsius.
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Poker Faces Galore in Las Vegas
By Linda Tancs
They’re making history at the World Series of Poker championships at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. For only the second time in WSOP’s history, a pair of brothers made it to the final table for the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy and $1.55 million in prize money. The action is hardly over, however. The biggest poker gathering of the year runs until 17 July, culminating in the 13-day No-Limit Hold’em Championship. Wanna play? Better pre register to guarantee a seat at the pot of your choice.
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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