Las Vegas Honeymoon: Weather and Travel Guide
The streets of this neon-lit Nevada city offer much more than a quick buck and Elvis-blessed elopement. A recent renaissance has made Las Vegas, which means The Meadows in Spanish, the one-stop spot to experience it all: Broadway-style shows, big-name restaurants, luxurious spas, thrill rides, and themed hotels. The city's location also makes it the perfect jumping-off point for the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and other wonders of the West.
Before You Go: Need-to-know info
Language: English
Flight time: 6 hours from New York City; 1 hour from LA
Getting around: The Strip's bus, monorail, taxi and car
When to Go: Las Vegas at its best
Best weather: September to November and March to May
Best prices: Weekdays, and the week before New Year's
What to Do:
Casinos: Tempt Lady Luck at baccarat, blackjack, slot machines, keno, roulette, craps and poker, just to name a few. Some of the largest casinos are the MGM Grand, Bellagio and Aria. High stakes reign supreme at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Hilton, The Mirage, Bellagio and MGM Grand. Go to Circus Circus -- under a pink-and-white big top -- or the medieval-themed Excalibur for raucous revelry.
Eating: Vegas is famous for its gigantic buffets, but big-name chefs have also been rolling out the red carpet.
Showtime: From famous comedians and magicians to Fosse-esque extravaganzas, cabarets, boxing, roller hockey, concerts and showgirls, there are so many shows in this town that you won't know where to start or stop. Cirque Du Soleil tonight? Britney Spears tomorrow? Free shows range from the Fremont Street Experience (see below) to the choreographed dancing-waters show on an eight-acre lake at Bellagio.
Lite Brites: Check out the psychedelic light-and-sound show at the Fremont Street Experience, a downtown outdoor mall covered by a four-block, arched, 90-foot-high awning illuminated by 12.5 million LED lamps. Give your neck a rest at the glitzy Golden Nugget (don't miss the 61-pound glittering rock in the lobby).
Shopping: Spending money was never so much fun. Hop a gondola to one of 160 stores along the Grand Canal at the Venetian, see the sunset and watch Atlantis sink at Caesar's Forum Shops, or stroll through the exclusive shops along "Via" Bellagio.
Art: Hotel as an art museum? The Gallery of Fine Art at the Bellagio displays paintings by Monet, Miro, Degas, Renoir, Giacometti, Cezanne, Lichtenstein, de Kooning, Pollock, Warhol, Matisse and Van Gogh. (Modern art can be found at the Las Vegas Art Museum, which features whimsical works by Dale Chihuly.) Car lovers should visit The Auto Collections at the LINQ Hotel & Casino, which includes wheels owned by Johnny Carson and John F. Kennedy.
Kitsch: No cultural tour would be complete without a stop at the Liberace Museum, which displays the great piano player's elaborate costumes, cars and miniature piano collection. The Elvis-A-Rama Museum features the King's purple Lincoln, two of his limos and a few of his Vegas jumpsuits.
Great outdoors: Some of our country's most amazing spots are within driving distance of Vegas, including the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Lake Mead, Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock Canyon. Sign up for an aerial tour, a rafting trip or a cruise.
