Viva Las Vega$!! -- Part 3

Reno and Vegas are both popular with many tourists. The difference is this: if you don’t like to gamble, you have to go with Vegas. There’s really nothing else to do in Reno. In Vegas, there’s a lot to do. Heck, just looking at the hotel-casinos, you can travel from Italy to France to Egypt in a matter of minutes. Just be prepared to walk.

The first time I went to Vegas, my friend and I got off the plane and immediately saw a Slidewalk, those conveyor belt people mover thingees. I remember thinking, what kind of lazy fucks need something like that. Within 2 days, I became that kind of lazy fuck. Well, actually, I came to realize why they were there. You really walk a lot in Vegas. And the landscape is so deceptive. If you’ve ever played Asheron’s Call, you’ll know what I mean. You find yourself at Caesar’s and you look over to Luxor and tell yourself, I can walk that real quick. Five minutes, no problem. Twenty minutes later, you’re bargaining with God for a Slidewalk.

When you can’t walk anymore, you can take the tram, which takes you from the MGM through Paris and Bally’s and ends up at the Hilton. Or you can take a taxi. And talk with your cabbie. They’re full of good information and suggestions.

This said, you’ll find quite a bit to do besides gambling. Let’s start mid-strip at the Imperial Palace. I read an ugly rumor that it was going to be bought out and torn down to make way for a newer hotel-casino. I hope not. It’s really cool. First off, at the top, they have a free (well, donations are accepted) car exhibit with everything from racecars to limos to an early BMW/Volkswagen Beetle. They also have Performer/Dealers who not only deal you a game of Blackjack but, when it’s their turn, will get on the center stage and sing for the crowd. Did I mention they’re impersonators? Cher, Axl Rose and of course Elvis are known to make appearances.

Although the Mandalay Bay is one of the better hotels, the casino itself suffers from sprawl. You’ll find yourself walking and walking. If needed, another tram will take you from the Mandalay Bay to Luxor to Excalibur. Your long journey will be rewarded, however, in the end. There’s a Shark Exhibit which will cost you about 15 bones but is well worth it. There’s an audio tour you can take advantage of as well to enhance the experience. It also has a hands-on display where you can touch a ray, a starfish and other exotic sea creatures. But **SPOILER ALERT** the real treat is at the end where you find yourself surrounded by the aquarium on all sides. Yes, ALL sides. And it has a sunken pirate ship theme to it. You can see many types of sharks and such to the left of you, to the right of you, above you and below you. Amazing.

If you enjoy art, The Venetian and Bellagio both have galleries with top of the line exhibits year round. Some of my favorites are: Andy Warhol, Monet and Ansel Adams.

If you’re a Star Trek fan, you must visit Las Vegas. The big annual Trek convention has moved from Pasadena to Vegas. The off-strip Hilton is home of the Star Trek Experience. There’s a Star Trek themed section of the casino. There are gift shops galore. Then there is the Experience itself. Two simulator rides not unlike Star Tours at Disneyland. Once you get your ticket, you walk through a Trek exhibit which includes costumes and props from the Trek shows and movies, a timeline of space exploration a disarmed photon torpedo and diagrams of all the ships. Oh and there are huge replicas of some of the ships hovering over you the whole time.

When you get to the end, you have 2 options: the Klingon Encounter and the Borg Encounter. The storyline of the first has you and your fellow riders being transported from Las Vegas to the 24th century. Turns out one of you is an ancestor of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the Klingons have abducted you in an attempt to wipe him from history. They always stare and smirk at the black and Mexican riders. *sigh* The second ride has you being taken to a deep space station (not Number 9) as guests/subject of “The Doctor” aka the Emergency Medical Hologram aka Joe from Voyager. Apparently you were scanned when you entered and it would seem that you have special DNA coding which would render you immune to the Borg Nano Probes which are used to assimilate various species. But before The Doctor can continue with his experiments, the Borg attack.

After enjoying both rides, which are covered by one ticket, you will have no doubt worked up an appetite. Never fear. Have a meal and a drink at Quarks. Yes, Earth’s first Quark’s franchise serves up Star Trek food and drink that will satisfy any space traveler. The one downside…no Gagh, live or otherwise. *sigh* If you don’t get the reference, Google it.

Okay people, I’ve saved the best for last. I mentioned the Bellagio Fountains in the Dinner section. Once the sun goes down, and continuing every 15 minutes until midnight, the lake in front of the Bellagio is the site for the most amazing show in Sin City. Water jets lie just below the surface, flanked by spotlights. These are choreographed to music for a spectacular show. Some of the music includes: This Kiss by Faith Hill, the Pink Panther Theme by Henry Mancini, Luck Be A Lady Tonight by Frank Sinatra, One from A Chorus Line and, my favorite, Con Te Partiro by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. You will NOT be disappointed.