Vivacious Vegas

Vegas is great! I was worried that it would be all about the gambling, and I am not a gambler. I pleasantly surprised and just what all there is to do in Vegas. Each hotel has a different theme and activities and shows that go along with that theme. We only had three days, so we didn't make it to all of the hotels and attractions we wanted to see. The best thing we did was the wax museum which is located at the Venetian. It was so much fun! The wax figures are set up all through the museum where you can get your picture made with each one. The best picture I have is of me standing next to Brad Pitt with my hand placed on his butt. The museum also had an American Idol stage where you could sing karoke for "Simon" and "Ryan".

Quick Tips:

I always heard that the buffets were great. The food was good, but it was expensive for the little I ate. I would rather have McDonald's or Pizza Hut or something and save my money for shows, etc.

Best Way To Get Around:

We used the trolley and trams to get around. The trams are located between some hotels. You can find a map of these on the internet. Also, the trolley was very nice. However, be sure you know where you need to get off, or you will be riding the trolley for a long time. Sometimes it helps if you cross the street to catch the trolley at a different stop.

Our experience at Excalibur was awesome! From the moment we stepped into the lobby, we were taken into another world. With its medieval theme carried out through decorations, costumes, and architecture, our Medieval stay at Excalibur was unforgettable!

In most themed hotels, the actual guest rooms don't fit in with the rest of the hotel's decor. However, Excalibur's medieval theme was carried out even through the prints and curtains in our room.

We were a little worried about what Excalibur would have to offer on those nights when we were simply exhausted from our travels during the day. Fortunately, there was a little bit of everything in the hotel. Appealing to our everyday tastes were McDonald's, Krispy Kreme, Quiznos, and Pizza Hut. For those who wanted to let their kids have a little fun, there was a nice-sized game room and pool. Appealing to those of all ages was the variety of shows offered at Excalibur. From Austrailian hotties in Thunder From Down Under (my personal favorite) to Medieval jousting and a meal, there was a show to suit your every mood. Overall, my stay at Excalibur was very pleasing. The next time I visit Las Vegas, which will hopefully be very soon, I will more than likely take advantage of the lively Excalibur hotel.

What's Vegas without a little stripping? We wanted our trip to include some tasteful yet memorable times, which is why we decided to attend Thunder from Down Under. And that's exactly what we got...a tasteful yet memorable experience.

Being the first show "like that" I have attended, I was a little shy about the extremely good looking Australian guys dancing around onstage...but then I let loose and realized how great it really was!

I must say that I was slightly taken aback when the guys stripped down to nothing more than thongs, but the tasteful way they went about it (if there's anything tasteful about a man-thong) really wasn't that bad. Wait...who am I kidding...I just enjoyed the six packs and overall ripped appearances all the guys had. One of them has even appeared on the cover of Men's Health (Matthew)! :)

However, the greatest treat was at the end of the show, when you can get your picture made SITTING ON THEIR LAPS! Believe me girls, $15 is not a bad price for getting that much action! ;)

After all the excitement from Thunder from Down Under, we decided to travel more along the beaten path, and visited Madame Tussand's Wax Museum. We really weren't sure about going to the museum, but it ended up being one of the best attractions we attended while in Vegas. Not only were the wax figures amazing pieces of art, but also they were very fun! We were able to touch the figures, and even got our pictures made with them. There were several props set along with most of the figures (like cowboy hats with John Wayne, a basketball and goal with Shaq, and golf clubs with Tiger Woods), that we were able to use in the pictures we took. The figures were also designed as if frozen while performing a specific action, such as Elvis, who was signing an autograph, and Tiger Woods, who was lining up a putt. The pictures were very fun and allowed us to use our creative sides as we posed as if the figures were real and we were with them. Overall, this is a fun experience for all ages. I definitely recommend visiting Madame Tussond and all of her wax celebrities!

The Monet Exhibit at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Arts was absolutely amazing! The exhibit included Monet's works that are usually displayed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It was amazing to be able to be so close to the actual Monet paintings that are very famous including Water Lillies and The Water Lilly Pond. The general admission, $15, includes an audio tour that describes the paintings and what was going on in Claude Monet's life when he painted each one. If you enjoy art or history at all, this is a must see.

Pirates 4D is a great family experience. The 3-D movie stars Leslie Neilson as a very funny, accident prone pirate in search of treasure. However, a young boy sets up traps (much like Home Alone) to keep him from reaching the treasure.

"Pirates 4D" combines state-of- the-art 3-D visuals with multi-sensory surprises. Special effects and interactive seats engage the audience in an extraordinary 4-D experience. The comical story goes beyond traditional movie releases to totally immerse guests in a laugh-outloud adventure. Be ready for quite a few surprises!

If you are a history buff, then you will enjoy the King Tut Museum at the Luxor. The exhibit houses hundreds of reproductions, including the world-famous guardian statues, King Tut's sarcophagus, and an array of statues, vases, beds, baskets and pottery. King Tut's Tomb and Museum is a 15 minute, self guided, audio tour.

The greatest thing about Televison City...it's free! My friend and I were able to screen a new TV show before it had been shown on TV. We watched the premire show of CSI: New York, and then we were asked to give our opinion on the show. For our time, we were given a gift packet that included a $10 coupon to use at the Television City store that had merchandise from CBS, MYV, and Nickelodeon. The packet also had coupons for Starbucks, Rainforest Cafe, and Star Trek: The Experience. It was a good activity if you have an hour and a half to kill.