Weekend in Vegas

This was my first trip to Las Vegas. I was told I would either love or hate Vegas due to its extreme nature. I turned out loving the place. I guess not much needs to be said here as to why since it is America's adult playground, it's pretty self-explanatory. The town obviously never stops and there is ALWAYS something something to do, which everyone knows, so I'm not telling you anything new.

What could be new though would be suggestions as to what to do if you're not a gambler. We went to New York, New York and had a blast there at the ESPNZone. From there, we went to Nine Fine Irishmen where we actually saw an Elvis Wedding; awesome!! The fountains at Bellagio were absolutely incredible and then, later in the evening, we took in a show called "Bite!" which was very interesting. It was set to 80s hard-rock music and was very entertaining.

The next morning brought more adventure as we shopped at Caesar's Palace and then had lunch at Margaritaville before heading out. We were not there long, but the time was completely packed with fun while we were.

Quick Tips:

My only tips for Las Vegas that I came back with after my short visit was to definitely go to the Hoover Dam. It is a short trip and the massiveness of what those men accomplished there is hard to fathom until you see it. It is an astounding engineering marvel and there are very nice displays and tours offered as well. In addition, they have volunteers around the structure that are always willing to answer your "dam" questions.

Another tip is to see the fountains at the Bellagio. This is an incredible show of water set to very popular music, most of which you will recognize. The shows are run periodically about every fifteen minutes or so and usually fill up quickly, so if you're blocked out or miss one, just hang out for a while and you'll soon be front row.

Best Way To Get Around:

I would say the best way that we found to get around was to find a parking spot in one of the garages and then walk. They have a skytram type thing that runs and it is not very expensive, but walking around is quick and effective.

The Stratosphere was not expensive at all, it is on the Strip and the room was very nice, so I was very happy with the place. In addition, there was a very good show downstairs called "Bite" that is set to 70s, 80s, and 90s rock music that was very good. Maybe we went there during an inexpensive weekned, but I was kind of surprised at the price that we paid compared to the nice accommodations. Of course, there was the casino downstairs which was nice also.

I would say that the only drawback to the Stratosphere was that it was kind of far north on the Strip and away from the other big casinos. However, they do not have the rides on the tower like the Stratosphere does. Since it was cold when we were there, the rides were not running, but on top of the structure there are three rides called the Big Shot, X Scream, and Insanity, that are sure to please the adrenaline junkie. The tower is also the highest freestanding observation tower in the United States, and the tallest building west of the Mississippi River at 1,149 foot high.

I highly recommend the Stratosphere for a great stay while in Las Vegas. Make sure you check early though because, as with other Vegas hotels, they do have strange days where their prices will shoot up due to conventions, etc.

Ahh, the Bellagio Fountains! This was an awesome experience. We stayed for about three shows in a row when we passed the first time and had to stop by again later.

The fountains are $40 million worth of entertainment and well-worth a stop if you happen by while in Vegas. The waterjets are choreographed with popular music and make for a wet ballet that is a viewing pleasure.

If you're blocked out due to too many people, don't worry, stick around for a few and you'll soon be in the front row. The best though is to see the show set to Sinatra. This happens often it seems, so just give it chance.

I would recommend the Bellagio Fountains to anyone who is in Vegas for a quick stop to see something that you'll experience nowhere else. It is a sight you'll not soon forget.

The Hoover or Boulder Dam is a marvel of modern ingenuity. The massiveness of the dam and the construction of it is a testament to the will and dedication of America and the men and women that made the whole thing possible.

The dam is fairly incredible, to be completely honest. The dam was constructed from 1931 until 1935 and was completed before schedule. The total cost was $49 million at that time, and the construction took 96 workers' lives. The dam provides power to three states, California, Arizona, and Nevada. The dam impounds the Colorado River and is 726 foot high and 1,244 foot long. The 158,000 acre lake that was created on the north side of the dam was named Lake Mead after Elwood Mead who was the construction overseer of the project. The dam also has the Arizona and Nevada state line running through the middle of it, which is pretty neat. To hear about or read about the actual construction of the dam is what really makes it amazing though.

To say that the dam is a spectacle would be an understatement. When I first saw it, I came from the Arizona side where you are considerably higher than the dam and lake. Looking down, it appeared small when I first saw it. However, once we got onto the dam itself and then stopped and walked around the area, the vastness of the project was astounding.

If you plan to go, be prepared to be amazed. There are tours of the dam and area as well as many volunteers to assist you with questions if you do things on your own. There are also souvenir stands inside the main office and there is a restaurant, too, I believe. We spent about an hour there walking around and saw most of the external structure.

I would highly recommend the Hoover Dam to anyone who is traveling to Las Vegas. The trip can be made in less than half a day and you will truly see a modern marvel if you take the time to do so.