Headed to Las Vegas for a trade conference

[forty_caliber]

I'm flying to Las Vegas tomorrow to attend a trade conference. EMC World is one of the premier trade shows for storage and backup...the geeks are invading Nevada.

I've never been to LV before. Mrs 40 C and I be staying at the LINQ hotel and casino right on the strip. The hotel is celebrating it's grand opening next week.

Any tips/tricks to help us maximize our enjoyment or places that are a must see? What are the must have restaurants, attractions, or shows?

.40

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I've never been there, either. Have fun!

 

[jabbur]

DH and I went there several years ago also for a conference for him. While he spent the days in his classes and conference meetings, I walked the strip going in each place just to look around. After he finished with his stuff we had evenings free. We got tickets to see Bill Engval (Here's your sign). Ate at some wonderful places. Saw the pirate show at
Treasure Island and watched the fountains at the Bellagio. There are thousands of restaurants along the strip. We had good meals at all of the places we went. The one place we enjoyed the most doesn't seem to be still in operation. I forget the name but it was a steak place in the Mirage. Steak was the best I've ever eaten and HUGE. Filled the whole plate. I tried to look up the restaurants in the Mirage and I don't see any menus like that place so I think they may have changed it. We also saw the animals at the mirage from Sigfried and Roy's shows. We were there just after the tiger attack happened so their show was not available to see. We took a day and went to see Hoover Dam. That was quite interesting. You could still drive across the dam at that time but construction was well underway for the bypass. I could have taken a helicopter to the Grand Canyon but didn't want to ride in the copter! Ooo scary! I get motion sick easily and wasn't willing to risk the ride. Hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[roadfix]

Good thing you're flying in tomorrow. You'll miss the huge fight crowd this weekend.
Have fun!

 

[Dawgluver]

Go see Absinthe at Caesar's Palace, it's a hoot if you don't mind a little adult humor, and the Cirque du Soleil athletics are amazing. The fountains at the Belagio are fun to watch, they dance to music. Don't bother with Penn and Teller, boring and political pontification with little magic. The Thunder from Down Under was on my list, but not on DH's. Bobby Flay's restaurant, Blue Meza Grill, was somewhat of a disappointment. Good appetizers but the burgers were underwhelming. The aquarium at Mandolay Bay was nice.

 

[Cheryl J]

Oh, yes....the Bellagio fountains are a must see. Beautifully choreographed to music. If you go see the fountains, take a little extra time to see the conservatory and botanical gardens - it's spectacular. Thousands of meticulously cared for plants and flowers, some of them very rare.

There's also a very nice art museum at the Bellagio. Have fun in Vegas! It's a blast - I was last there 4 years ago and hoping to get back soon.

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens - Las Vegas

 

[jabbur]

Go see Absinthe at Caesar's Palace, it's a hoot if you don't mind a little adult humor, and the Cirque du Soleil athletics are amazing. The fountains at the Belagio are fun to watch, they dance to music. Don't bother with Penn and Teller, boring and political pontification with little magic. The Thunder from Down Under was on my list, but not on DH's. Bobby Flay's restaurant, Blue Meza Grill, was somewhat of a disappointment. Good appetizers but the burgers were underwhelming. The aquarium at Mandolay Bay was nice.

We spent a long time there! The dolphins were fascinating.

 

[Dawgluver]

We spent a long time there! The dolphins were fascinating.

The best aquarium I've ever seen was in TN, Aquarium of the Ozarks. Fantastic walk-through tunnel with sharks.

Across from Bellagio, where we stayed, there's Cabo Wabo, great breakfast and kick-butt drinks. Awesome people watching.

 

[jennyema]

Two words: People Watching. Perhaps the best on earth.

I could play blackjack for hours on end (and I have) but if you don't gamble it's still an interesting place.

 

[Dawgluver]

We don't gamble, but it was still fun. Minions, showgirls, just the street shows and people watching. We hit up the pool on our last day at Bellagio, and oh my, we were lucky to find two chairs. The pool was actually several pool areas, massive.