What's to do in Las Vegas?

[Bryce]

I received a trip to Las Vegas after winning a November sales competition. I'm going for three days (possibly four) in January, alone and for my first time, and I will stay at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. My itinerary is to try In-N-Out Burger, wander The Strip, and play Texas Hold'em. Any recommendations?

[Selene]

I received a trip to Las Vegas after winning a November sales competition. I'm going for three days (possibly four) in January, alone and for my first time, and I will stay at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. My itinerary is to try In-N-Out Burger, wander The Strip, and play Texas Hold'em. Any recommendations?

Bryce:

Yep, drop into Harry Reid's Office and give him a bouquet of dead flowers and a fish wrapped in newspaper.

Sorry, haven't been in Vegas in decades.

Adam

[CNA]

I received a trip to Las Vegas after winning a November sales competition. I'm going for three days (possibly four) in January, alone and for my first time, and I will stay at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. My itinerary is to try In-N-Out Burger, wander The Strip, and play Texas Hold'em. Any recommendations?

Wow, first time in Vegas? Stratosphere and if you're balsy enough and not afraid of heights, try the Big Shot http://www.stratospherehotel.com/thrills/big_shot.cfm

I'm a roller coaster buff. Well, as I'm aging, not so much but it's a freaky but exhilarating ride. I suggest doing it at night. Also the sunsets up there are pretty amazing as well. There's other coasters up there but not into being dangled over the side of the building that high up in the air.

Vegas is okay. I don't gamble but some of the casinos are pretty amazing inside, the white tigers. Check out some of the shows -- http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/cirque-du-soleil.htm The last time I was there, yikes, make sure not to touch too much because everything has this grimy greasy feel to it. It's a pretty nasty and dirty place. It's changed drastically over the years. Have fun though for being the first time !!!

[9thdoctor]

I received a trip to Las Vegas after winning a November sales competition. I'm going for three days (possibly four) in January, alone and for my first time, and I will stay at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. My itinerary is to try In-N-Out Burger, wander The Strip, and play Texas Hold'em. Any recommendations?

I've been to Vegas twice, I don't gamble, but there's plenty else to do. The main recommendation I have is to buy tickets to Cirque shows well in advance. I went to Love the week it opened, and the stand-by line (to get last minute tickets) had hundreds of people, waiting for hours to be disappointed. Also, if you're on a budget (who isn't?), some of the cheap seats for O are literally right next to the most expensive seats, you'll just have the smallest bit of the stage blocked by a handrail that's right in front of you. Move your head a bit and there's no problem, you'll see everything. Both of those shows are great, though don't ask me what the plot of O was. It doesn't matter. Avoid Zumanity. Ka looks great, I haven't been to it though.

Penn and Teller play at the Rio, off the strip.

I stayed at the Riviera on one of my visits, its older but ok. If you want to try blackjack the dealers there are friendlier and more helpful than other places.

[9thdoctor]

Here's what NOT to do:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125996714714577317.html

[Over43]

Slots-O-Fun in front of Circus Circus has (or had) $1 shrimp cocktails (big ones) and $1 blackjack. The top of the Stratosphere is kind of a kick and the aquarium at the Mirage (I'm pretty sure that is the place) is excellent. Fremont Street is excellent as well. The Coke store on the Strip is a hoot. The Sea Food buffett at The Rio is a stop if you have time as well.

In-n-Out is a good choice though.

O.

[Backlighting]

If you have access to a car and enjoy nature I suggest you head west on Charleston Blvd, till the end, about a 25 minute ride. You will be at the entrance to Red Rock Canyon. It's about a 30 minute trek, if you don't stop along the way, through some beautiful scenery. On the way back, on Charleston, is Red Rock Casino. Great buffet and reasonably priced.

[Selene]

Here's what NOT to do:

http://online.wsj.co...4714577317.html

So this mutt is accusing the casino of contributory negligence!

Amazing, the law firm should be a named Plaintiff. I would look to pull them in as a contributing Plaintiff to the frivolous law suit.

Although, the psycho competitor in me loves the legal theory that they may be basing this on!

Adam

[CNA]

If you have access to a car and enjoy nature I suggest you head west on Charleston Blvd, till the end, about a 25 minute ride. You will be at the entrance to Red Rock Canyon. It's about a 30 minute trek, if you don't stop along the way, through some beautiful scenery. On the way back, on Charleston, is Red Rock Casino. Great buffet and reasonably priced.

Great idea. I've thought of some other places to go and to make it a worthwhile trip for Bryce, especially his first time, because there is so much to see. In addition to what Las Vegas said, if you have access to a rental, take a trip to Hoover Dam which is just right outside of Vegas and not that far http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Dam

The fountains at Bellagio gives some great photo opps as well if you're bringing a camera.

http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=destination&loc_id=133259&sub_section=Highlights

Treasure Island Pirate deal is kinda cool but for me once was enough but you might like it. It's usually packed though out in front on the strip and great to see at night

http://www.my-photo-blog.com/treasure-island-pirate-show

Have fun !!!

Edited December 5, 2009 by CNA

[Backlighting]

Forgot to mention:

Zion Nat'l Park is about a 2hr. trip from downtown and Mt. Charleston, 1 hr.

[Bryce]

Thanks for the suggestions; I'm going to take up a lot! And hit me with others, if you got 'em.

[Brant Gaede]

Go to Death Valley.

--Brant

[CNA]

Go to Death Valley.

--Brant

Oh, my, Brant, great suggestion but a ways away from Vegas, 2 hour drive perhaps but can go through Pahrump and try to short cut it a bit. But Yeah, DV is absolutely stunning and is one of my favorite photography places and a passion of mine. Have made more than my share of driving the 5 hours out there to capture the sunrise at the Dunes staying until sunset and then the drive back the same day. Well worth it for a photographer. Have captured some absolutely beautiful scenes, the play of light and the lines of the Sand Dunes at certain times of the day, sunrise and sunset are perfect for capturing this, the Race Track is also interesting, especially with spectacular storm clouds in the background over the mountain range. Perfect time to go is winter, not too hot but very cold at night. Not meaning to toot my own horn, but Oh, my, I have one image that I was able to capture that ultimately went international and got a lot of recognition for and is still to this day one of the better shots and a unique shot at that and couldn't believe it when I saw it, perfect lines, lights and shadows, the immensity of the landscape and the angle I was at and capturing 2 sole photographers capturing the setting sun up above me but the setting sun wasn't in my shot because I was at the base of dune. I was focussed in on capturing them at that angle, the lighting, the comp.

Bryce, if you are interested in going to Death Valley, let me know, and I'll tell you where to go and the highlights of DV. It's truly a unique location and one of my faves. If you're taking a cam or are a photographer and have never been, let me know and I can help guide you on where to go.

Angie

[Chris Grieb]

Slots-O-Fun in front of Circus Circus has (or had) $1 shrimp cocktails (big ones) and $1 blackjack. The top of the Stratosphere is kind of a kick and the aquarium at the Mirage (I'm pretty sure that is the place) is excellent. Fremont Street is excellent as well. The Coke store on the Strip is a hoot. The Sea Food buffett at The Rio is a stop if you have time as well.

In-n-Out is a good choice though.

O.

I liked the Aquarium at the Mirage. The Mirage was a little pricey.

[studiodekadent]

If you are there during midweek, check out Mandalay Bay for fully liberal (dealer stands on soft 17) 6 deck Blackjack at only $10 minimum bets.

The house edge on that game is only 0.27%. Bring a few hundred and stay for a few hours... get wasted on the cocktail service and you'll have a great time.

[anthony]

I'd have given my eye-teeth to "do" Vegas back in the 80's and 90's with other well-heeled Seffricans, who bought in to the World Series of Poker every year. Those were the days that Texas Hold'em was emerging as the only poker game to play.

The old timers like Amarillo Slim, and high stakes games - immortalised by AA Alvarez, and Tony Holden - lent a glamor to what is basically a tough grind of nerve and patience.

Now that hold'em has spread round the globe ( two casinos within 1/2 hour from where I live ),hundreds of tournaments in Europe, and HUGE on the internet, guess what? I am now totally bored with the game, and haven't played in years.

Maybe it's age: my saying is "you get old poker players, and bold poker players; but there are no old, bold, poker players."

Now I'd rather go for the photo ops in Death Valley.

Enjoy, Bryce - raise them from the button,or any late position, but be prepared to lay down hands when you don't hit the flop, and your 'continuation' bet meets stiff resistance. (But you know that )

Tony

[Kat]

Its been awhile since I've been to Vegas but if I won a trip out there, I would definitely check out the Love Cirque show and see Penn & Teller at the Rio. I love those guys!

Kat

[Bryce]

I'm leaving in a few hours so I figured I'd check this again. Thanks for the tips!

Not meaning to toot my own horn, but Oh, my, I have one image that I was able to capture that ultimately went international and got a lot of recognition for and is still to this day one of the better shots and a unique shot at that and couldn't believe it when I saw it, perfect lines, lights and shadows, the immensity of the landscape and the angle I was at and capturing 2 sole photographers capturing the setting sun up above me but the setting sun wasn't in my shot because I was at the base of dune. I was focussed in on capturing them at that angle, the lighting, the comp.

Bryce, if you are interested in going to Death Valley, let me know, and I'll tell you where to go and the highlights of DV. It's truly a unique location and one of my faves. If you're taking a cam or are a photographer and have never been, let me know and I can help guide you on where to go.

Angie

I'm not going to Death Valley (yet). Though I want to visit Los Angeles this summer. And is that picture on the internet?

[CNA]

I'm leaving in a few hours so I figured I'd check this again. Thanks for the tips!

Not meaning to toot my own horn, but Oh, my, I have one image that I was able to capture that ultimately went international and got a lot of recognition for and is still to this day one of the better shots and a unique shot at that and couldn't believe it when I saw it, perfect lines, lights and shadows, the immensity of the landscape and the angle I was at and capturing 2 sole photographers capturing the setting sun up above me but the setting sun wasn't in my shot because I was at the base of dune. I was focussed in on capturing them at that angle, the lighting, the comp.

Bryce, if you are interested in going to Death Valley, let me know, and I'll tell you where to go and the highlights of DV. It's truly a unique location and one of my faves. If you're taking a cam or are a photographer and have never been, let me know and I can help guide you on where to go.

Angie

I'm not going to Death Valley (yet). Though I want to visit Los Angeles this summer. And is that picture on the internet?

I hope you have a blast out in Vegas and would be most interested in your impressions of it when you get back. It can be quite impressive for a newbie. It's truly a city that never sleeps and almost as active during the wee hours of the morning as it is in mid day. As for that specific picture, no, it's not up on the internet. But I do have a site that I won't post in public here for very good reason. The site still needs a lot of tweaking, organizing, etc., and I haven't uploaded anything to it in a long while. The shots on the site vary in time periods from when I first started taking pictures until maybe 7 or 8 months ago and this is the last time I uploaded anything to it. I had the intentions of starting it with selling my work, networking, and so forth BUT that was sidetracked unfortunately and I haven't been able to get around to it since. Although there aren't many pictures on the site, maybe 250 pictures, there are some pictures of Death Valley that were taken a few years ago I think. I'll be more than happy to give you the link through private message but I won't post the link here in public view.

I hope you have a blast in Vegas!!

Angie

Edited January 7, 2010 by CNA