You’ve finally saved enough money to go to Las Vegas for a week, and all the arrangements have been made. You’re at the stage of putting the stress of planning behind you and starting to look forward to all of the things that you’re going to do. The problem is, though, that you have no idea what there is to do! It’s easy to get lost in everything that Las Vegas has to offer, so you need to plan ahead and make a schedule to avoid missing out on doing something awesome.
Here is a list of some of the best attractions that Sin City has to offer.
Marquee Nightclub and Dayclub at the Cosmopolitan
The Marquee Nightclub is the go-to location for an authentic nightlife experience. This 60,000-square-foot nightclub has seven different bars and three main rooms. Each of the the three rooms — the main room, the Boom Box, and The Library — has a distinct musical experience. It’s not just for afterhours, though! You can host corporate events, networking functions, or bachelorette parties here. They have food ranging from hors d’oeuvres to buffets, multiple beverage options, and bottle service.
The Main Room has a state-of-the-art visual and sound system, complete with a 40-foot LED DJ booth and projection stage. That’s in addition to 32,000 subwoofers and full range speakers. The Library contains a fireplace, billiards table, and vintage books. The Boom Box, located on the lower level, has gorgeous views of the strip and a separate sound system and DJ.
The dayclub portion has eight cabanas with infinity pools and ten three-story bungalow lofts with living quarters and open-air party decks. The Marquee is well worth browsing to find the best deals on flights alone. Even better, you’re extremely likely to run into a celebrity here. Chris Martin, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, and Channing Tatum are all known to visit this place.
Cirque du Soleil
You’ve probably heard of Cirque du Soleil from your friends or through the television. This event is basically a dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment, and is the largest theatrical producer in the world. Each show features circus styles from around the world, with its own central theme and storyline. The shows feature continuous live music, using performers rather than stagehands to change the props. Throughout the last two decades, Cirque du Soleil has expanded rapidly, going from 19 shows to more than 271 cities on every continent except Antarctica.
Starting this past May, Cirque du Soleil has switched its programming to Michael Jackson: One. This show centers around four misfits who journey into Michael Jackson’s world and music. Each character is given an object from Michael Jackson, and by the journey’s end, they personify highly stylized aspects of his personality (only positive ones, of course). The setlist features more than twenty of Michael Jackson’s best hits, including Beat It, Smooth Criminal, Billie Jean, and Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough.
The Grand Canyon
Well, it’s not an attraction in Las Vegas per se, but it’s close, and there are many companies in Las Vegas that will offer day trips or joint helicopter rides to the canyon. Since you’re not going to be in Las Vegas long, you probably haven’t considered the fact that you won’t get to spend too long at the Grand Canyon.
Well, now is your limited window of opportunity, because the Grand Canyon must be seen to be believed. You can look at all of the pictures and videos in the world, but it pales in comparison to actually seeing it in person. The Canyon is more than 200 miles long and, in some instances, several miles wide. Though it costs a pretty penny to get there, it’s absolutely worth it.
The Bellagio Fountains
One of the coolest sights in Las Vegas is the Bellagio fountains. Every half-hour, between 3 PM and 8 PM, then every fifteen minutes from 8 PM until Midnight, 1,214 spritzers shoot archs of water up to 460 feet in the air, all choreographed to musical accompaniment. The water dances to songs by Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. The fountains rest on eight acres of land, housed between the Bellagio building and the Strip.
Criss Angel Believe
This event is a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Criss Angel. It runs in the Luxor hotel and is scheduled for 4,600 performances over a ten year period with an option to extend for another five years. Believe was added to the Luxor’s lineup after Hairspray failed. Believe initially opened to less-than-positive reviews, citing lack of magic. However, in early 2010, Criss Angel added many new tricks, some of which have to be seen to be believed. Tickets range anywhere from $65 to $150, and the show lasts for 90 minutes.
Madame Tussaud’s Interactive Wax Museum
If you can’t meet celebrities, you can still pose with them! At Madame Tussaud’s, located on the Strip right across from The Mirage, you’ll be able to pose with wax figures of Hollywood stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and George Clooney.
You can also pose with music stars that have passed on, such as Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Tupac, along with those still alive and touring, like Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears. Finish your trip by stepping up to some of the world’s best sports stars, including former UFC heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, Tiger Woods, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Shaquille O’Neal.
These figures are so lifelike that people may believe that you actually ran into a celebrity while in Las Vegas!
BeatleShow!
After you’re done at Madame Tussaud’s, cross over to the Mirage and check out BeatleShow! This show, which is played by the top Beatles tribute band in the world, features all of their classic hits. There’s no tricks or gimmicks here — the four guys dress up like members of the Beatles and perform the hits without any assistance from prerecorded tracks. Each show is held daily at 5:30 PM inside the Saxe theater.
There are plenty of must-see attractions in Las Vegas, but these are a few of the more memorable ones. What are some of your favorite Vegas attractions?
