Vegas Help Wanted - Please

Hi guys

we will be in LV in June for 3.5 days / 4 nights. The OH has expressed a desire to do everything around LV. We will be doing a heli tour (landing in Canyon - as per earlier advice).

Can any of you kind v-flyers shed any light (experience/advice) on the following ideas I have been presented with:
day trip to Momument Valley;
day trip to Bryce & Zion National Parks.

or recommend anything else must do 'natural wonders wise' in the area. The OH has decreed we can do what we need to do in LV at night! Fair assumption? We will also be going to SF and LA so not fussed about shopping. Neither of us particularly into sitting round pools either.

We are staying at the Bellagio - what shouldn't we miss in LV itself? Recommendations?

Thank you in advance for any advice/tips you can offer.

Red Rock Canyon is worth a visit and it is only 30mins from Vegas.

I would also recommend as well as wandering around the hotels on the strip, which can take quite a while especially if you stop for each of the attractions (pirate battle at Treasure Island, erupting volcano at Mirage etc), is that you head down to the 'old downtown Vegas' area. There is the Freemount Street light and sound show every hour in the evening which is worth seeing and the area is much 'older' than the strip.

The Red Rock canyon tour is pretty good, I hired a car in October last year and drove up there, you can drive round the park, stop and take some photos. The main road is fine, although some of the adjoining roads are only suitable for 4WD.

If you're going to take a longer trip to some of the natural sites, I'd go with Zion over Monument Valley, easier to get to from LV. Under three hours to Zion, compared to almost 5 to MV, and that's assuming you don't get stuck on the Dam ...

My mother went to Bryce a few years ago and felt it was more impressive than the Grand Canyon)but it is a bit of a trek (which is why I still haven't done it).The pool area of the Bellagio is actually very nice but it does feel like you're in a goldfish bowl (the non-resident visitors crowd at the entrance to get a view) so I don't think you'll be missing out if you don't spend some time there.
Walking along the strip is a must just to view all the hotels (go into the Forum at Caesars and the St Marks area in the Venetian) and a visit to Freemont St (which is quite different to the strip) is recommended (the lightshow has changed a bit since our first visit and now seems music based).
Have a great time.
DL

[mcmbenjamin]

Gambling, drinking, and buffets.

Also worth considering a trip to Death Valley which is doable in a day. Valley of fire state park is less than an hours drive north and is also very impressive. Last year I hired a corvette convertible for the day and my son and I had great fun driving through the valley of fire posing. As you are staying at Bellagio would recommend the tasting menus at Restaurant Michael Mina - the Maine lobster pot pie is delicious!

Red Rock Canyon is good and so near to the city. This isn't a natural wonder, but Hoover Dam is kind of fun if they still run the tour, and it's pretty close too. And you're close to Lake Mead - think there are boats you can go on there.

Thanks for all your advice. Will share this with the OH and see what comes of it.

quote:Originally posted by MarkedMan
Under three hours to Zion, compared to almost 5 to MV, and that's assuming you don't get stuck on the Dam ...


5 hours to Monument Valley from Vegas by car??? Having just done this drive with no traffic, it is at least 7 hours to get there. We had no traffic the entire way, no hold ups over the Hoover Dam and it still took forever - especially when you keep getting stuck behind RV's and bikers! Worth it to overnight in MV, but def not for a day trip.

Thanks Tinkerbelle.
The OH was looking at an air trip - but still seems a long way for a day.

quote:Originally posted by ukcobra
The Red Rock canyon tour is pretty good, I hired a car in October last year and drove up there, you can drive round the park, stop and take some photos. The main road is fine, although some of the adjoining roads are only suitable for 4WD.


If you do get up to Red Rock I thoroughly recommend the hike up to Calico Tank ; its not too far & theres a great view back to Vegas from the top. I try to do it every trip to clear my head after spending too long in the casinos.

Also - theres decent shopping for us Brits at the Premium outlets mall downtown & the newer Town Square mall south on the strip - Town Square also has the Yard House should you wish to stop for a beer or two. Not so many good deals around at the moment though with the exchange rate being what it is.

Thanks for all your advice.

Well we loved Vegas at night with the lights shows and buzz of people - however what a complete hole in the daylight.

Did a Sundance Helicopter tour to the GC, landed in canyon, etc. Superb trip booked through Viator.

Also went on a long day trip to Bryce and Zion NPs. Both incredible in their own rights. Amazing scenery.

We will be planning a trip back to take a better look at the NPs in this part of the US.

Also went to the Atomic Testing Museum - amazing to find out 928 atomic bombs were exploded within 100 miles of Vegas - it is any wonder the place glows at night!

Major major disappointment was the casinos allowing smoking - despite the air con the atmosphere inside was vile - and seems to pervade throughout the establishments.

Agree with your summation of Vegas, great by night not so by day.

If you decide to return, there are some hotels that have completely non smoking casinos now, plus most do have non smoking tables and areas. All poker rooms are non smoking

Glad you had a great time. We'll be driving up on the 5th July -can't wait.Did you drive to Bryce or did you take a tour?

DL - we did a tour. However due to the time constraints you don't get to see all of the canyon. So want to go back and go down into the canyon and have a really good look around.

quote:Originally posted by RobL


Also went to the Atomic Testing Museum - amazing to find out 928 atomic bombs were exploded within 100 miles of Vegas - it is any wonder the place glows at night!

We've been there too and we both found it absolutely fascinating. We're not usually into museums either but foudn this place amazing, as you say, amazing to find out how close to Vegas all the testing was.

Agree with your other comments about Vegas looking a hole during the day but then that's why we always pick a nice hotel with a good pool area for our daytime activities