Another day, another adventure here in Las Vegas. I'm getting ready to check out and buzz around town a bit before I head to the airport, but wanted to get yesterday's exploits posted before I do. It's not nice to blog and eat crepes at the same time. The keyboard can get sticky and all that. I can't live life that close to the edge, no matter how wild and crazy I get.
With that said, I hope you enjoy the daily 10 below.
1. Tour the town like a rock star. Shrimp cocktail included.
With this White Glove Tours special evening adventure, the Rock Star Bus picks you up at your hotel. On board the air conditioned and luxury-limousine-styled bus you will get a great view of the Vegas sites outside the big tinted windows while you enjoy the neon lights, bar and party atmosphere inside. Included in the tour are a photo stop at the famed "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, a signature drink at one of the city's hot spots, a champagne toast, views of City Center, a walk-around tour of Bellagio's famed fountains and conservatory, a light show at the Fremont Street Experience, a shrimp cocktail, match play or VIP card at the Golden Gate Casino and a souvenir gambling chip for you to keep. The tour guides are terrific storytellers who really know how to take care of their guests. It's a great way to start off your visit to Las Vegas.
2. Enjoy cocktails or a meal at the beautiful Panevino Ristorante & Lounge.
Their slogan says it all: "Dining as spectacular as the view". This was the first stop on my Rock Star bus tour, so I got to sample the cocktails and walk around the lounge. Simply amazing. It is easy to see why Panevino is considered one of the most distinctive off-strip property in all of Las Vegas. It's menu includes authentic and traditional Italian cuisine served with innovative flavors, presentation and ambiance. Panevino also features a continuously updated, extensive wine list.
3.The King's Ransom Museum at the Imperial Palace.
This museum is home to memorabilia from Elvis’ private life and his acting and singing careers, such as his 1977 Lincoln Continental, stage and film wardrobe, jewelry, guns and even some personal artifacts from his Graceland home, like a bottle of Mylanta, some lip balm and his 1947 library check out card. (Who knew the King had heartburn andchapped lips?) This exhibit is fittingly housed in the Royal Ballroom of the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino.
4. See the amazing Hand of Faith Nugget.
This is the world's largest gold nugget and it is on display in the most fitting place I can think of: the Golden Nugget Casino. It really is shaped like a huge mitten, just like I read about, and it weighs 61 pounds. It was found in 1980 by a guy using his new metal detector in Wedderburn, Australia. The Hand of Faith is the biggest golden nugget in existence, the second-biggest ever discovered, and the largest ever found with a metal detector. It was sold to the casino for over a million dollars.
5. Listen to Craig Ferguson and get yourself some Luv-It Custard.
I am an enormous Craig Ferguson fan (not to mention an enormous frozen custard fan), so when he mentioned how great Luv-It Custard in Las Vegas is, I naturally listened to him. In business for over 37 years, the folks at Luv-It really know what it takes to make a great frozen dessert. There are many good things about Luv-It Custard and only one not-so-good one—the location. I suggest going during the day or with a group of people in the early evening.
6. Try my choice for "Best All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Value.
This was a really hard decision for me, not only because there are hundreds of these types of restaurants in Nevada, but because Las Vegas is the all-you-can-eat buffet capitol of the plant. When I stumbled across the "7-Steaks Night" (every Thursday starting at 4pm) at the Ports O' Call Buffet at Gold Coast Casino, however, I felt I had my selection. The deciding factor? Hello!?!? "7-Steaks Night" every Thursday starting at 4pm. A bottomless buffet of steaks made seven different ways at seven different cooking stations for 15 bucks? Talk about lucky number seven!
7. Get hitched, or renew your vows in a Pink Cadillac.
Oh, come on. You knew it was just a matter of time before the wedding chapels worked their way into this blog series. And if The King's Ransom Exhibit and "Viva Elvis" weren't enough Elvis for you, then this is your next logical step. With the Vegas Attitude Pink Cadillac Wedding package, you will be picked up from your hotel by an Elvis impersonator in a classic pink caddy. He'll then drive you down the Strip to to be either married in the Wedding Chapel or stay seated and just go through the drive-thru window.
8. Go indoor skydiving. (No, I didn't just make that up.)
At Vegas Indoor Skydiving guests earn their wings and experience body-flight during a simulated skydive experience, and are able to see what a free fall is like without the use of an airplane or parachute. The facility uses a Vertical Wind Tunnel to introduce guests to the sport of Indoor Skydiving. The tunnel produces enough wind to support the weight of an average adult.
9. Don't Miss the Liberace Museum.
Liberace and Vegas go together like salt and pepper, so it's only fitting that this museum is in Sin City. It's a great place to check out the spectacular pianos, elaborate costumes and enormous candelabras that Liberace collected and used over the years. You won't believe the fun you''ll have learning about this most interesting entertainer and his remarkable life.
10. Admire and play the collection at the Pinball Hall of Fame.
Just around the corner from
the Liberace Museum, there is Tim Arnold's Pinball Hall of Fame. The people there are taking great care to preserve and share with visitors the over 250 machines that currently fill the venue. Some date back as far as 1947 and others are extremely rare machines. While the museum still needs to raise enough money to purchase a sign for the building, its doors are open to the public and there is no admission fee. (Pictured to the left is competitive pinball wizard Sal Ayoob, who works at the museum, posing with one of his favorite machines.)
(This last tip is dedicated to my own pinball wizard, Max, whose birthday is today. Happy birthday, buddy!)
STAY TUNED FOR DAY FIVE'S REPORT, INCLUDING INCREDIBLE CREPES, A TIKI BAR AND A LEPRECHAUN, BUT NOT SIMULTANEOUSLY. ALTHOUGH, THAT COULD BE FUN...
Margo Trott is a freelance writer whose Ladies’ Home Journal humor blog “Ha, Ha, Ha...No, Seriously” has won her no journalistic accolades whatsoever.
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