A flyover of Lake Mead on our way into Vegas:

 

Ugh - BAD city planner!!!

 

Part of the Strip's skyline in the distance:

 

At our destination, the Venetian - nice chandeliers abound:

 

View from the hotel room:

 

The faux-sky painting of the Venetian shops:

 

Portico of the Venetian:

 

The Venetian campanile:

 

Alright, enough of the Venetian, let's walk the Strip:

 

Harrah's

 

Looking back toward the Wynn and Venetian, with the Palazzo under construction:

 

The Forum Shoppes at Caesar's Palace:

 

 

Back at the room, another view out the window:

 

And some nighttime shots:

 

 

 

 

 

The next day, off to go out for lunch - Fashion Show Mall's UFO canopy on the left:

 

Hash House a Go Go!

 

Portions were obscene:

 

My partner's friend works in a local garden center, so out come the macro shots!

 

 

 

 

 

Back to the Strip, we catch a glimpse of the Stratosphere:

 

This made me sad - the remnants of the Stardust sign (one of my favorite old-school signs):

 

Cold beer - yes. Dirty girls - no.

 

We took a walk through the Wynn - gauche and over the top, but they did a good job designing this place:

 

 

 

This sculpture was just weird, though:

 

The next day, our friend took us to Boulder City - a small town about 20 minutes from the Strip:

 

 

 

 

 

Some cute stucco bungalows - they were typical residential stock here:

 

There was one shop that had some funky souvenirs, and some were downright disturbing (I was reminded of the movie 'Carrie')

 

 

A turbine from Boulder Dam:

 

A great view of Lake Mead from Boulder City:

 

Time to get back to the hotel:

 

"FABULOUS" Las Vegas ;-)

 

Lion at the MGM Grand:

 

Harrah's again:

 

The Wynn, looking all shiny:

 

New York, New York :roll:

 

:roll:  :-P

 

On our way to Red Rock Casino away from the Strip, we pass through Vegas' Chinatown - who knew they had one?!?

 

 

 

We get to Red Rock Casino - pretty snazzy for not being on the strip:

 

 

But it was our last night, so back to the Strip we went:

 

 

 

Bellagio and Caesar's Palace:

 

The lobby of Paris, with shimmering mosaic tile floors:

 

The fountains at the Bellagio, shooting up over 250 feet:

 

Not all the beautiful lights are neon in Vegas:

 

The cupola of the Bellagio:

 

 

Next destination is the Grand Canyon and Phoenix - last look at Vegas:

 

Off to Rt. 93 which will take us to the Hoover Dam

 

I want these Art Deco angels!!!

The weird sculputure at Wynn gets even weirder if you stick around long enough. A giant head pops out of the water and they project faces on to it that look creepily lifelike. You can see a crappy video here if you like.

 

Caesar's will always be my favorite. Did you see the animatronic show back among the shops? It's unbelievably cheesy.

 

Thanks for the pictures.

Yeah - the animatronic show was such a clash to the relatively upscale shops. I used to think Tower City's fountain was dated... compared to Caesar's it's not so bad!

Did they renovate The Forum Shops?  Last time I was there (2004), it did NOT look like that!

Ugh - BAD city planner!!!

 

What do you mean...that's the "American Dream" isn't it?!?

Although I hate Lost Wages, I love the Bellagio!  Their Black Jack tables are winners.

 

The Spa at Mandalay bay is the best spa i've ever been to...hands down!

 

I torn on Wynn, I love it an hate it at the same time.

 

Mayday, did you have a chance to go to the outlets?  Vegas actually has decent shopping at the outlets

Las Vegas can be exhausting when you try to walk the strip, I didn't realize when I went quite how big it is.  Overall, Vegas is like Disneyland for adults, it's fun to visit, but I definately wouldn't want to live there.  That Chinatown looks like it's just an Asian themed strip mall!  I love those art deco angels at the Hoover Dam!

Las Vegas can be exhausting when you try to walk the strip, I didn't realize when I went quite how big it is.  Overall, Vegas is like Disneyland for adults, it's fun to visit, but I definately wouldn't want to live there.  That Chinatown looks like it's just an Asian themed strip mall!  I love those art deco angels at the Hoover Dam!

 

Agreed.  I had to walk from the Bellagio to the Planet Hollywood (formerly the Alladdin) in July, I felt like I was slow roasting in that dry heat.  And those damn tourist walking ever so slowly annoy the hell out me.

 

Where is that chinatown area, I've never seen that.

 

The weird sculputure at Wynn gets even weirder if you stick around long enough. A giant head pops out of the water and they project faces on to it that look creepily lifelike. You can see a crappy video here if you like.

 

Caesar's will always be my favorite. Did you see the animatronic show back among the shops? It's unbelievably cheesy.

 

Thanks for the pictures.

 

Ceasars?  IMO, That place is the worst!

@MTS - no, didn't get a chance to stop at the outlets but I got some decent shopping in anyway.

 

@LAsam - just to clarify, the Chinatown is more or less a mile-long stretch of those strip malls. Not the most urban 'hood but I was still surprised to see it.

@MTS - no, didn't get a chance to stop at the outlets but I got some decent shopping in anyway.

 

@LAsam - just to clarify, the Chinatown is more or less a mile-long stretch of those strip malls. Not the most urban 'hood but I was still surprised to see it.

 

We'll I hope you got some bargains!  Did they compare to how you made out in Chi-Town?

Interesting set.

 

 

I think I should employ your method for titleing threads. Just wait...Inkaelin visits MANSFIELD!!!

Ceasars?  IMO, That place is the worst!

 

Nothing.. nooo-thing will ever be worse than Excalibur.

 

For some reason I always end up having the most fun at Caesar's. Go figure. I have to admit, I dig the cheese factor.

Circus Circus is far worse than Caesar's.

Circus Circus is far worse than Caesar's.

Ceasars?  IMO, That place is the worst!

 

Nothing.. nooo-thing will ever be worse than Excalibur.

 

 

I stand corrected!

i only have room for one fabulous city in my life.