Arcade Games and Rides
Games and rides are the largest and most popular child-friendly attractions in Las Vegas. Whether you're traveling with an 8-year-old or an 18-year-old, several hotel casinos offer arcade games, roller coasters and kiddie rides.
Circus Circus, on the north end of the Strip, is famous for its circus theme and circus-like amenities, including a midway arcade, circus acts and an Adventuredome, which contains 25 rides and even more arcade and carnival games.
Just down the Strip from Circus Circus is the Sahara, which has the NASCAR Entertainment Center. This center contains a roller coaster, restaurant, cyber speedway and 120-game arcade.
On the southern side of the Strip is Excalibur, which contains a Medieval-themed midway and a 4-D SpongeBob SquarePants ride.
Next to Excalibur is New York-New York, which has a roller coaster with a 144-foot drop and an arcade modeled after Coney Island.
Nightclubs
Most people enjoy a good night out. The trendiest clubs in Vegas, as ranked by trusted sources such as Forbes Traveler and Vegas.com, include TAO at the Venetian, Body English at the Hard Rock, PURE at Caesar's Palace, JET at the Mirage and the Playboy Club at the Palms.
TAO boasts an Asian theme with lots of Chinese, Buddhist and Hindu influences. It's an extremely popular spot for celebrity celebrations or for industrywide events. TAO is so popular that it almost always has a line that's about two hours long.
Body English is a hip, fast-paced rocking nightclub that emphasizes high energy and good times. There's a theme or special going on just about every night, and the club regularly books some of Vegas' most popular DJs.
PURE is another club popular with celebrities. It's also frequently used for VIP events, such as record debuts, birthday parties and after-parties for the celebrities who make guest appearances in shows such as the Pussy Cat Dolls or PEEPSHOW.
JET is a multilevel club that's decked out in modern decor and futuristic themes, which are furthered by the light and laser shows. It contains three themed rooms, one of which offers a mix of hip hop, rock and dance music, another dedicated to house music and a third that deals exclusively with 1980s music and rock.
The Playboy Club contains few surprises. It's got a chic, fun feel that's accentuated by scantily clad Bunnies who work the room.
Restaurants
Indulging your culinary desires is an activity that's easy in Vegas. A glance at any area-based guide will tell you why. The Strip contains numerous restaurants created by celebrity chefs such as Tom Colicchio, Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, Michael Mina and Joel Robuchon.
Tom Colicchio's famous Craft line has taken up residence in the MGM Grand. Craftsteak is known for its a la carte and tasting menus, Kobe and Wagyu beef, and its many cuts of steak. It also has a large spirits collection, specializing in whiskey and scotch.
Emeril Lagasse has Lagasse's Stadium, a 24,000-square-foot sports bar and grill inside the Palazzo that's designed to make patrons feel like they're at the game. It's famous for the standard sports bar fare, including hamburgers, hot dogs, onion rings and fries.
Also inside the Palazzo is Mario Batali's Carnevino Italian Steakhouse. Its name represents the restaurant accurately because it's a mix of premium steaks and classic Italian dishes such as shrimp alla diavola, antipasti and pappardelle. Carnevino also has a lunch menu that boasts smaller portions and prices.
Bobby Flay's famous Mesa Grill is in Caesar's Palace where it serves up Latin-inspired dishes with a high-end cuisine twist. Examples include the blue corn pancake, mango and spice-crusted tuna steak and chipotle-glazed rib-eye.
Michael Mina has two restaurants in Las Vegas. The first is the Nobhill Tavern in the MGM Grand. This restaurant specializes in British cuisine and pub food such as bangers and mash, fish and chips, and chicken and dumplings with an upscale twist. His second restaurant, which bears his namesake, is inside the Bellagio. This is more of a fine dining restaurant that specializes in the pairing of white wines and seafood.
This last celebrity chef also resides in the MGM Grand. His name is Joel Robuchon and he runs L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon and Joel Robuchon. The latter restaurant specializes in tasting and pre-fixed menus that highlight French cuisine. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon is reminiscent of a high-end diner meets teppanyaki. This is because the restaurant's food--mostly tapas and small tasting menu items--are prepared in front of you.
Article Written By Nellie Day
Nellie Day is a freelance writer based out of Hermosa Beach, Calif. Her work can regularly be seen on newsstands, where her specialties include weddings, real estate, food and wine, pets, electronics, architecture and design, business and travel. Day earned a master's degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Southern California.
