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 1 AAA Destination Guide: Official AAA maps, travel information and top picks AAA Destination Guide: Las Vegas includes trip-planning information covering AAA recommended attractions and restaurants, exclusive member discounts, maps and more.  Hundreds of years ago they came for water at a desert oasis. But green felt tables rumbling with ruby red dice have replaced bucolic meadows that gave the town its name. The thirst of today’s Las Vegas visitor is for gambling, intoxicating glitter, sexy entertainment, dining and shopping. It’s all here in this fantasyland escape where fun, all kinds of it, is the name of the game. In Glitter Gulch and on the Strip of casino- encrusted megaresorts bursting with four- and five-diamond restaurants, the night is always aglow. Experience this spectacle of illumination in a walk past dancing fountains; a culmination of music, lights and water. Only in Las Vegas can you see the Statue of Liberty, the Sphinx, the Eiffel Tower, pirate ships and Venetian canals all on one street. Continual events mean that you won’t have to veer very far for entertainment, and in many cases it’s free. During the day, attractions abound and you need only look to the themed hotels; each more opulent or extravagant than the next. Want a quickie wedding and with Elvis officiating? No problem. You can do it all in “Sin City.†So dine alfresco, catch a show, go antiquing or make a date with Lady Luck. Whatever your predilections, the town assures you: “What happens here stays here.†Viva Las Vegas! Essentials Get the best view of the city skyline from the Stratosphere Tower, at 1,149 feet, it’s the tallest freestanding tower in the United States. Visit the Bellagio, where dancing fountains, a conservatory with seasonal flowers and plants and Dale Chihuly glass appeals to a visitor’s sense of sight, smell or touch. Walk under the spectacular canopy of 2 million lights and LED screen suspended 90 feet above a four-block section of Fremont Street that pump eye-popping imagery to heart-pounding music at the Fremont Street Experience. This must-see show runs nightly on the hour from dusk to midnight. Enjoy alfresco dining at Mon Ami Gabi in the Paris Las Vegas hotel, a great place to people-watch and from which to view the Bellagio’s dancing fountains and spectacular light presentation. Continue your visit at the hotel by savoring a delicious dessert at Lenotre in Le Boulevard. The facility has a luscious assortment of fresh-baked French pastries, cookies, handmade chocolates and wonderful coffees that can be enjoyed in a café-style atmosphere. Catch a show or two and relive the golden days of the entertainment biz when glamorous showgirls ruled the Strip. “The Folies Bergere†at the Tropicana and “Jubilee!†at Bally’s Las Vegas feature the traditional, sexy productions for which Vegas became famous. On the opposite spectrum, “La Reve†at the Wynn Las Vegas is a new concept in and approach to experiencing a show. The aquatic production comprises a more personal and intimate encounter for the audience; no seat is more than 40 feet from the action. Cirque du Soleil’s “O†at the Bellagio and “Mystere†at Destination Guide: Las Vegas  Treasure Island - TI exhibit the innovation of its creators and talent of its dancers that have made this distinguished troupe universally famous. Blue Man Group is another crowd-pleasing show. Walk the 4-mile Strip at night and see the city in a whole new “light.†Browse the densely-packed Red Rooster Antique Mall, one of the largest antique co-ops in the city and housed in a former 25,000-square-foot bottling plant, for interesting vintage Las Vegas memorabilia. Essentials Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Explore a megaresort to see an opulent city within a city and don’t forget to visit a casino; you have to wager at least once on your Vegas vacation, don’t you? Place a bet at a roulette table or dump some tokens down a slot machine. But with the city’s casinos taking in up to $10 billion a year, don’t plan on beating the house. Essentials Details - Get additional information on AAA.com AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members 1. Stratosphere Tower 2000 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89104 Phone: (702) 380-7777 2. Bellagio 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV Phone: (702) 693-7111 3. Mon Ami Gabi 3655 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 944-4224 4. Paris Las Vegas 3655 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV Phone: (702) 946-7000 5. Bally's Las Vegas 3645 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV Phone: (702) 967-4111 6. Wynn Las Vegas 3131 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV Phone: (702) 770-7000 7. Treasure Island - TI 3300 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV Phone: (702) 894-7444 Las Vegas in 3 Days Three days is barely enough time to get to know any major destination. But AAA travel editors suggest these activities to make the most of your time in Las Vegas. 2 Destination Guide: Las Vegas  Las Vegas in 3 Days – Day 1 Map Day 1: Morning Nibble on chocolate croissants, French toast made with custard and apples, and baguettes topped with smoked salmon and chive cream cheese at Bouchon at the Venetian. The award-winning restaurant emulates the intimate bistros of Lyon, France, inside a hotel inspired by the old-world charm of Venice, Italy. Day 1 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds - Exclusive AAA member discounts available 1. Bouchon at the Venetian 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 414-6200 2. The Venetian 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 414-1000 3. Madame Tussauds Las Vegas 3377 Las Vegas Blvd S, Suite 2001 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 862-7800 4. MGM Grand Hotel/Casino 3799 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 891-7777 5. Caesars Palace 3570 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (877) 427-7243 6. The Auto Collections at the Imperial Palace 3535 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 794-3174 7. Paris Las Vegas 3655 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 946-7000 8. Stratosphere Tower 2000 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89104 Phone: (702) 380-7777 9. Roxy's Diner 2000 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89104 Phone: (702) 380-7777 10. Bellagio 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 693-7111 11. Le Cirque 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 693-8100 12. Adventuredome 2880 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: (702) 794-3939 3 Destination Guide: Las Vegas  While you’re at The Venetian, hit the slots in a 112,000-square-foot casino ornamented by mosaic floors and hand-painted fresco ceilings; marvel at impressive re-creations of the Doge’s Palace and the Ca’ d’Oro (Palace of Gold). For a change of pace, schmooze with “celebrities†at Madame Tussaud’s Interactive Wax Museum. A gondola ride along the Grand Canal is a must; unwind as your singing gondolier propels the curvy vessel beneath bridges and flower-lined balconies. Afternoon Get an overview of the Strip via the Las Vegas Monorail. A one-way trip takes about 15 minutes. The 4-mile route stretches north from the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino to the Sahara Hotel & Casino. Travel to lavish Caesars Palace, drool over The Auto Collections at the Imperial Palace and say “Bonjour!†to Paris Las Vegas. Disembark at Sahara Station to reach Stratosphere Tower; its observation decks offer stunning panoramas of Las Vegas. Daunting outdoor thrill rides on the 1,149-foot-tall structure also afford breathtaking views—if you’re brave enough to keep your eyes open! Before heading to the casino floor for a free poker lesson, cool down with a mocha milk shake at Roxy’s Diner. Crooning waiters dole out burgers, chili cheese fries and an array of blue-plate specials in this 1950s-inspired restaurant. Evening Escape to the fanciful milieu brought to life at the Bellagio, where choreographed fountains and seasonally changing botanical tapestries are as mesmerizing as a hand of 21 at the blackjack table. Join the circus for the night by juggling in one of Cirque du Soleil’s whimsical productions and dinner at Le Cirque, one of the Bellagio’s many upscale restaurants. Gawk at the acrobats, clowns and contortionists of “O†after relishing such grown-up delights as caviar, escargot and foie gras under a vibrant silk-tented ceiling. In the fun, carnival atmosphere of Circus Circus Hotel, Casino & Theme Park, more jesters and death-defying aerialists await along with hair-raising rides. Blast toward the glass ceiling of the Adventuredome aboard The Sling Shot, then order a Pink Elephant at the all-inclusive complex’s Horse-A- Round Bar, a steadfast Sin City watering hole. Day 2: Morning Recuperate after your first night in “The City that Never Sleeps†at the Bougainvillea Cafe in Terrible’s Hotel & Casino. The restaurant is open 24 hours a day, and breakfast is served anytime. Plus, their reasonably priced meals let you feast like a high roller—even if you’ve long since parted ways with Lady Luck. Their signature dish is a slow-cooked, tequila-marinated rotisserie chicken, but the extensive menu also includes burgers and sandwiches, both Chinese and Mexican cuisine, and seafood and steaks. Relive Vegas’ not-too-distant past, when there was more aglow than just the neon signs. Exhibits at the Atomic Testing Museum relate the story of the Nevada Test Site, a massive outdoor government laboratory 65 miles northwest of the city. In the 1950s nuclear testing produced mushroom clouds that were visible downtown, providing fascinating atmospheric spectacles for Glitter Gulch tourists. Afternoon Celebrate Oktoberfest year-round at Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas, a replica of a world-famous Munich beer hall. After sampling such German classics as wurst (sausage), spätzle (tiny noodles or dumplings) and goulash (stew), step inside the temperature-controlled biergarten (beer garden) for a few mugs of imported Bavarian beer. 4 Destination Guide: Las Vegas  Las Vegas in 3 Days – Day 2 Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Day 2 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members 1. Bougainvillea Café 4100 S Paradise Rd Las Vegas, NV 89169 Phone: (702) 733-7000 2. Atomic Testing Museum 755 E Flamingo Rd Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: (702) 794-5161 3. Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas 4510 Paradise Rd Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 853-2337 4. Mix 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: (702) 632-7777 5. THEhotel at Mandalay Bay 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: (702) 632-7777 6. Luxor Las Vegas 3900 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: (702) 262-44445. Evening Climb 64 floors in a glass elevator to Mix, a trendy restaurant and lounge atop THEhotel at Mandalay Bay. Reserve a window table for impressive nighttime vistas complimented by chic décor and contemporary American and French cuisine. Savor decadent handmade chocolates at the Chocolate Swan or sample a light pinot noir at 55 Degrees Wine + Design; both establishments are in Mandalay Place. Featuring trendy boutiques and eateries, the shopping center is on the sky bridge connecting Mandalay Bay to the Strip’s only pyramid-shaped megaresort, the Luxor Las Vegas. Day 3: Morning Sink into a plush banquette and a cheesy, veggie-loaded omelet at the Peppermill Inn on South Las Vegas Boulevard, then retire to its dim, mirror- and neon-trimmed Fireside Lounge. Gracious waitresses in sleek black dresses deliver fishbowl-size froufrou drinks, while Frank Sinatra’s raspy voice caresses affectionate couples relaxing around a watery fire pit. Showcasing both a 24-hour coffee shop and a swanky cocktail scene, this local treasure preserves quintessential, old-school Vegas. Escape the excess of the Strip and experience the placid beauty of the Mojave Desert. A one-way, 13-mile road leads through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, where Utah banded geckos and desert bighorn sheep negotiate crimson sandstone bluffs extolled by hikers, mountain bikers and rock climbers. Afternoon After the exertion of hiking Red Rock Canyon, you’ll likely want some grub and maybe a beer to go with it. Hang out at the laid-back Triple 7 Restaurant Brewery, downtown at 200 N. Main St. Regulars tout the pale ale, but there are plenty of different beers to sample, along with tasty pub fare—burgers, garlic fries, wild mushroom pizza, oysters topped with crab and artichoke dip. And this being Vegas, you can get a surprisingly good prime rib dinner for 8 bucks. 5 Destination Guide: Las Vegas  Shop for kitschy collectables and vintage duds at The Attic, 1018 S. Main St., a mammoth resale store once spotlighted in a Visa TV commercial. Just a few doors down at the Rainbow Feather Dyeing Co., rub elbows with Amazonian showgirls while browsing a multihued array of brash boas, plumed fans and fantastic headpieces. Las Vegas in 3 Days – Day 3 Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Day 3 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds FYI – Provided as an information only service; has not yet been evaluated 1. Red Rock Canyon 1000 Scenic Dr Las Vegas, NV 89117 Phone: (702) 515-5350 2. Triple 7 Restaurant Brewery 200 N Main St Las Vegas, NV 89101 Phone: (702) 387-1896 3. Big Mama’s Rib Shack 2230 W Bonanza Las Vegas, NV 89106 Phone: (702) 597-1616 4. Golden Nugget Hotel 129 E Fremont St Las Vegas, NV 89101 Phone: (702) 385-7111 Shimmy down the aisle with “The King.†Undoubtedly one of Vegas’ more untraditional traditions, getting hitched by an Elvis impersonator is said to have originated at a South Las Vegas Boulevard wedding venue often featured in movies and TV shows. For more than 50 years couples have tied the knot at the Graceland Wedding Chapel, including numerous musicians—from Billy Ray Cyrus to Jon Bon Jovi to Aaron Neville. Evening Be careful biting into the lip-smacking Southern eats doled out at Big Mama’s Rib Shack; the restaurant’s signature barbecue pork sandwich— simply called “The Killerâ€â€”is so spicy it might just bite back. Another staple menu item at this down-to-earth, family-owned eatery is the 16- ounce serving of gumbo, chock-full of meat and seafood. Discover vintage Vegas at the Fremont Street Experience, where twinkling lights and neon signposts (such as Vegas Vic and his cowgirl sweetheart Sassy Sally) illuminate a seven-block pedestrian corridor. Closed to vehicular traffic and revitalized into a tourist attraction in the late 1990s, the city’s first paved street (1925) is crowned by a digital video display system longer than five football fields. Take in one of the nightly light and sound shows, then roll on over to the craps tables inside the Golden Nugget Hotel. First opened in 1946, this stylishly refurbished landmark also boasts several contemporary lounges with posh atmospheres. Sip cocktails at the Dive Bar at The Tank, where looming sharks eye bikini-clad bathers from within a 200,000-gallon aquarium. Restaurants Not surprisingly, the Strip is the heart of the Las Vegas dining scene. Diego at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino is a colorful and festive cantina featuring talented Chef Christopher Palmeri. The cuisine takes its cue from the street stalls of urban Mexico and the region’s flare for home-fire cooking. Diners enjoy such wonderful touches as a mobile salsa cart with six original varieties. Bold flavors are what you’ll remember about the authentic dishes that come from south of the border. A signature dish is the pollo al horno con mole—wood-oven-roasted baby chicken with 6 Destination Guide: Las Vegas  Oaxacan red mole, spinach and crispy parsnips. Other delicious choices include braised beef brisket, garlic-lime skirt steak, poached chicken thigh meat, crispy duck and Yucatan-style pork. You won’t have many opportunities to order slow-roasted goat or Mexican paella, so do it while you can. Don’t forget to try a frozen margarita popsicle or tequila sorbet shooter. The restaurant is open only for dinner. Paris Las Vegas resort hotel and casino features Mon Ami Gabi. The patio at this stylish bistro fronts the Strip and is the ideal setting for alfresco dining. A misting system and awnings help keep the tables cool during warmer summer months. Chances are you’ll be enjoying the food and the view with tourists from around the world; dining inside makes for a romantic experience as well. (It can be difficult getting a table outside, even with a reservation.) Wherever you dine, you’ll enjoy the varieties of quiche, crepes, pommes frites, trout grenobloise or the cassoulet and shallot steak. There’s a large and inviting wine-by-glass list to peruse, and although you’ll be tempted, don’t fill up first on the French bread with garlic butter. Try the parmesan- crusted fish. Ooh la la! An award-winning restaurant and long a staple of the finest dining in New York City, Le Cirque pitched its elaborate swooping silk-dome tent at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The ringmaster is Sirio Maccioni, and his attention to detail is what allows him to push the envelope. The result is an elegant, sophisticated experience that coupled with a view of the dancing fountains presented nightly, makes for a memorable event. Diners will have quite the difficult time choosing between such wonderful appetizer selections as black-tie scallops (tied with black truffles), foie gras sauté, brochette de langoustines and ravioli de truffe blanche. Entrees include roasted duck and a honey-spice fig glaze with roasted lobster in a port wine sauce, Dover sole grenobloise, canard rotie and poulet fermiere. And yes, to finish things off, a white chocolate cream layered with banana and wrapped in phyllo pastry, along with a milk chocolate dome and crème brulee espresso. The doting but not encroaching service completes the evening. Picasso, so named because of the Pablo Picasso artworks gracing the restaurant, is located inside the Bellagio. Should you tire of admiring the original paintings, there’s a picturesque view of the hotel’s magical water show just outside the window. There’s an abundance of fresh flowers, and the entrance feels like an outdoor market. The service staff has the knack for making patrons feel comfortable, yet important. There are two menus from which to choose: a five-course degustation and a four-course prix fixe. Award-winning Chef Julian Serrano is known for his attention to detail, and you’ll agree that he has a deft hand when he serves up such delectable choices as warm quail salad with sautéed artichokes and pine nuts; roasted pigeon, crust of honey, walnuts and almonds with wild rice risotto; and sautéed foie gras with dried organic sour cherries. A delicious dessert might be gratin of cinnamon with a crust of black walnuts and a topping of port-butter ice cream—yum! The tastes of the French and Italian Riviera are captured by Alessandro Stratta at Alex. This award-winning master chef concentrates on using the finest ingredients for his seasonal prix fixe and tasting menus. The interior features a sweeping grand staircase leading to an elegant dining room filled with mahogany woods, lots of flowers, exquisite chandeliers and a Japanese garden. The lighting suggests a touch of romance, making it an ideal setting for celebrating special occasions; dinner jackets are required. Some of the early favorites from the menu are the oh-so- ethereal foie gras ravioli in truffle bouillon with duck confit salad, daurade Royal Provençal with chick-pea fritters and lobster-bell pepper jus, roasted monkfish, and Tuscan-style pork with stewed tomatoes. Choosing just one of the decadent desserts is impossible. The service is handled by a large staff that is always at the ready, but never intrusive. Carluccio’s Tivoli Gardens is one of the best-kept secrets in town. A great value with good-size portions makes it worth the 2- or 3-mile drive east from the Strip. Choose from such mouthwatering appetizers as mussels, shrimp scampi, calamari and clams. Some of the entrée specialties are 7 Destination Guide: Las Vegas  chicken Florentine, zuppa de clams, linguine with red or white clam sauce or seafood diablo. The breaded and baked veal Florentine is nestled between thick layers of mozzarella, meat ragu and spinach with ample Alfredo sauce. You can see the love on your plate in whatever you choose. You also can order a couple glasses of wine without doubling your bill, and the friendly staff makes you feel like one of the family. Don’t be fooled just because it’s located in a hotel named Terrible’s Hotel & Casino; the food and service are worth the trip to Bougainvillea Cafe— a popular choice with locals. Bring your appetite and be prepared for big portions from the 24-hour menu that features such favorites as the Tower of Onions—a huge onion appetizer smothered in homemade beer batter, deep-fried and sprinkled with parmesan. The tequila chicken is a whole chicken marinated in a tequila recipe and slow-roasted to mouthwatering perfection. Have a hankering for prime rib? Pound-for-pound this melt-in- your-mouth version is just about the best in town. Big steaks, slow- cooked rotisserie meats and a very popular Chinese menu with all your favorites also are available. Farther north on Audrie Street just east of the Strip at Battista’s Hole in the Wall, diners may find themselves gaping at all the celebrity photos adorning the walls of this charming landmark restaurant that opened in 1970. Betty Grable, Johnny Weismuller, Clint Eastwood, Ed Sullivan and Robert Redford are just a few of the many that have dined here. Expect a family-fun atmosphere that features a roving accordion player and a menu where each dinner comes with soup or salad, garlic bread, side order of pasta, homemade cappuccino and all the house wine one can handle. Among the excellent pasta dishes are cheese ravioli, lasagna, cheese manicotti, meat canelloni, eggplant parmegiana and fettuccine. If those don’t do it for you, then try the steak caruso, filet mignon, shrimp scampi, or three varieties of veal or chicken. If you can’t have fun here, forget about it. Coffee Pub is open only for breakfast and lunch and is the place to be if you want to rub elbows with celebrities, local politicians and movers and shakers (Elvis Presley’s late manager, Colonel Tom Parker, used to come in every Friday and order clam chowder). Consistently good food has been its key to success since opening in 1984. The California cuisine offers up favorites of plenty of salads, soups, quiches and sandwiches. Since breakfast is supposedly the most important meal of the day, you can’t go wrong with the Big Wally omelet—it’s stuffed chock-full with a blend of cream cheese, sundried tomatoes and scallions. Popular drinks include several smoothie selections, espressos, frappes and a frozen mocha java. If calories don’t count, try the white chocolate cheesecake with Kenya coffee. The eatery is tucked away inside a strip mall and offers inside or patio dining. Big Mama’s Rib Shack has been a family-run business in Las Vegas since 1992. It brags, and rightfully so, of serving “down home†Southern food. “Big Mama†was born in a small Georgia town and she has been cooking up her favorite recipes for 75 years. NBA center Shaquille O’Neal is a frequent satisfied customer. All diners, famous or not, choose from a menu that includes soul food, Cajun and Creole dishes. The specialty of the house is barbecued ribs, slow-cooked to make them tender and juicy. Fried chicken also is offered and to quote the menu: “Honey, if the Colonel could have fried chicken like ‘Big Mama,’ he’d have been a General.†The best way to sample the menu is with the barbecue combo plate. True to its name, Grape Street Cafe is a California-style bistro that prides itself on its selection of wines—the adjacent retail store is part of the operation. Over 75 wines are available by the glass, and several of the food choices are designed to complement the wines. A fruit and cheese board appetizer is one example. Designed to look like a wine cellar with exposed-brick walls and a concrete floor, the eatery also has patio dining. A favorite appetizer is baked brie (a pastry pouch filled with brie) but done with lower-fat phyllo dough, toasted hazelnuts, carmelized onions and apricot preserves. Choosing an entrée, from lamb chops to the many pasta, chicken and pizza selections, will be difficult. One popular choice is the penne a la vodka with chicken—the rosy sauce is flavored with Asiago cheese, and the whole is tossed with a generous amount of prosciutto, asparagus and flecks of basil. Make sure you leave room for 8 Destination Guide: Las Vegas  the crowd-pleasing dessert of pastry cream puffs filled with vanilla bean ice cream and topped with chocolate ganache, caramel and strawberry. Restaurants Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Restaurants Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds 1. Diego 3799 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 891-3200 2. Mon Ami Gabi 3655 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 944-4224 3. Le Cirque 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 693-8100 4. Picasso 3600 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 693-7111 5. Alex 3131 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 770-9966 6. Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens 1775 E Tropicana Ave Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: (702) 795-3236 7. Bougainvillea Cafe 4100 S Paradise Rd Las Vegas, NV 89169 Phone: (702) 733-7000 8. Battista's Hole In The Wall 4041 Audrie St Las Vegas, NV 89109 Phone: (702) 732-1424 9. Coffee Pub 2800 W Sahara Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102 Phone: (702) 367-1913 10. Big Mama's Rib Shack 2230 W Bonanza Las Vegas, NV 89106 Phone: (702) 597-1616 11. Grape Street Cafe 7501 W Lake Mead Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89128 Phone: (702) 228-9463 9 Destination Guide: Las Vegas  Attractions In a city with dozens of attractions, you may have trouble deciding where to spend your time. Here are the highlights for this destination, as chosen by AAA editors. GEMs are “Great Experiences for Members.†The addition of high-brow cultural attractions is a fairly recent event on the Las Vegas timeline. Most say it started with the 1998 opening of the $1.8 billion Bellagio megaresort and the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, where you can find top-notch exhibitions. Hedonistic Vegas lives up to its promises: Skin, gambling, drinking, neon lights and more skin are what it’s all about. The themed casino megaresorts are cities within a city and attractions within an attraction. You can gamble, experience a raunchy show, buy a Ferrari, ride a rollercoaster, sate yourself in gourmet restaurants, glide across a canal in a gondola, view ornate fountains and breathtaking botanical gardens; the list goes on. Some of our favorites are the Wynn Las Vegas, the Bellagio and Paris Las Vegas—all on the Strip. If the megaresorts do not satisfy your craving for sensory overload and excitement, you may want to continue your quest along the Strip— federally designated as Nevada’s only All-American road. Farther north, the Fremont Street Experience turns up the wattage in downtown Las Vegas every night with spectacular computer-generated sound and light shows. The Stratosphere Tower, the tallest freestanding tower in the United States, offers one of the best views of the city, especially at night when Las Vegas is dressed in sparkling brilliance. Las Vegas gave up its attempt to position itself as a family-friendly destination, ceding that tourist segment to Las Vegas. But even though it might not market to children, a few attractions can keep tykes, toddlers and teenagers busy—and happy!—for a few hours or more. Lied Discovery Children’s Museum offers kids under 6 more than 100 interactive exhibits. Children get to do some role-playing as adults by choosing a job, earning a paycheck, depositing savings in a bank and buying groceries. Naturally, parents are welcome too. Encompassed within a 5-acre, purple-glass structure, the Adventuredome is said to be the country’s largest indoor theme park. Kids and teens love the motion simulators, thrill rides, miniature golf, virtual-reality games, arcade and rock climbing offered at this fun palace. Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay is not your typical aquarium; it’s a total sensory experience that takes you on a journey through an ancient temple that has been slowly claimed by the sea, ending up on the deck of a sunken ship in shark-infested waters. Now that the kids have had their fun, are you ready to kick into lower gear and experience the area’s recreational side? Unsure if Vegas can deliver? Fret not adventure-seeking friends. The following three AAA GEM attractions will prove that even in Vegas and its environs, “recreation†is not a dirty word and scenic views are plentiful. In Blue Diamond, the 520-acre Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is a combination working ranch and retreat that offers picnicking opportunities and hiking trails. Recreational activities abound within Lake Mead National Recreation Area, where three of America’s four desert ecosystems meet. This fact ensures an area rich in both plant and animal life. Fishing, swimming, boating and skiing are popular activities. The Hoover Dam is a 726-foot-high engineering marvel and an experience not to be missed. An overlook atop the visitor center provides scenic views of the surrounding area. Here’s an interesting tidbit: Hoover Dam’s structural volume surpasses the largest pyramid in Egypt. 10Â
