Other stuff to see and do

We usually plan to spend a few hours one evening on Fremont (the odds are better at these older casinos too, or at least they used to be better!) & then we head back to the Strip & gamble, people-watch or hang around the lake at the Bellagio to watch the water shows. Do check out the lobby in Bellagio to see the amazing & huge art glass installation on the ceiling by the very talented Dale Chihuly out of Seattle, then proceed into the Bellagio’s Conservatory to see the botanical display (we’ve been there in the day & the night - hard to say what is the best time - the gardens look very different at those times). Go past the Conservatory to see the chocolate fountain at the most divine chocolate shop in all of Vegas!

And don’t forget the Perfect Margaritas (if you like tequila!) at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in the Flamingo (another reason why we LOVE the Flamingo). The ‘Perfect’ ones are almost entirely made of booze (5-6 oz worth) and are actually Margatinis - but not 'tini'. They will go down fast (if the bartender knows what he or she is doing) so watch out because they do pack a PUNCH and if you quickly knock back one of these you may be sorry. Even more sorry if you have 2 or more!!! Trust us on this! There are many other less lethal but decent drinks available. Pick up a few bevies at the little bar in the alcove just past the main bar or access it from street level by going up a few steps right at the corner of the building. Wander down the street for a stroll (yes, with drinks in hand – it’s Vegas!) or head up the staircase inside the restaurant to the open-air patio/dining area on the upper level & get in line to wait for a table. Veer to the right when you get to the top of the stairs & get behind the rope - there are no signs & the wait-staff always have to keep an eye out for people who just waltz in & sit down ahead of those who’ve been waiting patiently. The food at Margaritaville can be hit or miss but if you get a seat by the edge of the balcony, it’s a great spot to sit in the sun or warm shade, sip on a few drinks, nibble on some appetizers & watch the scene on the Strip below. If there is a live band playing inside the restaurant, avoid sitting inside (unless the band is the reason you’re there) – it’s too dark & too noisy. The patio is the best bet. The Margaritaville store is a mecca for Parrot Heads like us & also a great place to hit for t-shirts, other clothing, Jimmy Buffett CDs, souvenirs & tons of neat stuff. Do check out the various models of the Frozen Concoction Machine.

The free water fountain show at the Bellagio starts up at 3:00 on the weekdays & runs every half-hour. After 8:00PM the shows are every 15 minutes. We could stand there all bloody day & watch the fountains. If you do go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower replica, plan to be up there before 3:00 or 4:00 so that you can see the fountains from above - it's very cool. Depending on where you stay, you might receive a 2-for-1 coupon for the Eiffel tower (good until 5:00pm). The website for the fountains provides playlists and other useful information.


SADLY Liberace Museum IS NOW CLOSED.  We will leave this post here so you can read about what you missed out on.... It's campy, tacky, kitschy and not to be missed!  Yes, it's the Liberace Museum that is housed in a strip-mall & has a piano as a front entrance.  To get to this Vegas-gem where one pays homage to 'Mr. Showmanship', you can grab a shuttle that stops at some of the hotels. Check with the  hotel concierge on the times & pick-up locations. Note that the shuttle doesn't pick you up again at the museum for another couple of hours after dropping you off.  Serious museum-goers will probably steer clear of this shrine to rhinestones and feathers but it's their loss.  You've got to see it to believe it.  There are bejeweled and bedazzled cars, costumes, pianos and.........jewels.  Liberace was credited by Swarovski of Austria with keeping them afloat during the lean times and they were so appreciative of his patronage that they gave him a HUGE 50 lb rhinestone.  Incidentally, there are an awful lot of Swarovski stores in Vegas that sell a dazzling array of crystals.  Anyhoo........most of the museum guides are older gals who still ADORE ‘Lee’ and get misty eyed when talking about him. They have lots of good stories & factoids about ole Twinkle-toes so ask questions & take advantage of their presence if you visit. Mom wanted to hit the museum so her 3 kids went along & we actually enjoyed ourselves. The costumes are amazing & helped inspire Elton John & Elvis back the day. Anything you buy at the gift shop is tax-free because of its museum-status. It was awfully tempting to take home the life-size cardboard cut-out of Liberace in his star-spangled hot-pants outfit. NOT!!! The glitter ball Xmas tree ornaments are a steal at $2.25 each! We took a cab back to the Strip because we did & saw everything in around hour. The staff at the gift store will be happy to call a cab for you.

One of these days we may get over to the Atomic Testing Museum at the university campus. They used to sell Albert Einstein action figures!!!! Other possibilities: Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, & Hoover Dam among many other places outside of Vegas that are worth seeing.  If you do decide on any tours to these places, check in at the tour desk at your hotel. Don't bother with those discount tour operators that accost you as you're walking up & down the Strip. There are lots of places to golf in & outside of Vegas but that’s a whole other story.

The tropical gardens & pool area outside at the Flamingo are very nice to stroll through especially on a hot day. There are lots of well-cared for birds & turtles & other critters in the gardens. There's a wedding chapel in the gardens too & a memorial to Bugsy Siegel (the founder of The Flamingo, a mobster & a real creep!). Everyday a rose appears in a holder next to the memorial plaque. Some people even claim to have seen Bugsy's ghost in the area.

Outside of Harrahs at Carnival Court they have the 'flair bartenders'. They're fun to watch. We ordered 2 Margaritas & it was quite the performance but the drinks were horrible - they were salty & not just on the rim. We had to toss them out which was sad especially since they cost around $9 each & then with tip it was $25 total. One tends to give larger tips to these guys because they don't just mix the damn drink! Be ready to give the bartender a 'high-five’ after the performance. Theatrics aside, the drinks couldn't hold a candle to the 'Perfect Margaritas' at Margaritaville. Regardless, do have your camera ready - 3 of us standing there with cameras & we forgot to take photos! Duh!

The half-price ticket kiosks sometimes have decent deals for shows depending on what you want to see. If there are any shows that you absolutely must see while in Vegas, it’s best to book your tickets before you leave home. Depending on ticket availability, you may need to plan your trip around the show dates.