Here’s a special travel edition of Ask Gary, which should be of interest if a.) you are headed to Las Vegas for Saturday’s Kansas-UNLV football game or b.) if you have been to Slot City and want to compare notes with Gary on your favorite sites, sounds and smells in the Oasis in the Desert.
Skip this one if you have no interest in Vegas, cause this Ask Gary isn’t about hoops.
It’s about Vegas, baby, Vegas.
Q-Gary, Somebody told me you have been to Las Vegas many times on vacation.
I’m going to Vegas for the KU-UNLV football game Saturday the 7th of September and wonder if you could help me out as far as things to do. Thanks a lot. Carl from KC.
A-One of the benefits of covering big-time college basketball is you get to travel … a lot.
In fact, in tracking Roy Williams’ Kansas University hoops wanderers six months a year, I’ve made excellent adventures to places like Honolulu, Maui, New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Diego, Anchorage, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Memphis, the Carolinas and Grand Forks, N.D.
Nice, all … ‘cept maybe Grand Forks in the dead of winter, yet none of these places compare to a place hundreds of Kansas Jayhawks will flock this weekend a nirvana-esque city called Las Vegas.
Las Vegas (also known as Lost Wages, Glitter City, Sin City) happens to be my favorite vacation spot in the U.S. of A. It’s the site of this Saturday’s KU-UNLV football game, set for 7 p.m., Vegas time, at Sam Boyd Stadium, which is seven miles from UNLV’s campus, seven miles from McCarron Airport and about eight miles from the famous Strip where most KU fans will be staying.
Vegas as many of you Kansas City area frequent fliers who pack non-stop Southwest Airlines Flights from MCI to LAS are well aware has everything you want and need in a carefree 2-to 4-night get-away destination.
It has the weather (it hardly ever rains and never snows), the excitement (gambling, clubs) and the bang for the buck (affordable hotel rooms and inexpensive eats and drinks) crucial to having a pleasurable time while on vacation.
Wanting to make sure you first-time Vegas travelers like the questioner above have a great time this weekend, I’m offering “Gary’s Guide to Vegas.”
I would say I’m qualified considering myself and a group of friends with names that include “Count, Finn-Co, Jalen, Maestro, Von Schlepper, Kevin, Pink, Padge, Mo, BB, Bubba and Miiatch” have trekked to LV for fun in the sun the past eight summers and counting.
For more detailed information, you might check out an incredibly informative Website called vegas.com which I referenced in looking up some specifics. Lasvegastaxi.com also is a tremendous site, but it’s either down or not working on my puter. Maybe you’ll have better luck.
That’s debatable after all you have to be 21 to gamble and gambling is the central activity in LV but one thing is certain: Vegas this weekend is definitely a suitable place for kids cause there’s a college football game in town.
As far as where a family of say, four, should stay . . . well, if your kids are teenagers you might want to bunk at Mandalay Bay, only because it has the best pool on the Strip.
The kids will be content spending a whole day swimming and surfing in Mandalay’s wave pool.
Mandalay also has a Lazy River, good for kids and parents alike to traverse on rafts or inner tubes.
If your kids are very young, Excalibur might be the choice because of the casino’s Fantasy Faire midway which is full of carnival games. Also on the grounds is a Medieval Village where there are strolling performers and story tellers.
One other possibility is Circus Circus, which quite frankly, is an older property that last time I checked appeared a bit run down, at least for my tastes.
Circus Circus does qualify as a kid’s paradise, however. Free Circus Acts perform live around the clock high above the casino floor. The casino’s Adventuredome (check prices for all these rides on vegas.com) features the Canyon Blaster coaster, which offers riders a 90-foot-high view of the park. It also has a water ride with a 60 foot drop.
There are many other roller coasters in town.
Manhattan Express at New York New York races around the front of the building at 67 mph.
Speed the Ride at the Sahara reaches speeds of 70 mph. It is regarded as the best coaster in town.
The High Roller at the Stratosphere whizzes along the outer edge of the Strat tower, 909 feet above ground, 100 stories high. The Strat’s Big Shot launches riders 160 feet in 2.5 seconds at 45 mph, then drops.
Tired of spending money on roller coasters after visiting Worlds of Fun several times this summer?
Here are some free attractions to consider:
A fake volcano erupts in front of The Mirage every 15 minutes from dusk til midnight. Walk into the Mirage, look left, and you’ll see a zoo-like exhibit featuring white tigers of famed magicians Siegfried and Roy. Taking a peek at the Tigers costs nothing. Watching them perform at the Siegfried and Roy Theatre on Friday night, however, will set you back $105.50 per person.
Eight lions not tigers oh, my direct descendants of the MGM Lion, are on exhibit at the MGM Grand.
A free theatre-like production “Pirate Battle at Treasure Island” features the sinking of a Pirate ship. Shows begin at 5:30 p.m. and run ’til after midnight at T.I., located right next to Mirage.
A choreographed fountain show flows daily/nightly in front of The Bellagio. More fountains can be found at The Fall of Atlantis luminescent fountain show at Caesar’s Palace.
Head downtown to catch the The Fremont Street Experience a nighttime light show on a canope located 90 feet above Fremont Street.
Some casino attractions like the following do cost money.
There’s King Tut’s Tomb at Luxor; Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum at Venetian; gondola rides at Venetian; Gallery of Fine Art featuring the work of Faberge at Bellagio; an auto collection of 350 classic cars at Imperial Palace; Shark Reef of exotic fish and sharks at Mandalay and a great view of Vegas available at the top of 50-story Eiffel Tower at Paris to name a few attractions.
Oops I almost forgot …
Hoover Dam is just 35 miles from Vegas in Boulder City at the base of Lake Mead on the Colorado River and open for business every day of the week.
The Las Vegas 52s Triple A baseball team is in the playoffs. If there are games at Cashman Field this weekend, you might want to check ’em out.
Finally, if you are Catholic, by all means don’t skip Sunday Mass at Guardian Angel Cathedral, located by the old Desert Inn. Casino singers have been known to lead the music at Mass. There’s no admission charge, of course, but as they politely inform you before Mass, don’t feel shy about throwing casino chips into the collection basket.
I would recommend giving gaming a try … only if you have some disposable income.
Not many visitors to Vegas return home winners. In fact, I read somewhere the average visitor loses about 400 to 500 bucks per three night visit to Vegas.
My favorite games are craps and blackjack, though I have made some baseball sports bets and once tried roulette, which is a poignant game, yet rather dull.
If you are a high roller I’d recommend gambling at Bellagio, Venetian or Caesar’s Palace and ask for a host to monitor your play.
If you are a low roller like me, your quest should be to play craps and blackjack on $5 minimum tables.
The problem is $5 minimum tables will be difficult to locate this weekend in Vegas.
If you are bound and determined to locate some $5 tables on the Strip (they should be plentiful downtown), I suggest heading to Casino Royale, where members of our summer group have gleefully discovered $1 craps tables.
Center Strip casinos Barbary Coast, O’Sheas and Imperial Palace may have some $5 tables despite the weekend gouge factor. South Strip casinos like Westward Ho, Circus Circus, Slots A Fun and Sahara also might have some Five-sies.
Sahara is known for having $1 blackjack.
As far as strategy … don’t be afraid to give craps a try, especially if you are with a group. It’s a fun group activity.
Buy a “how to book” at the bookstore or print some instructional stuff off the Web and read it on the plane. After the plane ride, you will be well equipped mentally to play.
In craps, GB would uggest betting the passline, odds, and placing the numbers 6 and 8. Press your bets on the 6 and 8 once you make a profit on the roll. In blackjack, bet $5 a hand until you get hot, then up your bets. Double down when applicable. Don’t be afraid to win and tip the dealer wildly when winning.
You might also consider sit in a comfy sportsbook for an hour or so and even try a three team baseball or football parlay.
I’d suggest betting a $10 three-team baseball parlay and see if your three teams can win and put you on Easy Street or at the very least quadruple your original bet.
Some folks love to sit in the air conditioned sports book all day and play the horses which are shown on various TVs.
Mandalay, Mirage, Caesars and Ballys have good sports books. If you want to see some locals and still be on the Strip, check out the tradition-rich Stardust sports book.
On the Strip you might consider a nice dinner at P.F. Chang’s in the Aladdin or the brew pub at Monte Carlo. ESPN Zone at NY NY is a good place to chow.
Most of the casinos have very expensive, fancy 5-Star type restaurants where you can get dressed up and eat like kings/queens. The steakhouse at Ballys is delish. Every casino has several such fine eateries.
As far as Vegas’ famous buffets … you must eat the Bellagio’s breakfast buffet.
The Mirage dinner buffet is acceptable if not splendid. The Rio buffet for years was considered the best in town, don’t know if that’s still the case. One year we went there and were scared away by the long lines.
If you are single and 30 or under a must place to go is the Pink Taco (Mexican Food) at the Hard Rock Hotel. It’s packed with beautiful people.
As far as the night club scene, you have many choices.
If you don’t want to pay cover charges, check out the bar at the center of the Hard Rock Casino. The Bar at Times Square in NY NY is a piano bar packed on weekends with a fun crowd. There’s an outdoor club at Harrah’s which has a fun New Orleans feel to it.
For those of you who prefer the nightclub scene, with cover charges up to 10 or 20 bucks, here are some options:
Drai’s at Barbary Coast, which is so trendy it doesn’t open until midnight. Also Ghostbar and Rain at Palms; Coyote Ugly at NY NY; Ra at Luxor; Studio 54 at MGM; Rum Jungle at Mandalay; Baby’s at Hard Rock; Club Rio and Voo Doo Lounge at Rio; C2K at Venetian. Club Rio also has a great view of the city.
Vegas is considered the entertainment capital of the world. Several casinos have lounges where bands play nightly.
You might check out a show.
I’ve been told a good one is Cirque de Soleil’s “Mystere” at Treasure Island.
The Las Vegas newspapers have great entertainment sections where they review virtually all shows in town. Check those out.
I’ve seen the Amazing Jonathan on TV. He’s funny and performing at the Golden Nugget. Don’t bring the kids to that one.
Danny Gans is a fabulous impersonator/singer performing at the Mirage. The Chicago based Second City Comedy Troupe is playing at Flamingo Hilton. Blue Man Group is at Luxor; magicians Penn and Teller at Rio and Lance Burton at Monte Carlo. Comic Rita Rudner is at NY NY and old time crooner Wayne Newton at Stardust.
Hope I’ve given you some good ideas. Have fun this weekend. By all means keep a diary and send me a play by play of all your activities. Rest assured I am interested in your Vegas stories.
My hope is Roy schedules his old pal Charlie Spoonhour and I’ll be able to make a work trip to Vegas some day.
As far as the football game itself … no I won’t be there … I can’t predict a victory but youneverknow, maybe the Jayhawks will sizzle in the desert and claim their first win in the Mangino era.
Good luck and write back.
Hear the coach: Big 12 Coaches’ teleconference
Know the foe: UNLV history