sightseeing

[oej719]

I liked the Blue Man Group show. I think at the Venitian.

[marie meijer]

BigSteve, beware which carrot top show you see as he uses "language" in some of his shows. I agree with Ed. Carrot Top is hysterical when doing a spot on Leno and the first half hour of his show at Luxor held our interest. Three of us agreed that Penn and Teller at RIO was one of the best shows we have seen! It's a show that all ages would appreciate. It seems tickets were in $80 range. Paris had given us a two for one coupon with our room. Spending $160 for an evening of fun entertainment probably saved us from losing a bundle in casinos. There may be other coupons floating around for that show. There are several half price or other discount ticket booths on the MGM side of the strip. Those tickets are available the day of the show. The biggest, hottest and most expensive shows in town are usually not offered, primarily because they sell out at full price. (such as Siegfeld and Roy or Celine when they were playing) Check local paper or promo magazine in your room for the times those booths open.Blue Man Group is playing at Venetian and six other major cities in the world. There is a life-size image on 2nd floor, front strip side, for photo shoot. We did enjoy them at Windsor recently.

[EDC1977]

BigSteve, with so much free and inexpensive Vegas to see and do, why ever would you plop yourself down in front of a daggone VP screen for hours? Because it's the mecca for VP lovers. Prior to your trip, logon to Las Vegas Advisor and click on news on the left sidebar. Every Friday, they list what's happening in Vegas and the surrounding valley. They also include showtimes, prices and/or links to get you the pertinent information regarding what entertainment you choose. Yes, Mac King is a good choice unless you have the dunkins to go see Penn and Teller.

[vidopoker]

- there is a candy shop in henderson called ethel m's. (their main store, not the one on the strip). if you go during business hours, you can take a tour and watch them on the assembly line making the chocolate. plus, they give you free samples. and you can also tour the large cacuts garden.
-go to freemont street and walk around (downtown). that is a great place to people watch. (the shadier the locale, the better the people watching is!!)
 
-another fun thing to do (that is free) is just drive around the valley if you have a car. i always find it fun to drive around different cities. i've been to vegas so many times i know the area well enough to get to any place in town. plus, there are so many different hotels for you to visit.
ps, if you go to a show, there is a company (it's called like tickets tonight or something) that has booths set up on the strip and they sell supposedly discount tickets to shows that night. not sure how much of a deal you get but the booths are always crowded. however, unless you are a high-roller or a big baller, good luck getting decent seats to a popular show. we got third row to celine dion years back and that was b/c we knew somebody and still had to pay an arm and a leg.
 
** These are the booths Marie M. mentioned above. They also have one on the north strip next to the Peppermill (YUM. if you have never been there that place is a step back in time. plus suede booths, pink, purple and blue neon lights, faux trees and a smoking lounge with a fire pit. go there for sure. and the food is great! especially the 15 lb fruit bowl with warm banana nut bread and marshmallow sauce!)

[EDC1977]

Vido, Great suggestions. Tix4tonight is located at the Fashion Show mall. (it's the one with the huge metal rings around the front) They have decent discounts on show tickets unless you're a high roller. I overlooked Peppermill suggestion along with a few others since there are many good ones on the LV Advisor website. It's nice to know the back roads  to avoid strip traffic. the Strip is OK if you're into bumper-to-bumper cruising and people watching. Otherwise, it's a waste of time and gasoline.

[vidopoker]

Thanks Ed! I go so often and I "try" to go to new places when I am there. Like when I was there in March, we tried dinner at a new place... Andre's at the Monte Carlo. it was OUT of this world!! Although we spent over $300 for the three of us, I would rush back there in a second.
 
However, 2 musts (for me) on every trip are the Peppermill (at least once per trip... it's my absolute favorite!) and the tribal smokeshop in downtown (tax free!)
 
i am POSTIVE there is also a tix stand located in the same parking lot as the peppermill. They must have a second one where you mentioned. I know the place you are talking about since my sister had her 21st at the asian place on the ground floor, RA. by the way, i never know how to describe the roof to people so i always say the place with the football-shaped roof.
 
i got over the show scene there a long time ago. my mom and her friend went to see cher last year and the ticket prices were ridiculous. i couldn't believe it! hundreds of dollars. my dad was able to get them seats within the first few rows through one of his clients but i just can't fathom spending that kind of money on a show that lasts 1.5 hours. but hey, that's just my opinion.
 
when is your next jaunt to vegas?

[EDC1977]

Not sure about LV right now but Laughlin coming real soon as new mailers come in often and too enticing to pass up. Show prices are high but how much value do you put on your dollar? 1.5 hrs. at a quarter machine might cost how much if you win zilch? It seems like a fair trade off if you do the math. Depends how much you wanna see a show too! Thats why I like Laughlin. Not too much emphasis on shows and showrooms, just nuts and bolts gaming. Where is the smokeshop downtown? Are you making reference to the one down the block from Jerry's Nugget on Main?

[vidopoker]

possibly. Don't know where Jerry's is, but if you leave the smoke shop and head south on main street, you pass the main street station. it is indeed on main street. it's the las vegas pauite tribal smoke shop. it's off of "D" street if you take the frwy, but that exit was closed the last 2 times I was there. they also have a location off of snow mountain/I-15 but never have been to that locale.
 
Never been to Laughlin. I've heard all those stories about how all the people there are the retirees with white shoes on! What kind of offers are coming in? Please share (the details, not the offers)
what kind of offers are you getting for vegas currently?

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

Thank you , vidopoker.  Great input. There was a Tickets for Tonight kiosk at the 4 Queens.  In preparation for our trip I've been watching a lot of old History Channel docs on Vegas.  Very interesting about the Pauites.   They inherited land from early settlers  that eventually became their tribal lands. I've passed the Peppermill many times without stopping.  On your reccomendation I'll have to go in.  Stayed and gamed at one in Reno.  Great food. 

[vidopoker]

Hello Big Steve:
Glad to help! The peppermill restaurant is a mini version of the hotel. Make sure to go in the fire pit (it's doored off b/c you can smoke inside). If possible, I would advise going for lunch/brunch but on Sunday if possible (Saturday's are too crowded). And the food is delicious, as you mentioned.
 
Regarding the tribal smoke shop (paiute), if you smoke, it's the CHEAPEST in town (they have over 100 different brands... all the regs plus many more and the people watching is G_R_E_A_T... area is kinda shady so get out once you are done!) plus, they have a huge walk in humidor next door if you smoke stogies.
 
I think that is very cool you are doing research the way you are. Sorry, however, you will not see any native americans working at the smokeshop.
 
I hope you have a great trip (didn't catch when you are going??). Write us all back on the blog here if you have more questions or need more advice.
 
There are plenty of informative people on here always willing to help!
 
Best,
 
Vidopoker