Wow, this turned into a loooonnng post... Enjoy your trip!
My wife and I go to the Vegas Strip annually now... she likes to sit by the pool and relax/read a book, which allows me time to play poker during the day. Day trips and evening dinners or shows round out our time.
I have an MGM credit card and player's card that gets me automatic Pearl status, so we tend to stay at the south end of strip at Park MGM as it's entirely smoke-free and I often get room comp offers there, so most of my experience is down at that end.
Although this year, MGM's offers aren't great and Caesar's stepped in with a great room comp offer at Paris... it will be our first time staying there in early June with 4 out of 5 nights free (only the stupid resort fee)!
Non-Poker
Cirque de Soleil's show
KA is outstanding.
"O" is good, but we really loved KA. Their
Mad Apple show is also very good and more of a mixed magic/comedy/acrobatic show with audience participation... def has some raunchiness and sexual inuendo, so it's billed as 18+ only.
I've got tickets to see
Shin Lim's show that has just moved to the Venetian... I've never seen it live but have heard fantastic things about it.
I've also got tickets to see the WNBA's
Aces in action this June... consider checking them out if you like basketball, but tickets are crazy expensive so keep an eye out on the re-sellers (Seat Geek, Stub Hub, Vivid Seats, AXS). I picked up a pair of decent seats for $65 each + fees on AXS.
Bellagio's Conservatory and Botanical Garden - themed flower/garden displays rotate through the year... free to walk through, adjacent to the lobby.
Rent a car and go see the
Hoover Dam. It was was amazing! Only a 45 min drive from Vegas. Purchase your tour tickets ahead of time from their website (link below). You can only pre-purchase the Guided Power Plant Tour (no set start time) online.
Once on property, upgrade to the Guided Dam Tour right away. This is basically The Power Plant tour with an extended tour into the dam wall where you get to walk through the interior dam inspection tunnels, peek out through a ventilation shaft on the face of the dam, etc. The Dam Tours sell out and have a set start time. Best to be at the dam early (and on a weekday) to have the best chance of getting a ticket with a tour time that is not too long after your arrival. We got there about 9 am on a weekday and killed the 1 hour wait for the tour to start going through the visitor center and viewing the displays.... though I've heard that may be closed for renovations right now. Even if you can't get the Dam Tour add-on, it's still worth the drive to see it in person and walk across the top of the dam. Website, info and tickets here
https://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/index.html
Rent a car and go take the
Red Rock Canyon Scenic Driving Tour - a 13 mile driving loop around Red Rock Canyon with overlook stops, side trails you can walk, etc. You must buy a ticket ahead of time with a timed entry. I've never seen them sell out, but you have to have the ticket and print it out before you go (not much cell service). Bring snacks and plenty of water/fluids.
https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/visitor-information/
While out by Red Rock, stop by nearby
Hemenway Park to see the
Big Horn Sheep that hang out there. Just Google Map directions. It's just a small, free city park and playground, but the sheep love to hang out there, are very cool, and not too concerned about us humans. A few benches present or bring a blanket to sit under a shade tree.
The Neon Museum has a really cool display of old neon signage and visitor center ... kind of a cross between history and Vegas nostalgia. Get "evening" tickets and go at sunset or later when the signs are lit up. Very cool bit of nostalgia.
https://neonmuseum.org/
Catch a show or film experience at the
Sphere... I've not been yet, but heard it's pretty incredible. Note that sitting farther away is considered better so as to take in all the visuals. Expect to pay big bucks for this!
Player 1 - flat rate cover with (mostly) free vintage arcade video games and consoles. Extensive beer, mead, and cider menu... but no food if I remember correctly. I avoid after 8pm due to the many "themed" night events. Ages 21+
Pinball Hall of Fame - a non-profit pinball "museum" started by a local where you can play the machines! Basically a big open warehouse with rows upon rows of machines. Free to enter and a change machine on site for the pinball. Dozens of pinball machines, mostly vintage from the 70s-90s.
Food & Drinks
We are both foodies and, as mentioned, there are some amazing places both on and off the strip as well as downtown, etc.
Always make reservations!
On the Strip
-
China Poblano @ Cosmo - a dual menu mexican / chinese (not a fusion menu)... sit at the bar and watch the ladies make fresh corn tortillas right before your eyes. Awesome food.
-
Jaleo @ Cosmo - upscale (i.e. pricey) restaurant with excellent wait staff serving tapas and paella
-
The Lock Speakeasy @ Horseshoe - Make a reservation. A hidden entrance speakeasy actually within a bar. Decor is a hodgepodge of quirky memorabilia that double as clues on how to crack the code and gain entrance to the speakeasy section. Bartender can also give assistance. Fancy cocktails are on the menu inside, customized to your liking using a check box ordering slip. Only a few tables inside. 2 drink minimum per person, 90 minutes time limit.
-
Noodles @ Bellagio - Asian noodles in a nice sit-down setting. Windows overlook the fountains.
-
Eataly - Food court @ Park MGM... nice selection of lots of Italian foodstuff to get from multiple vendors and go sit down and eat somewhere
-
The Crack Shack - Chicken sandwich shop on the sidewalk (outside/next to) Eataly @ Park MGM. Also has breakfast offerings (various egg sandwiches). I prefer this less crowded option as compared to Egg Slut @ Cosmo (which is also very good).
-
Bellagio Patisserie - lines can be long, especially in the morning. Nice pastries, tortes, etc. Serves breakfast croissants, too. Has a chocolate fountain on display. Grab something and go walk through the conservatory/botanical garden.
Off strip/away from Fremont:
-
Sushi Hiroyoshi - locals place for amazing sushi and very reasonably priced. VERY small... 5 or 6 tables and a bar.
Reservations are a must or you won't get in. Request a seat at the bar when booking on their website. Don't let the tiny strip plaza location fool you... this place was awesome.
-
888 Korean BBQ - strip plaza restaurant serving table side self-cooked Korean BBQ. 3 levels of options, each level up offers more meats and veges than the one below. We stayed with the base level and were very happy. Very affordable, a bit noisy and chaotic, but good food. No reservations but has an online waitlist you get on.
-
Capo's - Chicago mobster-style speakeasy with a secret entrance (like the old speakeasy's) serving East Coast Italian . Often has live Rat Pack/Sinatra-style live music during dinner. Love this place.
Poker
I tend to skip the tourneys as I find there is too much variance for my liking, which frustrates the hell out of me. Not good for vacation time.
I walk over to the
Aria to play 1/3 (or take the free elevated tram on that side of the strip). Nice room, comfortable chairs, well run, good dealers. Often has a decent supply of tourists (pot-kettle-black!) so the game can be soft, especially right after breakfast. Watch for the old-timers who play a solid game, including tough bluff spots!
I've also played at
Bellagio (also very nice, but tougher than Aria when I went),
Caesar's (meh, temp closed), and
Sahara's (closed perm).
Westgate is one to consider for low buy in tourneys, especially mid-week. Stick to the ones that have an
add on at the first break, as these tourneys are short-stack / turbo tourneys (15 min levels). Play is similar to a home game... limped family pots with 8 players going to the flop. Def non-GTO poker. It's a short walk from the ticketed monorail line on that side of the Las Vegas Blvd.
Off strip I've been to
South Point & Orleans, but that was back when I was doing low buy in tourneys and required an Uber... I've played no cash there.
Transportation
You've been often enough, you may already know all this... but for others who may read your thread:
We typically walk a lot or use the monorail / tram lines.
The elevated
MGM Trams are on the west side of Las Vegas Blvd. There are 2 currently in operation and all are free:
-Mandalay Bay to Excalibur
-Park MGM to Bellagio
-CLOSED: Mirage to Treasure Island
More here
https://www.vegasjourney.com/monorail_tram_map_las_vegas.htm
The
Vegas Monorail is on the east side of the strip... get cheap 1-time passes or cheap day/multi-day passes from walk up vending machines at each station. Def the way to go if heading far up or down the strip or to the Sphere. Stops at MGM Grand, Bally's/Paris, Flamingo/Caesars's (across the street), The Linq/Harrah's, Convention Center, Westgate, Sahara/Strat. Map & info here
https://www.lvmonorail.com/route-map/
Rental cars- I typically only get one for day trips out of Vegas.
Aria has their own AVIS rental office down in the parking garage which is convenient. Limited hours. Otherwise I've used the airport rental offices, though they can sometimes hit you with a surcharge if returning early or a bogus "extra cleaning fee" for sand on the floorboards. Be sure to check your invoice/email before walking off... I've asked them to remove those fees with some success.
Enjoy your trip!
.
.
