Vacations Blog

The Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas.

Looking for a certain je ne sais quoi for your next Las Vegas vacation? Luckily the era of themed resorts added a little French to the center of the Las Vegas Strip. Whether planning a risqué weekend with a partner or a rendezvous with family and friends, the centerpiece of a French inspired vacation is Paris Las Vegas. The resort, along with a variety of French restaurants and stage productions on The Strip, offer vacationers who can’t afford a trip to Paris a taste of the famed City of Light with the added excitement of Sin City, of course.

Upon arrival at the 2,915 room Paris Las Vegas Resort & Casino the essence of Paris is overwhelming apparent as the front facade of the elaborate and luxurious structure is designed to emulate elements of the Paris Opera House and the Louvre. Its architecture also incorporates many of the famous sights of Paris, including a 540-foot tall replica of the Eiffel Tower, now a signature of the LasVegas Skyline, a neon sign in the shape of the Montgolfier balloon, a two-thirds size Arc de Triomphe and a La Fontaine des Mers. This picturesque resort is sure to make any vacationer utter “c’est magnifique!”

The Eiffel Tower
Start your vacation on a high note with a trip up the Eiffel Tower. Don’t forget your camera because the observation deck provides extraordinary views up and down the Las Vegas Strip and a 360° panorama of the entire Las Vegas Valley.

Tickets may be purchased at the Eiffel Tower Box Office located inside the casino. The cost is $10 for adults; $7 for seniors 65 and older and children 6-12; free for children younger than 5. From 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., when the Las Vegas Strip lights up, admission is $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children. Family packages (two adults and two children) are available for $30 from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Las Vegas Strip north from the top of the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas

A Culinary Adventure
If you’re like me, you’re really into food. Paris Las Vegas’ restaurants turn vacationers into the bon vivant with an offering of everything from the classical French cuisine to the Pan Asian Parisian.

Popular for its al fresco dining, with an up close view of the impressive Fountains of Bellagio, Mon Ami Gabi French Bistro offers a simplistic French menu with everything from traditional Hors D’Oeuvres to Steak Frites. The restaurant’s desserts, including profiteroles and crème brûlée, are awe inspiring. A children’s menu offers a number of kid-friendly meals, including macaroni and cheese and burgers.

Reservations at Mon Ami Gabi are highly recommended for indoor seating. Unfortunately, seats on the patio are first-come, first-serve. Since they are highly sought by guests, a request may result in a long wait as guest tend to stay a while. Of course, who can blame them for enjoying a café au lait and the stunning view after their meal?

Another great restaurant with al fresco dining is Ah Sin, offering an Asian Fusion menu with a diverse collection of flavors and cooking techniques from the Pacific Rim. Reservations are recommended for both patio and indoor dining.

You’ll say “bon appetite” as you make a toast to the dazzling lights 100 feet below your table at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. Located on the 11th floor of the iconic structure, the restaurant is fine dining with view. The restaurant serves the most acclaimed French cuisine available in the city, including a flawlessly seasoned lamb and foie gras that’s unrivaled. To ensure a seat with the best view, reservations are required.

It’s all about great food and ambiance at the two-story, art deco inspired Les Artistes Steakhouse. The restaurant’s à la carte menu offers a variety of specialties, including grilled rack of lamb, a 50-ounce porterhouse steak, and roasted whole Maine lobster and tasty poultry dishes. Reservations at Les Artiste Steakhouse are recommended.

In all, Paris Las Vegas offers 11 dining options, from the low-cost, no-frills to the epicurean experience. There are also a variety of French restaurants in the Las Vegas resort corridor, including Daniel Boulud Brasserie at Wynn, Alizé at the Palms, Fleur de Lys at Mandalay Bay, Joël Robuchon at the Mansion at MGM Grand, Le Cirque at Bellagio, and finally the famous Pamplemousse, located at 400 E. Sahara Avenue.

No matter your appetite, you’re sure to find the right French meal for the occasion.

Bring on the Night
After the sun sets behind the Spring Mountains to the west and the neon glows, Paris Las Vegas’ nighttime establishments come to life. From the ultra-chic Risqué Nightclub, to the charming Le Cabaret lounge to the lively Napoleon’s Bar, guests are sure to find the right setting for an all night vacation celebration.

Paris Las Vegas’ location at the center of the LasVegas Strip also provides for easy travel to city’s most popular nightclubs, including Pure at Caesar’s Palace, LAX at Luxor, Tao at the Venetian and Tryst at Wynn. Take a taxi, limo, the Las Vegas Monorail or a walk along the Strip to find your ultimate party spot.

And who can forget the shows of Cirque du Soleil. Okay, the shows are not a product of France, but Canada’s Quebec province, so they are still essentially French. There are now six Cirque du Soleil shows at various hotels in Las Vegas: O at Bellagio, Mystere at Treasure Island, Ka at MGM Grand, Zumanity at New York-New York, Love at the Mirage and the newest show, Criss Angel’s Believe. Tickets for these shows are expensive, but well worth the money.

From the street, the 540-foot Eiffel Tower extends into the clouds.

The Spa Treatment
After a night out, a spa treatment at Paris Las Vegas’ Spa by Mandara provides the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation. Massages and facials, as well as other beautification packages are available. For folks not willing to skip their fitness routine, the spa also features a fully equipped fitness center, personal training and steam and saunas rooms.

Historic downtown Boulder City, Nevada

There’s more to Southern Nevada than the mega resorts of the Las Vegas Strip. Located just 20 miles from the hustle and bustle of the gambling and entertainment Mecca, Boulder City offers families an opportunity to explore Southern Nevada’s rich history in a quaint, small town setting reminiscent of Mayberry.

Founded in 1932 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to house workers constructing the nearby Hoover Dam, Boulder City is unlike most destinations in Nevada as gambling is prohibited. The city is one of only two in the state with no casinos. Instead, visitors are welcome to shop antique stores along the city’s downtown streets, visit museum attractions or take advantage of outdoor activities.

Whether staying in Las Vegas and visiting as part of an excursion or staying in the city at one of its charming hotels, a trip to Boulder City is not complete without a visit to the iconic Hoover Dam, located just a few minutes away on U.S. 93 at the border between Nevada and Arizona.

Often referred to by locals by its original name, Boulder Dam, the massive art deco inspired dam was completed in 1935 as both the world’s largest electric-power generating station and the world’s largest concrete structure. Though neither record holds true today, the dam is still considered one of the world’s greatest engineering marvels.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has conducted tours through Hoover Dam and its powerplant since 1937. Today, nearly one million visitors a year take the tour and millions more drive across the dam.

View of Hoover Dam

Guided tours are offered every day of the week with admission prices ranging from $11.00 to $30.00 per person with discounted prices for children, seniors and military families. The Visitor Center is open for unguided exploration for $8.00 for all visitors over the age of three.

Visitors not interested in a tour are welcome to walk along the top of the dam and enjoy the magnificent view of Lake Mead and Black Canyon. Visitors, particularly children, are often amused at the fact that the men’s restroom is located in Nevada in the Pacific Time Zone and the women’s restroom is located on the Arizona side in the Mountain Time Zone. It’s not often that you have an opportunity to visit two states and two time zones at one attraction.

Visitors to Hoover Dam may park in the parking garage nestled in the cliffs on the Nevada side of the dam. The fee is $7.00 per vehicle. Free parking is available in lots along the road on the Arizona side, but the spots may be hard to find on busy weekends and the walk up and down the steep hills may be grueling during the hot summer months. However, a small cafe is located at the top of the hill providing snacks, refreshments and a spectacular view.

Within Boulder City the state’s railroading past is showcased at the Nevada Southern Railroad Museum. Constructed in 1931 as a branch off the main Union Pacific tracks through Las Vegas, the railroad transported heavy equipment and supplies for the construction of Hoover Dam. Today, train rides along the historic tracks are a popular attraction.

February through December the train takes passengers on a 45-minute, seven mile journey along the revitalized historic Boulder Branch Line from the Boulder City Depot (off Yucca Street) to Railroad Pass, located within the River Mountain Range.

Passengers ride in refurbished and enclosed, climate-controlled Pullman Coaches, which date back to 1911. For the more adventurous passengers who wish to be closer to nature the open-air coach is great for taking photos of the desert mountain landscape.

Trains depart from the Depot every Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to departure times and reservations are not required. Fares are $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors and $4.00 for children under the age of 11.

Zipwire over Bootleg Canyon

For the outdoor sports enthusiasts, Boulder City’s Bootleg Canyon Park, known for its mountain biking trails, is now home to one of the city’s newest tourist attractions, the Bootleg Canyon Flightlines. There visitors who aren’t afraid of heights can experience an adrenaline rush as they glide down ziplines strung high above the canyon.

Bootleg Canyon has five zipline runs, including a practice run. From the top, riders drop nearly 1,000 feet along four runs, including one that’s nearly a half mile long.

The cost for this exhilarating adventure is $149 per person. The minimum weight for riders is 75 lbs. and the maximum is 250 lbs. Check-in is at the 1512 Industrial Road in Boulder City where riders are provided their harness and trained in safety, basic gliding techniques as well as how to increase and decrease speed.

For visitors interested in a more relaxing time, downtown Boulder City’s shops, galleries and restaurants are inviting. For great food, stop by The Coffee Cup, a favorite of locals and tourists alike. You can also grab some food to go and enjoy an outdoor family picnic at Hemenway or Bicentennial Park.

However you chose to enjoy your visit to Boulder City, you’ll find away to be “a world away for a day.”

Hoover Dam photo by Pamela McCreight (Creative Commons)/Boulder City and Bootleg Canyon photos by Boulder City.