It's Vegas, Baby

If you fly into Las Vegas, one of the first things you’ll notice when you step off the plane are the slot machines in the terminal.  This is just the city’s first attempt to part you from your money, and it certainly won’t be the last.  Everyone knows that Vegas is the place to go for gambling; slots, cards, tables – Vegas has it all!  But what if you don’t gamble?  Is Vegas still worth a visit for people who don’t get a thrill by testing their luck?

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The M resort features progressive architectural style and design

In Las Vegas, resort builders are always pushing the envelope to create something new and exciting for the millions of tourists that visit the city each year. Rising from the desert floor on the far southern edge of the Valley, Las Vegas’ newest vacation destination, the M Resort, is no exception. As a matter of fact, with a view of it from my front yard, I’d call it immaculate example of cutting-edge architecture and design. It’s simply spectacular.

Scheduled to open on March 1 at Las Vegas Boulevard South at St. Rose Parkway, the 390-room M Resort is the first property travelers along I-15 from California now see. Its location also places the resort 400 feet higher than any other Las Vegas resort property, offering guests sweeping views of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip from the majority of its guest rooms and restaurants, many of which feature outdoor terraces overlooking its 100,000 square foot pool and events piazza as well as the Las Vegas Valley.

Here’s some the M Resort’s other great amenities:

• A truly one-of-a-kind design, the M Resort does not feature reflective glass like many of the areas resorts. Instead, it includes skylights on the casino floor allowing natural light in – a rare feature in the casino industry. The architecture is progressive in style, incorporating horizontal lines, natural lighting and a rich color palette of natural materials. It’s definitely not your run of the mill cheesy theme resort.
• Oversized guest rooms and suites ranging from 550 to 2,400 square feet. More than 70 percent of the rooms at the M Resort offer views of the Las Vegas Strip through floor to ceiling windows.     
  

  The M Resort features 351 guest rooms and 39 suites.

• Guest rooms equipped with high-technology amenities including Bose Wave sound system, iPod docking station and 42” HD LCD flat screen television. There’s also inlaid mirror television in the bathroom. Now that’s cool.
• Wireless internet connectivity throughout the entire resort, allowing guests to access wireless voice and data services, mobile phones, BlackBerry devices, PDAs and laptops.
• More than 92,000 square feet of gaming excitement, including 1,900 video poker and slot machines, 64 game tables, high limit area, live action poker room, race and sports book and poolside gaming.
• Nearly 30,000 square feet of kitchen and culinary work areas dedicated to the culinary arts. The resort will own and operate all of its nine restaurants and five destination bars, which feature the next-generation dining experience with unique culinary concepts and innovative social dining atmospheres.
• A buffet featuring a live action cooking studio – the first of its kind. The studio will engage diners providing them with ringside seats to cooking demonstrations and broadcasts. Perhaps it’ll feel like you’re in the Iron Chef Kitchen Stadium on Food Network.
• A 23,000 square foot, world-class spa, salon and fitness center will offer 16 treatment rooms, sauna, steam and hot tub wet areas and a state-of-the-art fitness center.     
  

  The 100,000 square foot pool overlooks the Las Vegas Valley.

• An on-site gas station and M Pharmacy provide unique amenities for locals and tourists.

So what’s nearby to enjoy during your vacation at the M Resort?

If you enjoy shopping, you can travel 30 minutes south on I-15 to the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas on the California state line in Primm or just minutes north on Las Vegas Boulevard to the Las Vegas Outlet Center.

You can also tee up for a round of golf at the nearby Rio Secco Golf Club in Seven Hills, located just a few minutes east off of St. Rose Parkway. Or you can try the Bali Hai Golf Course, located adjacent to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Take a scenic drive through the loop at Red Rock Canyon. Take I-15 north to Blue Diamond and head west. If you’re into adventure, take a hike on one of the canyon’s many trails.

Whatever you’re in the mood to do during your next Las Vegas vacation, you’re sure to find it.

The M Resort is now taking reservations, so check it out.

All photos by The M Resort.

The historic Boulder Theatre is the site of the fifth annual Dam Short Film Festival

Looking for a vacation full of romance, horror, drama and comedy? Head out to Boulder City, Nevada for the fifth annual Dam Short Film Festival. Held each year in February, this year’s event will take place Feb. 11 -14 at the historic Boulder Theatre, located at 1225 Arizona St. in the city born of the nearby monolithic Hoover Dam.

Giving the internationally renowned Sundance Independent Film Festival a run for its money, the increasingly popular festival will show 124 independent films broken into 22 themed programs, each featuring four to 12 films. And the best part is the ticket price of only $5.00 per program, making it affordable for the whole family. You can also purchase a four-day pass for only $50.

This year’s festival is unique because it falls on two special days. At 11:30 p.m. on Friday the 13th, a “Scream if You Can” horror program will be presented. At 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, Valentine’s Day will be celebrated with a “Love & Romance” program; the first 20 ticket-holding couples to arrive will receive a free box of valentine’s chocolates.  

The Dam Short Film Festival will take place Feb. 11 - 14 in Boulder City, Nevada

Attendees can take a part in deciding which films are best as winners are determined by the audience who vote with poker chips (now that’s so Nevada). Winners are selected in eight categories, including Best Drama, Comedy, Documentary, Student Film, Animation, Nevada Filmmaker, Audience Favorite and Horror/Science Fiction.

The winners will be announced at an awards gala at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 and will be followed by a showing of all the honored films at 8 p.m. Tickets for the gala and final showing are $10 per person.

Other events and venues, such as the Filmmaker Reception, Filmmaker/Press Lounge, and Film Market, will be held at the Boulder Dam Hotel at 1305 Arizona Street. The Boulder Dam Hotel was built in 1933 to accommodate visiting government and corporate project managers supervising the building of nearby Hoover Dam. The hotel quickly gained a worldwide reputation as a steady flow of dignitaries and celebrities checked in, such as Bette Davis, Will Rogers, Boris Karloff, James Cagney, Henry Fonda, and Howard Hughes. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Built in 1933, the historic Boulder Dam Hotel is a great place to stay.

To get to the Dam Short Film Festival a road trip is nice this time of year. Or you can make travel quick by hopping on a plane to Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport. A car may be rented at the airport’s recently opened Car Rental Center. Boulder City is just a 30 minute drive east of the airport off U.S. 93.

Boulder City is home to a few small and quaint hotels and motels, such as the historic Boulder Dam Hotel that offer quiet stays at a reasonable price. However, with its close proximity to the vacation Mecca, vacationers may choose accommodations on the Las Vegas Strip to take advantage of gambling, shopping, fine dining and other entertainment during their stay. There are no casinos in Boulder City as it’s one of the very few communities in Nevada where gaming is prohibited.

A hotel in Henderson, such as the Green Valley Ranch Station Casino, Sunset Station or Fiesta Henderson, will get you a few miles closer to Boulder City. Affordable rooms are also available just outside of Boulder City at the Railroad Pass Hotel & Casino or the Hacienda Hotel & Casino. 

A fun family vacation with a dash of history, art and culture – what more can you want?

All photos courtesy of The Dam Short Film Festival.

Fireworks light up the Las Vegas Strip, ringing in the New Year.

It’s that time of year again, when we bid farewell to past and ring in the New Year. What better place to welcome 2009 than Las Vegas. From spectacular fireworks to VIP parties to star-studded performances to celebrating with 300,000 revelers on the Las Vegas Strip, Sin City knows how to throw an unforgettable New Year’s Eve party to suite anyone’s style.

Planning a New Year’s vacation to Las Vegas? Here are some tips:

• Book as early as possible. With 300,000 visitors in town, hotel rooms usually sell out early and prices increase dramatically as the holiday approaches.  Luckily, this year’s gloomy economic conditions have resulted in fewer expected visitors than years past. This means lower room rates and special vacation packages are available, so shop around.
• If you’re not staying at a hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard then arrive early. Traffic can be incredibly challenging, and often times frustrating, as The Strip is closed to all traffic at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. This transforms the usually congested roadway into a giant pedestrian party spot. If you plan on celebrating on The Strip, early afternoon arrival is recommended so you can claim a parking spot at a hotel /casino parking garage. Parking becomes increasingly hard to find as the evening hours approach.

The Las Vegas Monorail makes travel along The Strip quick and easy.

• If you’re staying on The Strip, the best way to get from one end to the other is the Las Vegas Monorail.  It runs from the Sahara Hotel & Casino to the MGM Grand Hotel with stops at the Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas Convention Center, Harrah’s/Imperial Palace, Flamingo/Caesar’s Palace, and Bally’s/Paris Las Vegas.  Cost for passengers is $5.00 per person or you may purchase a day pass, offering unlimited rides, for $12.00.
   
• For a smaller, yet just as enthusiastic crowd, head Downtown to the Fremont Street Experience and ring in the New Year with a spectacular light show under its famous canopy. A highlight this year is Tribute Palooza, featuring 14 live tribute bands blasting the music of Aerosmith, U2, Queen and The Rolling Stones, among others. The event is free for locals with valid Nevada identification and only $20 for visitors.  As on The Strip, arrive early for best parking.
   
• If you don’t like hanging out with the masses on The Strip or on Fremont Street, many of the hotels host VIP parties. There are also special musical performances and Las Vegas’ world-famous stage productions providing New Year’s Eve entertainment. You can also see and be seen as you dance the night away with Hollywood stars at one of Las Vegas’ exclusive night clubs. However, if you choose one of these options, be prepared to spend money as they can be expensive. Check with your hotel’s concierge or check out Visit Las Vegas for an event that suites your taste and pocketbook.

Enjoy live music at the Fremont Street Experience.

• Despite the fact that it’s winter, you’d be amazed how many visitors don’t realize that it gets down right cold in the desert. Be sure to bundle up if you plan to venture out on The Strip on New Year’s Eve. And don’t worry, many of the parties and shows have coat check so you can still celebrate in style once indoors.
   
• Don’t do anything stupid. Any time you have a gathering of hundreds of thousands of people jammed into a relatively small area, you’re bound to get a few bad apples. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is vigilant in keeping the peace on the The Strip allowing everyone, young and old, to celebrate safely. In fact, over the past few years there have been no major incidents bringing down the party. Just remember, no crowd diving, climbing light poles or kissing strangers who don’t want to be kissed as the New Year rings in. The last thing you want is to spend your New Year’s Day in jail or an emergency room.
   
• Once the New Year has arrived stick around. A lot of people will be leaving all at once creating a traffic jam. Instead of rushing out of the area, you can head indoors to grab a midnight meal, enjoy time reminiscing about the past year and planning for the future with family and friends at a lounge or bar, or win a big jackpot in a casino to start 2009 off with a bang.