The kids are all wet at Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe, Nevada, is a great getaway for everyone. Seriously, how fun does this look?
Let’s go with very.
(Photo by Lisa Romano)
Party like a rock star in Las Vegas
Las Vegas has thrived on witty slogans, such as “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” “Las Vegas: What you want. When you want,” and “Your Vegas is showing.” Regardless of the vacation Mecca’s strategically contrived marketing campaigns to attract visitors, there’s never been any doubt about the uninhibited fun and exhilaration offered in Sin City.
Truly, where else can vacationers go to eat, drink, gamble, dance and mingle alongside actors (A-list to Z-list), wealthy heiresses and rock stars?
I still have very vivid memories of playing Blackjack with Jenny McCarthy, having cocktails with Dennis Rodman (when he was still in the NBA), hanging out with Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails and getting a drink spilled on me by an extremely inebriated Paulie Shore. Okay, the latter wasn’t fun, but you can see the variety of celeb-types that hang out in Vegas.
If carefully planned – choosing the right place and the right time – you can “do” Vegas like a rock star and even bump into some real ones during your night out on the town. Here are some tips:
Dress the part and you'll be ready to party like a rock star.
Definitely dress to impress. Many vacationers come to Vegas with nothing more than shorts, t-shirts and a pair of flip flops. While these clothes may be acceptable for an afternoon poolside, they’re definitely not for hitting the party scene. Dress codes are strictly enforced at all of the top lounges and clubs, so be sure to pack appropriately or you’ll be turned away.
Nothing compares to the nightlife in Las Vegas.
Ask around for the night’s hot spot. The place to see and be seen varies from night to night. On some nights it may be Lavo at Palazzo and on other nights it might be Tao at the Venetian or XS at Wynn. Sometimes celebrities host parties at nightclubs, so inquiring can direct you to the best place.
Now that you have your tips, remember to let your inhibitions go. You’re on vacation in Vegas, so live a little. It’s time to momentarily forget about the kids, work, etc. and let loose and truly party like a rock star. That also means you should be prepared to stay out all night long. Don’t worry; you can spend the following day resting by the pool.
Photos by Las Vegas News Bureau and Barbara Kraft.
Bask in the sun poolside at Green Valley Ranch Resort & Casino
Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to treat a special mother to a relaxing vacation. What better place than poolside in Las Vegas. The weather in the City of Sin is perfect during the month of May – not too hot, but definitely not cold. Usually, the sun is shining bright and the champagne, wine and exotic cocktails are flowing under blue skies and palm trees.
Remove yourself from the crowds with a private cabana.
The best way for Mom to enjoy a Vegas pool, without having to fight amongst the throngs of tourists for a perfectly located lounge chair, is to arrange for a private cabana. Through the concierge desk, most of the resort hotels offer cabanas to hotel guests and visitors for a fee. It’s worth the money to have your very own poolside retreat.
For example, recently my wife and her girlfriends celebrated a special occasion at the beautiful Green Valley Ranch Resort & Casino, a sensational resort located off the Las Vegas Strip. They stayed in one the hotel’s lavish rooms overnight after enjoying the resort’s restaurants and nightlife. The following day, they arranged for a private cabana. It came furnished with a flat-panel HD television and comfortable sofas with pillows, a safe for valuables, and an endless supply of fresh towels. Right outside of the cabana were two lounge chairs situated in front of a private pool overlooking the resort’s crowded pool and spa complex.
The Pond at Green Valley Ranch is a 21 and over sanctuary.
The ladies were served by a waitress that kept food and drinks replenished throughout the entire day as they swam in the refreshing water and basked in the sunlight and cool spring breeze. The cocktails were delicious and the food was spectacular. The great part was that $250 worth of drinks and food were included with the cabana rental. What a great deal!
Later, the ladies invited their families, including the kids to join them at the cabana. So, not only did it providing some relaxing girl time, it made for a great afternoon of family fun.
The cabanas at the Red Rock Resort, Palms, Hard Rock Hotel, The M Resort and Mandalay Bay are great choices too. Their prices and amenities vary. Also, many of the hotels offer an exclusive, enclosed pool area with cabanas for the 21 and over crowd. At Green Valley Ranch it’s The Pond.
The Spa at Green Valley Ranch Resort & Casino
Of course, you may want to treat your mother to more than just a day at a cabana. A spa package is a nice way to pamper her as well. You can arrange for a spa treatment, including massage, in the morning and the cabana for the afternoon.
Whatever Las Vegas resort you choose, your special mother is sure to enjoy her time in the Las Vegas sun.
Photos by Jason Roth and Green Valley Resort & Casino.
The luxurious Bellagio of Las Vegas
With hotels in Las Vegas slashing room rates to attract vacationers, there’s no better time to experience the luxury of Bellagio.
Photo by Jason Roth
For vacationers looking for a spring wine tasting escape full of the fun and excitement only offered in Las Vegas, the annual UNLVino wine tasting event is the answer.
Wine enthusiasts enjoy the flavors at the UNLVino Grand Tasting at Paris Las Vegas.
Celebrating its 35th year, the three-day event offers wine enthusiasts an opportunity to enjoy the latest releases, the best vintages, and the finest varietals from across the globe. In 2008, more than 6,000 wine connoisseurs and novices converged at the Grand Tasting and enjoyed 2,900 bottles of wine from more than 750 wineries and 125 suppliers. It was America’s largest single day wine tasting. This year’s Grand Tasting promises to be equally exciting.
Champaign and sparkling wine will flow poolside at the Palms.
UNLVino kicks off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 16 at the Palms Pool and Bungalows with “Bubble-licious,” featuring champagne and sparkling wines. If you’ve ever experienced Las Vegas in the spring you know this evening outdoor event will be spectacular. Guy Fieri, celebrity chef and Food Network television personality will co-host. Advance purchased tickets are $100 or pay $125 at the door. Located on Flamingo Road, just west of the Las Vegas Strip, the Palms is home to the Playboy Club, great restaurants and exciting nightlife. A popular hotel for celebrities, the Palms is a great place to vacation like a “rockstar” during your wine tasting vacation.
The second night of UNLVino, “Auss-Some and Then Some,” will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday April 17, at the District at Green Valley Ranch, an upscale outdoor shopping, eating and entertainment venue located just minutes east of the Las Vegas Strip off Interstate 215 at Green Valley Parkway. The event will feature extraordinary wines from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America. Tickets for the event may be purchased for $75 in advance or $100 at the door.
Enjoy wines from the Southern Hemisphere at the District at Green Valley Ranch.
The District is adjacent to the luxurious, yet affordable Green Valley Ranch Resort offering rooms walking distance from the action. Enjoy a day at the resort’s lavish pool and spa before heading out for an evening of wine tasting.
The climax of UNLVino is the Grand Tasting from 2 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 at Paris Las Vegas, offering a taste of the latest releases and the best vintages from around the world. The event also features an art and wine auction, offering an opportunity to bid on fine art, rare wines and wine country vacation packages. Registration and preview for the auction will begin at 2 p.m. with the bidding starting at 3 p.m. Tickets to the Grand Tasting are $100 for advance purchase or $125 at the door. Accommodations are available at Paris Las Vegas and Bally’s as well as nearby resorts, such as Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace, or Flamingo.
Tickets for all three events are available at www.unlvtickets.com, or call (702) 739-FANS (3267). You may also purchase tickets at Guest Services at the District at Green Valley Ranch. As with most wine tasting events, attendees must be 21 years old or older to enter any of the three UNLVino events. Also, remember to drink responsibly.
All proceeds from the event benefit the University of Nevada Las Vegas, hence the name UNLVino.
Photos courtesty of UNLVino, Palms and the City of Henderson.
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:
The M Resort features 351 guest rooms and 39 suites.
The 100,000 square foot pool overlooks the Las Vegas Valley.
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.
Located 30 miles east of Las Vegas, Lake Mead is a water lovers paradise.
Straddling the borders of Nevada, Arizona and California, the lower Colorado River system features two major lakes attracting millions of tourist each year seeking the very best in water sports, swimming, boating, camping and fishing.
Located just 30 miles east of Las Vegas is the enormous Lake Mead, the centerpiece of the 1.5 million-acre Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Created in the 1930s with the construction of Hoover Dam, it is one of the most visited recreation lakes in the Southwestern United States. Its bright blue waters are a refreshing sight in contrast to the harsh desert landscape and jagged, majestic cliffs that contain it.
The lake is popular for both motor and sail boating, primarily due to its vast size. Several marinas offer boat launch ramps and rentals for both leisure boating and water sports. Houseboats can also be rented from Forever Resorts or Seven Crown for fun family getaway, offering a chance explore the lake’s many sheltered coves, islands and beaches with all of the amenities of home. For vacationers casting a line, Lake Mead is famous for its large striped bass.
Secluded campsites can be found throughout the recreation area and can be reserved for a nominal fee. For families interested in hotel accommodations, the Hacienda Hotel & Casino is located just a few miles from Boulder Beach and the Las Vegas Boat Harbor on US Highway 93. Other hotel and motels can be found in nearby Boulder City.
The Desert Princess offers spectacular views for sightseeing and dinner cruises on Lake Mead.
For day visitors, Lake Mead Cruises offers sightseeing and dinner cruises aboard the Desert Princess. Passengers are treated with spectacular views of the lake’s breathtaking scenery, including the colorful landscapes and panoramic views of landmarks such as Fortification Hill, a clearly-defined, extinct volcano, and the Arizona Paint Pots. The Desert Princess embarks daily from the Lake Mead Cruises Landing at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor for sightseeing cruises. Dinner cruises are seasonal, so visit the Lake Mead Cruises Web site for schedules, rates and reservations.
Located 67 miles south of Hoover Dam is Lake Mohave. Also part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Lake Mohave is formed by the Davis Dam at Laughlin/Bullhead City.
Lake Mohave is a popular desination for boaters.
Like Lake Mead, Lake Mohave is a popular destination for boaters. A long, narrow lake, it’s ideal for waterskiing. Boat ramps and rentals, as well as houseboat rentals can be found at the Cottonwood Cove Marina, accessible from US Highway 93 on the way to Laughlin, and Katherine Landing, located above Davis Dam, just north of Bullhead City on the Arizona side of the Lake.
Lake Mohave is just minutes north of the resort town of Laughlin, where hotel casinos line the riverfront, offering accommodations, shopping and entertainment after sundown.
Enjoy the nightlife in Laughlin.
Both Lake Mead and Lake Mohave also provide good locales for freshwater diving. Visibility is best from October through April and local dive shops organize dives and offer equipment rental. Land-based activities include hiking through the eastern Mohave Desert, especially during the cooler winter months, or horseback riding on trails designated for equestrians.
The best time of year to visit Lake Mead National Recreation Area is during the fall, winter, or spring, when desert temperatures aren’t sweltering. The region’s winters are mild, however water temperature can be quite colder during the winter months.
Due to the climate and surrounding rugged landscape, careful planning for a vacation to Lake Mead or Lake Mohave is essential. Read the “Things to Know Before You Come” feature on the National Park Service Web site to ensure your family’s visit is safe and enjoyable.
Fees for entry in the Lake Mead Recreation Area are $5 per vehicle for one to five days or an annual pass may be purchased for $20 for families planning frequent visits. Motorized vessels fees are $10 for the first vessel and $5 for each additional vessel for one to five days. Annual passes for vessel fees are also available for purchase.
Photos: Lake Mead Panorama courtesy of MLBbrad and Lake Mojave courtesy KJKolb via Wikimedia. Desert Princess and Laughlin are from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
© UpTake Networks, Inc. 2009
