Vacations Blog

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.

Beyond the neon and glitz of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip lie numerous opportunities for families to discover Southern Nevada’s colorful and often overlooked natural landscape. From flourishing desert meadows to red, rusty cliffs to pine tree-covered mountain peaks, just a short drive from The Strip visitors can experience hours of exploration and fun.

Located in the middle of the city and built on the site of the birthplace of Las Vegas, visitors can start their adventures at the 180-acre Springs Preserve, offering a glimpse at the region’s geology, desert plant-life and numerous animal species that call Southern Nevada home. Children are amazed by the wild jackrabbits, lizards, insects and desert tortoises on display at the Origen Experience. For those not afraid of getting a little wet, a popular exhibit is the flash flood simulator where visitors experience the exhilarating rush of water that results from the summer rains in the area deserts, canyons and mountains. 

The Springs Preserve also features nearly two miles of picturesque walking trails and lush gardens. Bottled water is recommended for exploration during the hot summer months. A visit to the Springs Preserve is also not complete without lunch at the Café by Wolfgang Puck. Pick a spot on the terrace and enjoy a view of the gardens and the nearby Las Vegas Strip. General Admission prices range from $6.95 to $18.95 and annual family passes are a great bargain for frequent visits.

A 25-minute drive west from the Las Vegas Strip is the 197,000-acre Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Once the bottom of a vast ocean, millions of years of exposure and oxidation have created a breath-taking canyon of red and orange. A 13-mile, one-way scenic drive through the canyon provides many picture-taking opportunities. For adventurous families, nearly 20 trails offer easy, moderate or strenuous hikes into the canyon where wild burros and other animals roam and ancient petroglyphs await discovery. Designated picnic and camping areas are also available.  Maps and information on seasonal trail conditions can be found at the Visitor’s Center near the entrance to the canyon. Like the Springs Preserve, bottled water is recommended for exploration during the hot summer months. Entry into Red Rock Canyon is $5.00 per vehicle with annual passes available for purchase.

Rising high above the Las Vegas Valley to the northwest, Mt. Charleston offers visitors a dramatic change in climate and scenery. The highest peak of the Spring Mountains Range in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Mt. Charleston’s temperatures are typically 20 to 30 °F lower than in Las Vegas, making it a popular place for visitors to escape the heat of the desert floor. Mountain biking, hiking, picnicking and camping are popular summertime activities atop the mountain, as is enjoying the spectacular views. Winter transforms the mountain into a snow-covered playground for sledding and snow play. The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort features 11 trails for beginners, intermediate and skilled winter sports enthusiasts. Ski and snowboarding lessons are available for both adults and children. Equipment rental, restaurants and bars are all onsite.

For accommodations on the mountain, the Mt. Charleston Lodge features 23 comfortably furnished log cabins nestled along a mountain ridge. The Mt. Charleston Hotel features 62 charming bedrooms, with a choice of mini-suites, king suites and a Presidential suite. Early booking is recommended for the holiday season.

Photos: Red Rock Canyon by Superfish/Springs Preserve by Jason Roth