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There is much to see and do in Vegas.
For views of Vegas-The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino 1,149ft above the strip, the Eiffel Tower at Paris, Ghost Bar, Moon Nightclub and the Playboy Club at the Palms and of course the Voodoo Lounge at the Rio. Tower pass for the Stratosphere is $18 unless you go to the bar, Level 107 for drinks and/or appetizers. Happy hour 4pm-7pm. Half off appetizers and 2 for 1 martini’s.
There are some interesting museums to see. Madame Tussaunds at the Venetian (discount coupons at venetian.com/attractions/madame_tussaunds.cfm) The Guinness World Records Museum (discount coupons on their web-site as well) Ethel M's Chocolate Factory tours are free, botanical gardens and free chocolate samples. For the shoppers there is M&M's World, Coca Cola World, and Gameworks, all side by side. There is Cowboy Christmas at the convention center, Cowboy Marketplace at Mandalay bay. For the high end shopping there is The Shops at Caesar’s Palace and shops at the Venetian Hotel, Paris, and Mandalay Bay. Cowboy Christmas has many shopping options. They have everything western and Native American you can think of. There’s artwork, clothes, jewelry, food, Christmas decorations, NFR souvenirs, tack, boots, etc. This year there is also a Cowboy Fan Fest at the Convention Center. There will be live music and entertainment, rodeo themed food and beverage, rodeo arena, and interactive booths. Go to www.nfrexperiance.com for more info.
For dining there are several ways to go. Of course like any big city there are fast food places everywhere, including inside most hotels on the strip. Buffets are a good way to go for one big meal for the day. The Buffet at Treasure Island has a great breakfast buffet $17.95, $19.95 for lunch. There is also a champagne brunch for $23.95 on Sat. and Sun. from 7am-4pm.
The Flamingo has a buffet that overlooks the gardens (tropical plants and wildlife) 3 buffets daily M-F, breakfast at $15.99, lunch $16.99, and dinner at $21.99/$19.99. They have a champagne brunch on Sat. and Sun. for $19.99.
Le Village at Paris, pasties, baguettes, etc. at $15.99, $17.99, and $24.99, and Champagne Brunch on Sat. and Sun. 11am-3:30pm for $19.99.
The Luxor has a pretty decent buffet as well, $15 or less.
The Garden Buffet at South Point has $6.95 breakfast, $13.95 brunch, $9.95 lunch and $14.95 dinner. Steak night is Tuesday $15.95, Prime rib night is Weds. $14.95 and Friday Seafood night is $18.95.
Sam’s Town has the Firelight Buffet at $7.49 for breakfast, $7.99 for lunch and $10.99 for dinner as well as a Steak Night, a Seafood Night and a Prime Rib Night.
Terribles has some great deals. Breakfast is $4.99, lunch $6.99 and dinner $9.99-$14.99. They have a Sunday champagne brunch for $9.99 7am-3pm. They have theme nights, with a great seafood night on Thursday for $14.99.
Inexpensive food deals include a gamblers special at Mr. Lucky's, steak dinner for $7.77(you have to ask about it, not on menu) at the Hard Rock Hotel, as well as 1/2 price appetizers at the Pink Taco during happy hour 4-7pm.
Ellis Island is open 24 hours, $1 Ellis Island beers and 10oz steak dinner $6.95, New York steak and eggs for $3.45 from 11pm -11am. They also have a breakfast special of scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and bacon or sausage for $1.95.
The Coronado Café at the South Point has five graveyard breakfast specials from $2.45-$5.95.
The Riviera has a t-bone steak special for$12.99.
Terribles has a $9.99 t-bone and a beer.
If you want to splurge, Circus Circus has a "killer" steak house, voted one of the best in Vegas.
For Turkish food, the Hookah Lounge, $8 drinks, and tobacco hookahs.
Family style Italian cooking at the Bootlegger Bistro.
An English Pub, Anchor and Crown with $4 drinks.
For bars with a view, the Ghost Bar, the Playboy Club, and Moon nightclub all at the Palm's.
There are lots of "theme' restaurants and bars that a lot of fun, such as the Hard Rock Cafe, the Harley Davidson Cafe, Toby Keith's Bar and Grill, and one of our favorites- Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville on the outdoor deck overlooking the strip. Of course we usually end up at the Hard Rock for lemon drops and cigars (at the Hotel & Casino or on the strip.
If you like a good German beer hall, the Hoffbrau House has good food, good beer, great pretzels and lots of uoompah! Watch out for the overly enthusiastic lady in lederhosen and a big paddle (ouch!!!) We usually make a stop at Casa Fuente Cigar Bar at Caesar’s Palace for smokes and cocktails. Happy Hour from 4pm-7pm and $5 cocktails from 8pm-10:30pm.
Thursdays at Blondie's Sports Bar at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino has $20 all you can drink drafts of Bud & Bud Lights and well drinks.
Treasure Island has a tropical bar, Kahunaville, with "flair" bartenders and chocolatini's.
Hooters Hotel and Casino has several different bars and restaurants.
Bally's has a tequila bar with a happy hour from 4pm-7pm.
Tommy Rockers on south Industrial Blvd, live music, $2 to $5 drinks, Happy Hour 2pm-7pm.
The Luxor has a nice tequila bar, Tacos & Tequila with very good margaritas and happy hour M-F from 2pm-6pm with $5 specials.
There are several brew pubs around town if you like good micro-brews. There is one at Ellis Island, Gordon Biersch, Yard House at the Town Square (happy hour M-F 3-6pm), and several Irish Pubs: Nine Fine Irishmen at New York/ New York and Ri Ra at the shops at Luxor.
Some new stuff: The Hostile Grape at M Resort, Tues-Thurs 5-11pm and Friday and Sat 4pm-2am. Buy a swipe card, load it, and swipe it at different stations to try different wine pours. Pours start at $2. There are also $1 12oz beer at 32Draft Bar Sun-Thur at M. M Resort also has a buffet, breakfast 7-10:30am $9.99, lunch $14.95 10:30-2:30 that includes beer and wine. Vince Neil’s Tatuado Cantina at the Las Vegas Hotel has ½ price appetizers, Mexican beers and house margaritas 2-5pm,$1 shots of Tatuado 2pm-11pm.
For the “Best” burger you will ever have there is the Burger Bar at the shops at Mandalay Bay. You can have Kobi Beef, Angus Beef, Buffalo, Turkey or Chicken breast with any kind of cheese or topping you can think of. It is not a fast food place, so the price is more expensive, but well worth it. It also has a fantastic full service bar. There is also a new burger joint called Grind Burger Bar and Lounge at 360 East Tropicana. You can check out any of these places at www.vegas.com . Go to www.nfrexperiance.com for info on the NFR. They are some of the better sites for Vegas info. What’s On Magazine is also a good source for info while in Vegas. They have a web-site as well.
There are several options for getting around Vegas. There is public transportation, such as taxis (not badly priced if you keep them off the strip), the trolley, the Deuce Double Decker tourist bus, the city buses, the Monorail and limos. There are complimentary shuttles from the convention center and 18 hotels to Thomas and Mack Arena for the NFR performances. The schedules and pickup points are on www.nfrexperiance.com .Of course there are rental cars at the airport (book one early before you go). There are hotel/rental car deals online. For the rodeo you can buy Mad Dash tickets for $51. You have 30 minutes to find an empty seat If no shows up with the ticket for that seat you can sit there. If you can't find an empty seat you can watch the rodeo on the live feed screens around the concourse or turn the tickets back in for a refund and leave. You can also find tickets at Cowboy Christmas most every morning at the NFR ticket booth in the lobby. A lot of the hotels broadcast the NFR live on big screen TV's and have parties of one kind or another. The Gold Coast has always had a great NFR party. Different beer and liquor company’s show up for these events with free stuff and deals on drinks. You can actually have fun at Thomas and Mack without going inside. There are huge tents with entertainment and giveaways that are set up by Coors, Jack Daniels, US Smokeless, Dodge, and other sponsors ( and of course our favorite Pendleton Whiskey). They do sell food and beverages outside at some of these tents as well as other places outside. During the NFR there is always plenty of big name music acts in town. Wed. Dec. 1st is the Downtown Hoedown on Fremont Street. There are two stages with music starting at 6:00pm and runs until 11:59pm. It’s free. This year they have Eli Young, Jason Jones, Kevin Fowler, Randy Rogers, Stealing Angels, and Trailer Choir. The Golden Nugget has Merle Haggard Dec. 7 & 8, Charlie Daniels Dec.9 & 10, Oak Ridge Boys Dec. 11 & 12, and Randy Travis Dec.13 & 14. The Mirage has Ron White on Dec. 7,8,14 & 15. The Mirage Race & Sports Book has Justin McBride & Daryle Singletary on Dec. 13 & 14-Chris Cagle Dec. 15. At the Orleans is Lonestar Dec.7 & 8, Travis Tritt Dec. 14 & 15. Shania Twain is at Caesar’s Dec.1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 11,12,14,15. At the Riviera is Jamey Johnson Dec.14 & Trace Adkins Dec. 15. Leann Rimes is at the Las Vegas Hotel Dec.13-15.Last but not least is Tim McGraw & Faith Hill at the Venetian Dec. 7,8,14, 15.Go to www.nfrexperiance.com , pull down the entertainment tab for info on show times and ticket prices. There are different country acts playing before and after the rodeo in the Cowboy Corral inside Thomas and Mack. There is info about other big name country artists appearing on the NFR Experience website. There are 4 places in Vegas considered to be "country" bars. Dixie’s Dam Country is at the Hooters Hotel. Wed. thru Sat. 7pm until? Stoney's Rockin' Country has a 2500 square foot dance floor and specials throughout the week. They are located between the South Point and Mandalay Bay way south on the strip. At Sam's Town on the Boulder Highway is Roxy's. Toby Keith’s has live country and rock bands at night. Gilley’s has reopened at Treasure Island. Info for all of these clubs can be found at www.vegas.com.
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