Friday, June 15, 2007

Gambling Isn't the Only Thing to do in Las Vegas

by: Monica Marty
Do you think the only thing to do in Las Vegas is gamble? Would you believe that there are a multitude of great hiking trails in a place where all-you-can-eat casino buffets are par for the course? Southern Nevada is chock full of great hiking trails ready to be discovered. Hiking areas near Las Vegas include: Red Rock, Mt.Charleston, Lake Mead, and the Eastern Sierra. These hiking trails are interspersed between canyons, mountains, chutes, and gullies.

Red Rock: Red Rock is located 20 miles west of Las Vegas. The hiking trails range between 1-12 miles and can accommodate hikers of any skill level. Camping is available. Currently, it costs $5 per car and $20 for a yearly pass.

Mt.Charleston: Mt.Charleston is 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas. It is filled with mountainous terrain. Mt.Charleston has summer temperatures that are nearly 30 degrees cooler then Las Vegas. The hiking trails range from 1-20 miles and will bode well for beginning to advanced hikers. Currently, it costs $6 per car.

Lake Mead: Lake Mead is 20 miles east of Las Vegas. Lake Mead is an easy hike. It is generally 10 degrees warmer than Las Vegas. Therefore, consider hiking Lake Mead during the winter months. There are hot springs and eye-catching rock formations to admire while hiking around Lake Mead. The hiking trails are 1-15 miles long. Currently, it costs $5 for certain hikes.

Eastern Sierra: The Eastern Sierra mountain range is a 3.5 hour drive from Las Vegas. It is worth the drive when you experience the many peaks it has to offer. The highest peak is Mt. Whitney which stands at 14,494 feet. There are numerous trails to choose from that explore the peaks that make up the Eastern Sierra mountain range. The trails range from 1-20 miles long. There is no entrance fee. However, some of the trails require permits while others do not. Also, be aware that the Eastern Sierra mountain range is home to a bear population so take precautions when hiking and camping.

So turn in your poker chips and skip the slot machines when you head to Las Vegas. The area has many spectacular hiking trails to offer. Try hiking in fall, winter, or spring because Las Vegas has sweltering heat in the summer. Take in the fresh air and rocky scenery of Las Vegas area hiking trails. They are a little known secret waiting for you to discover them.

About The Author

Monica Marty is an avid hiker and webmaster of http://hikingtrailfinder.com/

info@hikingtrailfinder.com

Las Vegas For Kids

by: Eric Madsen
Next to hitting a big enough jackpot to retire early, what’s the other secret wish of vacationing parents on the Strip? Freedom from ‘the kids’. Studies conducted by the Las Vegas Visitor’s Bureau show that over 5 million kids visit Las Vegas each year. Camp Las Vegas is the first of its kind to offer tours on the Las Vegas Strip specially designed for kids, aged 7 to 17.

The tours run by day (10am to 2pm) and evening (6pm to 10pm), seven days a week. Granted, this camp is not your average arts-and-crafts variety. It’s adventure with a capital “A”. Tour activities combine everything from shark sightings, safaris, mummy tombs, knight jousting, roller coasters, American Idol auditions, 3-D movies to arcade games.

You won’t find any sack lunches, here. All tours include a meal at hip restaurants like Rainforest Café, Planet Hollywood, NASCAR Café and more. Plus, kids go home with a free t-shirt and gift.

All Camp Las Vegas tour activities are rated “K” for kid-approved. Safety goes beyond screening entertainment content. Adhering to the highest security standards, the camp offers a secured check-in and check-out process of children at various hotels on the Strip where each tour commences and ends.

A ratio of one camp director for every six campers and a maximum limit of twelve kids per tour ensure a secure, supervised environment. Furthermore, all camp tour directors have passed local, state, and national background checks.

The best news? Parental peace of mind comes at a wallet-kind price. The adventure tours are priced at only $99. Since it’s inception, Las Vegas has always been known as an adult playground. Kids were never considered the target tourist market for the glittering jewel destination in the desert… until Camp Las Vegas.

About The Author

Eric Madsen is a frequent visitor to Las Vegas. In his early trips to Vegas, in the 70's it was not a good idea to take kids. There simply was nothing to do for the kids. Now Vegas has become a family town. Eric is the webmaster of whynotvegas.com. You can view all the Vegas tours at http://www.whynotvegas.com/las_vegas_tours.html

eric@madsenswebsolutions.com

Tips For First-Timers To Las Vegas

by: Dave Kitt
When visiting Las Vegas for the first time it can be quite overwhelming. The following tips can help you enjoy your vacation and relieve unwanted stress.

Before You Leave - Book As Much As You Can Online

Las Vegas is an extremely busy place. The last thing you want is to plan your dream vacation only to find out everything is sold-out when you get there. Las Vegas Hotels, Las Vegas Shows and Las Vegas Tours are the reason people go to Las Vegas.

TIP: Book ahead and you will be guaranteed to enjoy your stay.

Choosing Your Las Vegas Hotel

The main Las Vegas strip is approx. 5 miles from end to end and the most economical way of getting around is to walk. You can take the new monorail or a taxi but these can add up and take away from your fun money. Also, if you are there to sight-see the vast hotel properties you will miss out by taking alternate transportation.

TIP: Book a hotel in the middle of the Las Vegas strip. These hotels vary from very economical (Imperial Palace) to very posh (Caesar’s Palace).

Flying Into Las Vegas McCarran Airport

You finally made it. Your hotel is booked, your shows are booked and your tours are booked. Now you just want to get to your hotel and relax for a bit. Simple, right? Wrong. Depending on when you get in you will be faced with a wait for a taxi cab and if it is during the day in the summer the heat will almost kill you and if it is late at night the cold will also get to you.

TIP: If your travel plans do not include hotel transfers and you are traveling with a partner or a group, send someone outside to stand in line for a taxi cab while the others wait to pick up the luggage. At peak times, waits can be as long as an hour for a taxi cab. Also, do not be afraid to ask the attendant if there are any hotel shuttles you may take, as a lot of times these shuttles leave with many empty seats available.

Getting to Your Hotel by Taxi Cab

TIP: Do not ask your driver to take the strip. It will cost you as you sit in long lines of traffic that seem to move backwards. Taking the #15 will reduce your cab ride substantially as it bypasses the strip and has many exits that will get you to your hotel much faster. Why waste your money?

Checking Into Your Hotel

When checking in to your hotel, don’t be afraid to ask the Front Desk if there are any free upgrades available. Depending on the time of the year some hotels are not always booked to capacity and will gladly give you perks when asked politely. Why stay in a standard room if a deluxe room is available at no extra cost. You will appreciate a Jacuzzi tub after walking the strip all day.

TIP: Unless your room has a view, try to stay in the lower floors where you can access the main floor by taking the stairs. At peak times you can wait 5 - 10 minutes every time you want to catch an elevator. It can wear on your patience after awhile.

2005 © ikrave entertainment group inc., All rights reserved.

About The Author

Dave Kitt is a frequent traveler to Las Vegas and from experience has compiled these tips to make your trip more enjoyable.

To book all your Las Vegas needs please visit:
www.lasvegas-hotels.ca
www.lasvegas-shows.ca
www.lasvegas-tours.ca

Free Casino Gaming Offers All the Thrills of Las Vegas

by: Jay Moncliff
Are you one of those people who think it's impossible to find a free casino? Do you think free casino gaming is just a myth? Have you heard rumors of their existence, but have yet to find one? Well if you have a computer with online access, you can play at a free casino.

The free casino gaming sights have gained momentum in popularity. There are many free casino sights available. All you have to do is go online and pick which website you want to play at. Many websites boast having realistic Las Vegas themed games with sound and beautiful graphics. You do have to make sure your computer can support the downloads for these games, however. Most up to date computers can do so.

The free casino websites offer various games. These include: poker, Texas hold'em, video slot machines, blackjack, keno, craps, roulette, pai gow, let it ride, and many others. Some free casino sights even offer less traditional games that are not found at casinos, such as: bingo and blackout bingo. Many of these free casino websites also have multiplayer games and free chat rooms. This dramatically increases the gaming experience and it makes it more fun to chat with other players. You can even share tips and tricks with each other.

Most free casino websites are just for fun. But many free casino websites also offer free contests and raffles. Some also have points that you gain while you play or win a game. These points can be redeemed for prizes or for contest entries. The odds of winning vary on the amount of people in the raffle. The prizes offered are generally pretty good. All of this is offered absolutely free to you.

Be aware that there are some free casino websites that aren't exactly free. These so called free casino websites require you to make a deposit by credit card in order to play. They then match your deposit with free money to gamble with in addition to the money you just deposited. The decision to use one of these casinos is entirely up to you. Be aware that you have to enter you credit card information on the website so be sure that they guarantee a safe and secure transaction.

Las Vegas is great, but this is free! It's nice to know that you can play at a free casino without so much as leaving your home. You don't even have to get out of your seat. If you ever plan on going to a real casino, you can use a free casino to give you some insight of the real gaming and gambling experience. This way you get some good pointers, without losing any of your hard earned cash!

About The Author

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.casinowindows.biz a blog focusing on the casino, resources and articles. This site provides detailed information on casino. For more info on casino visit: http://www.casinowindows.biz

Gambling In Las Vegas

by: Mansi Gupta
The two letter noun that completely defines gambling is LAS VEGAS. It has become the dream destination of all gamblers and holiday seekers. The one place you can drain all the tension and if unlucky all the money is VEGAS. Set in the midst of the desert it makes an oasis worth reckoning. Offering free drinks and luxurious ambiances the casinos of Las Vegas are nothing short of wonderland. It’s so easy for a person to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the busy streets or overcrowded casino tables. One must be care full while in Vegas as you may loose more then you plan to earn.

The gambling sees no rich or poor. All you need is the willingness to spend the money you have, the daring to go for the risky bets and you never know you can be the crowned king of gambling. This is the philosophy of the gambling paradise on earth. The casinos are full of games to bet on. There are sophisticated games with latest technology and there can also be the most famous card games to play. For example, despite all the advances games like blackjack and poker remain most played.

Although the whole city and places around it are mushroomed with casinos and entertainment centers but some places are better then others. And the best Las Vegas has to offer can be found on the Fremont street. It has been the street where you can find the most advertised items that Las Vegas has. The El Cortez, the Horseshoe etc. are the major places to go and try luck. Gambling majors like Steve Wynn have brought about a completely fantastic arena for the gamblers by the name of Golden Nugget. It has an excellent accommodation and luxurious settings for the gambling lovers.

Gambling is not the exclusive domain of the rich and spendthrift. With the increasing numbers of non-gambling tourist making it to Vegas every year, it has become imperative for the city to have places that offer cheap and dilettante gambling. you can make it to the Klondike, one of the most inexpensive casinos, then you can fulfill your dream of sitting on an poker table and yet not be robbed of. Most non-gambling tourists look for such places.

You may also decide to come out of Vegas with riches in both hands. This requires a lot of skill and time to spend. One has to survey the prospects and identify the one where the odds to win are the best and then intelligently with some prior knowledge bet on it. All the time one is betting, temperament is one thing you can’t loose. You have to be cool and play on. Keeping in mid what you have with you and what are you willing to loose. There is no point wonder what went wrong in the last bet that you even lost your shirt in it. The only advise for new visitors is that, in a place that offers free drinks for a person betting any thing over 25 cents, better safe then sorry.

About The Author

Mansi Gupta writes about. gambling in las vegas Learn more at http://www.betsinvegas.com.

Great Hotels Cater to Families in Las Vegas

by: Jay Moncliff
There are many fine hotels in Las Vegas to choose from, but parents traveling with the children are looking for a different kind of experience than the seasoned gambler. Luckily, there are several fine hotels in Las Vegas that cater to the younger crowd, ensuring that the entire family has a great time.

Circus, Circus is a great choice for a family vacation in Las Vegas. The facility is comprised of three towers with a connecting sky shuttle, viewed by most children as the first attraction. The Adventuredome inside the complex is the world’s largest indoor theme park, and a perfect destination for some fun with the children. Circus themed shows and wandering performers abound, and everyone will enjoy the miniature golf, bungee jumping and choice of over 200 carnival games. Of course, parents will enjoy the 100,000 square foot casino and great restaurants.

Another family oriented property in Las Vegas is the Excalibur. Designed to replicate King Arthur’s Camelot home, Excalibur gives children and experience similar to walking into a fairy tale. Families walk across the moat to enter the property, and every detail is charming. The first floor of the hotel is designed especially for kids, full of carnival games and arcades and themed entertainment. The large pool areas feature a waterfall and several waterslides, and a popular dinner attraction is the Tournament of Kings, a show with dragons, jousting, wizards and great food. The large, themed casino is a treat for parents, as are the other great restaurants on property.

Another exciting family hotel is the Luxor, an Egyptian Pyramid set down in Las Vegas. This great hotel is actually larger than the pyramids in Egypt and is guarded by an authentically styled Sphinx. The kids will enjoy the two story video arcade and IMAX theater. All of the rooms have sloped walls, inviting a geometry lesson, and furniture decorated with Egyptian symbols. Kids love exploring a recreation of King Tut’s Tomb and the accompanying museum, said to be quite authentic. There are five pools on site and a motion simulator ride with an Egyptian theme. Of course, a spacious casino and several spas join world class restaurants for the parents to enjoy.

If you’re traveling with younger children and need a little “alone” time, consider the Orleans Hotel. They’ve created a parent’s dream with Kids Tyme, an onsite daycare facility with an impressively large jungle gym, arts and crafts activities and movies. The center is open 7 days a week and serves children from 2 ½ years to 12 years old. Also on site is a huge bowling center with 70 lanes, an 18 theater movie complex and Tyme Out video arcade. The property also has a pool, spa and fitness center and a great showroom. Of course, the adjoining casino offers plenty of opportunity for the adults to enjoy themselves as well.

Consider these fine hotels and make your next trip to Las Vegas a family affair. Everyone can have a great time in Vegas!

About The Author

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.portal-hoteles.com a website specialized on Hoteles, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Hoteles. For more info on Hoteles visit: http://www.portal-hoteles.com.

Las Vegas: The Best Magic Shows

by: Dakota Caudilla
Las Vegas is the premiere destination for those wanting to sit back and be entertained. If magic is what you want to see, then Las Vegas is the right place because it offers the very best magic shows in the world.

The essence of magic is illusion. Things that are there one minute, but disappear the next. This is the magic that kids love best, so if you are visiting Las Vegas with the family, reserve a place for yourself and your family where Lance Burton the 'Master Magician' will suspend your disbelief.

If you like your magic with a dash of comedy then Penn and Teller are the guys for you. They are the supreme crowd pleasers. They'll befuddle you with their tricks, let you in on some of their secrets and then confound you once more.

Rick Thomas invites you into his world of magic, which he calls, "The Art of Dreaming". He performs the most evocative magical illusions with his team of dances, birds and even, a Bengal tiger.

The Showgirls of Magic show is the prime Las Vegas experience. Gorgeous showgirls performing virtuoso illusions. The show is a cabaret of magic, dance, and comedy.

For more comedy and devious sleight-of-hand action try the Mac King Comedy Magic Show. King is a magical whiz and loves to include the audience in the fun. So it's the perfect magical show for all the family to enjoy.

About The Author

Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.your-spirit.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.