[semidevil]

so I plan to take a trip to vegas for thanksgiving with my gf. Seeing that i've never been there before, I would like some suggestions as to what to do and what to see. We are not heavy gamblers, so we dont want to spend a majority of our trip there. not too heavy into the bar scene either. Really, just the touristy stuff. Seeing and experiencing what is unique to vegas.
Plan so far:
Wednesday - First part of the day, fly to vegas. second part of the day - ________
Thursday - _______
Friday - Spend part of the morning black Friday shopping. second part of the day - _______
Saturday: - First part of the morning ________, second part of the day -fly home.
I dont know what to fill in with the blanks.

Couple of thoughts:
- Am I spendng too little time in vegas? On paper, it sounds like I need to spend more time there and maybe fly back on sunday. What do you guys think?
- I want to maximize every day, so I want something to do at all times until bed time.
- Since I"m in vegas already, I might as well experience the different casinos. maybe $20 in each of the major ones. What do you guys recommend?
- What good shows are available?

[VerdeOjos5]

Okay well, there is SOOOOO much to see and do in Vegas, but you have to take it for what it is. But if you are night a night lifer and don't stay up all night, then you can probably utilize your days better than me and my girlfriends usually do and get more time in. Cause i would say first of all that is not enough time. But that all depends on what you WANT to do. Also I will say I am not a Vegas local, yet. I live in Reno... but have been to vegas quite a few times in the last few months (and over the years) due to job testing...
The first thing that stuck out to me was where did you plan to do some "black friday" shopping? there is a mall on the strip, Fashion Show Mall. Where are you staying? First, the strip is unique to Vegas. There is no other place in the world like it!!! There is any kind of food you can think of... it all depends on what YOU like. I am not a bar person either, but I am a club person, i love to dance. I will tell you you have to appreciate architecture and just being there and seeing all that stuff. My favorite casino simply for that is Caesar's Palace. It is amazing. Just walk around. They also have the forum shops in there, lots of high end stores. There are also some cheaper places to eat in that casino as well including Planet Hollywood and Cheesecake Factory (located in the forum shops).

Every single casino has something of their own. Some you can pass up and are not well known. Mandalay Bay has the aquarium, MGM has the tigers... Also on a side note MGM has Wolfgang Puck's bar and grill, which we stumbled upon my last trip a few weeks ago. DELICIOUS BURGERS AND PIZZAS!!! The outside of New York New York, IMO, is really the only interesting part.

I would recommend seeing a show, although myself have not been to any really. For a bachelorette party in APril we saw Anthony Cool's hypnotist show, (adult) but it was only funny because some of our girlfriends went up and were hypnotized. when it was strangers, it was funny, but almost wouldn't have been worth it, you know? I have heard NOTHING but good about any of the Cirque Du Soleil shows, but those are pricey.

If you like thrill rides, I would say do the Big Shot on Stratosphere. it's pricey too as you have to pay admission to go up to the top of the stratosphere, but the view is fabulous, do it at night... and we paid for all 3 rides, but my friends after going on big shot were like WE ARE DONE! it was fun. again, depends on what you like.

my one tip is you will be doing a LOT of walking, so bring comfortable shoes. As you definitely can take cabs places... you still will be trekking. Check out the Wynn towers including Encore... they are beautiful inside. here are just some ideas sorry i am all over the place, im thinking on all the things ive done while there, and not knowing anything about you guys, take these into consideration, but realize this is just my opinion. Treasure Island has a cool restaurant called Kahunaville. It gets pretty loud on a friday or saturday night though. the bartenders are flare bartenders and fun to watch. Treasure Island also has the pirate show, outside, Mirage has the volcano show, Bellagio has the water show, etc. etc. etc. there are all kinds of things. some of these things may be boring to some, but usually most people like them (hence the crowds outside when the shows are about to begin). The last casino I will mention is the Venetian. They have the gondola rides, which I myself have never taken, but it looks relaxing and romantic maybe for you and the gf.

I am obviously missing a lot, but if you have specific questions, maybe i can answer those. Good luck, have fun!

[Buzz123]

Why don't you look at it the way my wife and I do on our first trip to someplace new? Make it and exploratory trip. Whatever you do will be new and fun, so just chill and use the trip to learn what all is here. There is so much to do I haven't done it all and I've been here most of my life. You probably should go back on Sunday though and give yourself more time. Realistically, you'll waste two days in travel. I take it you're coming from California or someplace else close? Getting out of the airport and into your room will take more time than you think. So will going home, so you probably won't have time for much on those days. You probably will do your shopping in the Fashion Show Mall, or some of the two hotel malls. It will be a zoo, and will take time. If you're like me and look at everything, and if you eat lunch there or even a snack, you're talking three or four hours minimum.
Plan on going out to one of the following: 1. Red Rock Canyon; 2. Hoover Dam/Lake Mead; 3. Mount Charleston; 4. Valley of Fire.
Look at all the shows and pick one. They’re all good. The Cirque shows are the best and any of them is the best entertainment you’ll find anywhere; that’s followed by Blue Man Group. Look at the list of entertainers in town and pick one you like. They are all good or they wouldn’t be paying them a small fortune every night.
Plan on just soaking up the Strip. Take a drive at night from one end to the other. Even the locals get a thrill out of that. Walk around. There is enough free entertainment on the sidewalks to keep you busy for a long, long time, especially the water and light show at Bellagio, or the pirate girls at TI. The Coke store, the M&M store, all those interesting places in that one location near the MGM is a couple of hours. Walking through the Caesars Palace Forum Shops is another couple of hours. Also the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood, and the Venetian/Plazzo.
Take the elevator to the top of the Stratosphere. The view is more than worth it. The Eiffel Tower is not bad either. Don't forget you will get tired and you just can't do it all, because 400,000 other visitors are trying to do the same thing and they'll slow you down.

[BABYGIRL1970]

Lots to do and see in Vegas. Bootleg Canyon Flightlines is a rush if you want to experience something outside of Vegas in Boulder City. Only takes 3 - 4 hours and then move on to something else. the show "Jersey Boys" at the Venetian is really good. "The Blue Man Group" at the Venetian is a fabulous show too. Another must visit would be M&M World down by the MGM Grand. Fun store for some shopping. REally great dinner if you like Italian Food is Penazzi in Harrahs.

[semidevil]

okay, so I bought my ticket. Still unsure what to do yet, but here is what I have so far:

Wednesday
1:30PM - arrive in vegas
3:00PM - ready to go out after arriving in hotel, rest, etc etc.
3:00PM - 9:00PM - ______
10:00PM - 12:00PM - Cirque show.

Thursday: (Thanksgiving)
8:00AM - 11:00PM - _________

Friday
4:00AM -Wake up early morning for Black Friday shopping
After that - free to do whatever.

Saturday
Free early part of the day
5:00PM - Arrive in Vegas airport to go home

notes:
I decided to rent a car just for the extra convinience.

Things I would defn like to see:
-visit the well known casinos. which one are these?
- visit bellagio fountain
- shopping. Where is the best place?
- Hoover dam maybe.
- coke store
- M&M store
I found this site for things to do in vegas. Are any of these good?

Free things to do in Las Vegas - Home Page

Next step is trying to organize the events and the activities.

[Spraynard Kruger]

Originally Posted by semidevil

okay, so I bought my ticket. Still unsure what to do yet, but here is what I have so far:

Wednesday
1:30PM - arrive in vegas
3:00PM - ready to go out after arriving in hotel, rest, etc etc.
3:00PM - 9:00PM - ______
10:00PM - 12:00PM - Cirque show.

Thursday: (Thanksgiving)
8:00AM - 11:00PM - _________

Friday
4:00AM -Wake up early morning for Black Friday shopping
After that - free to do whatever.

Saturday
Free early part of the day
5:00PM - Arrive in Vegas airport to go home

notes:
I decided to rent a car just for the extra convinience.

Things I would defn like to see:
-visit the well known casinos. which one are these?
- visit bellagio fountain
- shopping. Where is the best place?
- Hoover dam maybe.
- coke store
- M&M store
I found this site for things to do in vegas. Are any of these good?

Free things to do in Las Vegas - Home Page

Next step is trying to organize the events and the activities.

Might I suggest being spontaneous and just let Vegas happen to you!

Visit town square for shopping and a nice lunch. Its a must.

[Buzz123]

Where are you staying?
Where are you coming from?
Will this be your one and only trip or will you be back?

You asked which are the well known casinos. All of them. We have 11 of the 14 largest hotel/casinos in the world. We have at least three of the most expensive hotels in the world. That said, you'll want to see the Bellagio, the Venetian/Palazzo, Wynn/Encore, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, and Planet Hollywood all inside and out. If you have time, which you won't, go to these: The Rio, New York, New York, Circus Circus, Excalibur, Luxor, and especially, Mandalay Bay.

You'll want to shop at The Fashion Show Mall on Spring Mountain Road and the Strip. It is the most profitable mall per square foot of any in the world, and you'll probably find everything you're looking for there. It has all the major stores represented. Buy your girlfriend a little something from Neiman Marcus, or as we say, Needless Markup. And you should definitely go to the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace, and the Miracle Mile Shops in Planet Hollywood. You might also want to shop in the shops at the Venetian, and at Bellagio.

If you are coming from the east coast and haven't seen the desert, since you have a car, on Thursday maybe you could drive up to the Valley of Fire. At least go out to Red Rock Canyon which is a lot closer. You can MapQuest all of these.

But as a couple of us have already said, you should just relax. Don't try to do it all. I haven't done it all in 45 years. Just walk out of your hotel and pick a direction and start walking. I don't care where you're from, you'll see more neat things here than your eyes can take in. During the day you might enjoy the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, or the Dolphins at the Mirage.