WHILE IN VEGAS… Do you have extra time and need something do? Are you looking for the BEST restaurants in Vegas or the coolest clubs? Go to:  www.visitlasvegas.com

 

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA)
3150 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-892-0711
www.LVCVA.com

For the most up-to-date information on shows, attractions, activities, tours and more, call:

LVCVA Reservation and Information Call Center
1-877-VISIT LV (847-4858)
Operators available daily 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM (PT)

FROM the LVCVA website:

GAMING: 75 YEARS AND COUNTING
It all began on March 19, 1931 when the Governor signed a bill that legalized gaming in Nevada. Since that day, Nevada, and especially Las Vegas, has become recognized worldwide as a premier gaming destination. From traditional card and dice games, to slot machines and race and sports book betting, the casino industry has flourished and evolved into an international phenomenon. Gaming Today… As if the resorts and casinos weren't enticing enough, Las Vegas is putting a new spin on gaming, making it more exciting than ever before. The latest trend is the emergence of intimate, themed casinos within a casino.  While slot machines are the runaway favorite among gamblers in Las Vegas, table games have seen new additions and a tremendous resurgence in the popularity of poker. Some of the newer games, such as three-card poker, and timeless favorites like pai gow continue to draw people to the tables. The increased exposure and popularity of poker, specifically Texas Hold 'Em, has prompted many casinos to re-open poker rooms that had been shuttered for a number of years. Las Vegas is featured regularly as the site of televised celebrity poker showdowns as well as professional poker tournaments.

 

ATTRACTIONS FOR ALL AGES
When you're not winning in the casino, lounging by the pool or savoring delicious cuisine, you'll find that Las Vegas has a variety of must-see attractions and entertainment options to keep you and the whole family occupied. From thrilling roller coasters to virtual-reality simulator rides and erupting volcanoes to wax museums, Las Vegas' attractions appeal to people of all ages, interests and budgets.  From dancing fountains, to the Eiffel Tower, roller coasters and sharks - there's a plethora of activities waiting for you beyond the poker table.

 

SHOP TIL YOU DROP
If you want it, Vegas has it. From designer splurges to bargain deals, Las Vegas has become a one-stop shopping Mecca. Everything from colorful souvenir shops to haute couture boutiques can be found in retail centers along the Las Vegas Strip and surrounding areas.  You won't be alone in your shopping endeavors. More than half of the nearly 39 million visitors who visit Las Vegas each year spent time shopping, according to the 2006 Las Vegas Visitor Profile Study. Las Vegas shoppers spent an average of $140.86 per trip, the study reports, more than twice as much as on sightseeing and show tickets combined.

 

A GLOBAL CULINARY CROSSROADS
Once known for its all-you-can-eat buffets and bargain shrimp cocktails, Las Vegas has transformed itself into a top culinary destination. Within a decade, Las Vegas has redefined the culinary and wine experience by offering the most comprehensive collection of celebrity chefs and world-class restaurants, more Master Sommeliers than any other city in the world and more wine sold per capita than in any other destination.   Bon Appétit magazine, the leading authority in the culinary world, recently cemented Las Vegas' place among U.S. dining capitals by declaring the destination as one of the nation's top five restaurant cities. In addition, the popular online travel site Travelocity ranked the city in second place, only to Barcelona, Spain, in its list of the Top Ten Gourmet Destinations in the World.  Las Vegas continues to be recognized year after year for its quality restaurants. In December 2006, two restaurants were honored with a five-star rating by Mobil Travel Guide, Alex at Wynn Las Vegas and Joël Robuchon at The Mansion at MGM Grand. Recently, AAA announced their Five-Diamond Award-winners for 2007, considered one of the most prestigious recognitions that a restaurant can achieve. AAA Five-Diamond Award-winning restaurants include Picasso at Bellagio, Le Cirque at Bellagio, Alex at Wynn Las Vegas and Joël Robuchon at The Mansion at MGM Grand.

 

THE PLACE TO BE
From elaborately themed nightclubs that stay open until dawn to the new wave of trendy, ultra-chic lounges sweeping the Strip - visitors know when they step out in Las Vegas for the night, it will be an experience they won't forget. Here are some of the hottest places to be for extraordinary nightlife:

Located in the MGM Grand: 

* Rouge is the new upscale lounge at MGM Grand. The lounge showcases deep reds and black contemporary design. The bar's centerpiece is the Adam Tihany-designed backlit projection wall of glass bottles that flicker throughout the night. Rouge is in the space formerly occupied by Teatro.

* Tabú at MGM Grand is credited as being the ultra-lounge that jumpstarted the trend. The lounge features state-of-the-art technology. Guests interact with images projected onto the tabletops that move around with the wave of a hand.

* MGM Grand's Studio 54, the namesake of the '70s and '80s New York nightclub that defined an era, was recently named "Best Place to Dance" by the Las Vegas Weekly's Reader's Poll and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

LET US ENTERTAIN YOU
There's a good reason why Las Vegas is called the "Entertainment Capital of the World." Since its Rat Pack days, Las Vegas has been inextricably associated with legendary shows and entertainers. Say "Las Vegas" and it's likely that showgirls in elaborate headdresses and Elvis impersonators will come to mind.  Today, the Las Vegas entertainment scene still has plenty of its classic glamour, but it has evolved to include so much more. In addition to the iconic Las Vegas entertainment staples, the destination offers a lineup of award-winning magicians, Broadway-caliber productions, world-renowned concert headliners and unique-to-Las Vegas production shows. While at the MGM:  Cirque du Soleil and its ethereal combination of acrobats and special effects dazzle audiences all along the Strip. Opened in 2005, the fourth Cirque du Soleil show, "KA," debuted at MGM Grand.   "MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris" is a direct import from its legendary namesake in Paris, a production famous for celebrating the art of the nude since 1951. "MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris" combines sensual choreography and unique lighting effects.   Event centers and arenas sell out regularly and have featured myriad celebrity acts including U2, the Rolling Stones, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, Garth Brooks and many more.   Home to the annual "Billboard Music Awards" and numerous other televised awards shows, the MGM Grand Garden Arena is a 17,157-seat special events arena that can accommodate concerts, sporting events and awards shows. In 1993, the Grand Garden made history when Barbra Streisand returned to the stage for a legendary New Year's Eve show after a 20-year hiatus.  Currently there is nothing scheduled in the Arena during NAMB/WEST.